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No‐tillage Advantages for Soybean Seed Quality During Drought Stress 1
Author(s) -
Tyler Donald D.,
Overton Joseph R.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1982.00021962007400020020x
Subject(s) - tillage , agronomy , loam , mulch , germination , conventional tillage , environmental science , silt , soil water , biology , soil science , paleontology
Seed quality can be affected by soil and climatic conditions. The availability of soil water can be enhanced under no‐tillage. Under drought stress this can result in a more vigorous plant and production of higher quality seed. Soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Forrest’] seed quality was evaluated in an experiment comparing no‐tillage, and five conventional tillage methods ranging from disking 10 cm deep to under‐row subsoiling 25 cm deep. The methods were studied on a Lexington silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, thermic, Typic Paleundalfs) in 1979 and 1980. No‐tillage soybeans were of higher quality in the dry season of 1980 as compared to conventional methods. Seed from no‐tillage had significantly less purple stain [ Cercospora kikuchii (T. Matsu. and Tomoyaso) Chupp.] and wrinkled seed coats. Seed germination, weight, density, and yield were also superior in no‐tillage as compared to conventional methods. Soil water availability was also higher in notillage due to water conservation by the surface mulch. Higher seed quality in no‐tillage could have resulted from greater soil water availability and reduced soil splash of purple stain organisms.