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Tillage Systems for Wheat Production in the Southeastern Coastal Plains 1
Author(s) -
Karlen D. L.,
Gooden D. T.
Publication year - 1987
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/agronj1987.00021962007900030036x
Subject(s) - plough , tillage , chisel , agronomy , fertilizer , seedbed , grain yield , mathematics , seedling , biology , geography , archaeology
Increased wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) production has raised numerous questions regarding tillage practices and N fertilizer rates for the Coastal Plain. Therefore, eight field studies conducted on Ardilla (Fragiaquic Paleudults), Dothan (Plinthic Paleudults), and Norfolk (Typic Paleudults) soils are summarized to report N fertilizer and tillage effects. Average grain yield with moldboard plowing was significantly higher (0.4 Mg ha −1 ) than with disking in four of five studies, but it was significantly higher than chisel plowing (3.09 vs. 2.48 Mg ha −1 ) only once. No‐till yield was significantly lower (0.5 Mg ha −1 ) than yield with disking in two of four studies. Nitrogen response was significant in five of six studies, but the tillage ✕ N interaction was significant only once. Head number and weight were increased by plowing or higher N rates. Poor soil‐seed contact presumably caused erratic stands and lower no‐till yields because seedling emergence was not reduced by the equivalent of 10 Mg ha −1 of corn ( Zea mays L.) residue. Approximately 100 kg N ha −1 was sufficient for conventional tillage, but chisel or moldboard plowing should be used rather than disking. For no‐till wheat, drills must provide good soil‐seed contact and N rates may have to be increased.