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What is the Effectiveness of Strip Tillage?
Eric C. Miller
SOIL 4213: Precision AgricultureApril 15th, 2013
April 15th = Tax Day
Improved seedbed environment◦ Dryer and warmer soils ◦ Earlier planting ◦ Consistent seed depth ◦ Better plant stand
Net Return Yield Response
◦ P and K fertilizerplacement
Benefits of strip tillage
http://www.bighambrothers.com/strip-till-examples.htm
TillageEmergence
plants/footV6 growthgrams/plant
V12 growth
grams/plant
Chisel Plow 1.8 1.1 29
Strip tillage 1.6 1.1 28
No tillage 0.7 0.7 18
Data adapted from Wolkowski et al., 2009
Seedbed environment
Photo adapted from Vyn et al., 2008
No tillage Strip tillage
No tillage Chisel plow
Spring RM*
Spring RM + ST
$ ac-1
Corn cost* 427 447 429 450
Soybean cost 157 195 163 182
Rotational Avg.
292 320 296 316
*RM=residue management, ST=strip tillage
**Costs include: labor, repairs, fuel, seed, fertilizer, herbicide, interest, drying fuel, and operating costs
Data adapted from Archer and Reicosky, 2009
Net return
Most common method Increased vertical
stratification of P and K
Broadcast and banding P and K
http://www.lancoequipment.com/
http://www.farmequipmentfinder.com/view_item.php?id=2695
Potential improved fertilizer use efficiency
Broadcast
Banded
Is banding P the answer?
http://science.time.com/2013/04/02/report-predicts-ever-bigger-lake-erie-algae-blooms/
2007 20090
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
ST-Banded PST-Broadcast PCT-Broadcast P
Corn
Yie
ld (
bu/a
c)
aab
b
Yield response to banded P
ab abb
Data adapted from Tarkalson and Bjorneberg, 2012
Chalmers soil series Sebewa soil series175
180
185
190
195
200
205
210
215
220
225
ChiselNo tillageStrip tillage
Corn
Yie
ld (
bu/a
c)
ns
Yield response to tillage
aa
b
Data adapted from Vyn et al., 2006
Planting into the strip is critical
Photo adapted from Vyn et al., 2008
Planted on the strip Planted off the strip
The strip
Tillage Practices200
205
210
215
220
225
Strip till RTKStrip till visualStrip till off 7"No-tillChisel plow
Corn
Yie
ld (
bu/a
c)Value of RTK
a
c
abbc
ab
Data adapted from Vyn et al., 2008
Improved seedbedenvironment
Net Return
Yield Response
Value of RTK
What is the effectiveness of strip tillage
No tillage Conventional
Questions?
