Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The information generated from this research was disseminated through personal contact, Extension meetings, and newsletters. The newsletters were mailed as a hardcopy and also sent out electronically. The electronic version is also available in on-line archives. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The data from this study has been and will continue to be shared with farmers, Extension personnel and crop consultants. This information will help them make more informed decisions about addressing soil and crop residue management issues with different forms of tillage. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This work at University of Illinois' Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, will no longer continue under my guidance as I have moved to a job with Kansas State University.
Impacts
A tillage study on corn was conducted since 2004 at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth. Tillage treatments were at different depths and time of the year, representing the main tillage systems utilized in corn production in northwestern Illinois. The goal was to compare reducing soil compaction at a deeper depth or burying residue to see which had a greater effect on corn yield. The five tillage treatments included no-till, fall chisel plow at 10 inches deep, fall subsoiler (Blujet) at 16 inches deep, fall tillage with rotary tine tool at 6 inches deep (Aerway), and spring tillage with rotary tillage tool at 3 inches deep (Dyna-drive). The chisel plow was followed with spring field cultivation prior to planting, and all other tillage treatments were a single pass treatment. The chisel plow performs both reduction of deep compaction and residue incorporation. The subsoiler reduces the deep compaction while leaving most of the residue on the soil surface. The Aerway alleviates shallow compaction and little residue burial, while the Dyna-drive is a shallow tillage pass with very thorough residue incorporation. The field was divided so half of the field was planted to soybeans grown no-till production, while the other half was planted to corn with these tillage treatments. Corn and soybean crops were rotated annually, with the tillage treatments performed in soybean residue in the same plot areas in alternating years prior to the corn crop. Stand counts were taken from each plot since 2006. Averaged over 6 years, there were differences between the yields of treatments which were not related to stand establishment as reported previously. Soil density was greater in the top 6 inches with the shallow tilled or no-till plots than with the deeper tilled plots, ranging from 175 down to 126 pounds per square inch. There was no difference in soil density between the treatments below 6 inches. There was an interaction between tillage system and year, indicating that specific environmental conditions experienced through a year may favor one system. These data suggest that both compaction and residue cover can impact corn productivity. Chisel plowing addresses both issues consistently resulting in the top yield. However, determining what factor is limiting yield and choosing the appropriate tillage could improve sustainability. To determine if tillage can affect more than the current crop, a bioassay was conducted by no-till planting corn over all treatments in the respective halves of the field in 2010 and 2011. There were no significant differences in corn yields due to tillage treatments conducted for the three previous corn crops. The yields of the bioassay averaged for the two years were: chisel 213 bpa, subsoil 211, Aerway 209, No-till 208 and spring till 205. There was no interaction between years, showing that the results were consistent both years. The results of the bioassay indicate that yield limiting factors that can be corrected by tillage need to be assessed yearly.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This data has been shared through newsletter, Extension meetings, field days, agricultural news outlets and with individual growers. This information is also available on the web at the research center's homepage. PARTICIPANTS: This information has been presented in a newsletter and is posted on the web in the research center's home page. TARGET AUDIENCES: The results from this research are given to growers and agricultural consultants so they can make informed decisions in crop management. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This study will be bioassayed with the corn crop to determine if there is any residual effect of the previous tillage operations. Corn will be planted no-till over the study, and yield and soil penetrometer data will be collected.
Impacts
A tillage study on corn since 2004 at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth. Tillage treatments were at different depths and time of the year, representing the main tillage systems utilized in corn production in northwestern Illinois. The goal was to compare reducing soil compaction at a deeper depth or burying residue to see which had a greater affect on corn yield. Soil compaction can inhibit root growth and water penetration, while increased soil residue has been associated with several factors which can reduce corn yield such as lower soil temperatures, stand establishment and disease. The five tillage treatments included no-till, fall chisel plow at 10 inches deep, fall subsoiler (Blujet) at 16 inches deep, fall tillage with rotary tine tool at 6 inches deep (Aerway), and spring tillage with rotary tillage tool at 3 inches deep (Dyna-drive). The chisel plow was followed with spring field cultivation prior to planting, and all other tillage treatments were a single pass treatment. The chisel plow performs both reduction of deep compaction and residue incorporation. The subsoiler reduces the deep compaction while leaving most of the residue on the soil surface. The Aerway alleviates shallow compaction and little residue burial, while the Dyna-drive is a shallow tillage pass with very thorough residue incorporation. The field was divided so half of the field was planted to soybeans grown no-till production, while the other half was planted to corn with these tillage treatments. Corn and soybean crops were rotated annually, with the tillage treatments performed in soybean residue in the same plot areas in alternating years prior to the corn crop. Stand counts were taken from each plot since 2006. Averaged over 6 years, there were differences between the yields of treatments. The highest yield was with the chisel plow at 220 bushels per acre (bpa), followed by the Dyna-drive and subsoiler at 213 bpa, Aerway at 209, and no-till at 208. The differences in yield were not related to stand establishment as some of the lower yielding treatments had higher populations of plants: no-till had 34,063 plants per acre (ppa), Aerway at 32,469, subsoiler at 32,297, chisel at 31,375 and Dyna-drive having 30,688 ppa. Soil density was measured with a penetrometer in the row at 8 sites in each plot when the corn was at V7 in 2008 and 2009. The amount of pressure to penetrate the soil was greater in the top 6 inches with the shallow tilled or no-till plots than with the deeper tilled plots, ranging from 175 down to 126 pounds per square inch. There was no difference in soil density between the treatments below 6 inches. There was an interaction between tillage system and year, indicating that specific environmental conditions experienced through a year may favor one system. These data suggest that both compaction and residue cover can impact corn productivity. Chisel plowing addresses both issues consistently resulting in the top yield. However, determining what factor is limiting yield and choosing the appropriate tillage could improve sustainability.
Publications
- Adee, E.A. 2010. Tillage: Is it necessary Electronic newsletter for growers and agricultural professionals. http://cropsci.illinois.edu/research/rdc/monmouth/newsletters/2010/Ja n_2010.pdf.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This data has been shared through newsletters, Extension meetings, field days, agricultural news outlets and with individual growers. This information is also available on the web at the research center's homepage. PARTICIPANTS: This information has been presented by Extension personnel in meetings and field days. Also, it has been possted on the web in the form of a newsletter that was previously e-mailed or mailed out in paper form. TARGET AUDIENCES: The results from this research are given to growers and agricultural consultants so they can have the information to make informed decisions in crop management. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: This is a companion study with the crop rotation and tillage study reported on previously; both are running concurrently. The soil penetrometer data from this study has helped explain some of the differences in yield observed between conventionally tilled and no-till plots in the crop rotation study. Having a better understanding of why differences occurred can help growers address yield limiting factors in their cropping systems.
Impacts
A tillage study on corn has been ongoing since 2004 at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth. Tillage treatments were at different depths and time of the year, representing the main tillage systems utilized in corn production in northwestern Illinois. The goal was to compare reducing soil compaction at a deeper depth or burying residue to see which had a greater affect on corn yield. Soil compaction can inhibit root growth and water penetration, while increased soil residue has been associated with several factors which can reduce corn yield such as lower soil temperatures, stand establishment problems and disease. The five tillage treatments included no-till, fall chisel plow at 10 inches deep, fall subsoiler (Blujet) at 16 inches deep, fall tillage with a rotary tine tool at 6 inches deep (Aerway), and spring tillage with rotary tillage tool at 3 inches deep (Dyna-drive). The chisel plow was followed with spring field cultivation prior to planting, and all other tillage treatments were a single pass treatment. The chisel plow performed both the deep compaction reduction and residue incorporation. The subsoiler was to reduce the deep compaction while leaving most of the residue on the soil surface. The Aerway worked to alleviate shallow compaction and little residue burial, while the Dyna-drive was a shallow tillage pass with very thorough residue incorporation. The field was divided so half of the field was planted to soybeans grown no-till production, while the other half was planted to corn with these tillage treatments. Corn and soybean crops were rotated annually, with the tillage treatments performed in soybean residue in the same plot areas in alternating years prior to the corn crop. Stand counts were taken from each plot since 2006. Averaged over years, there were differences between the yields of the treatments. The highest yield was with the chisel plow at 215 bushels per acre (bpa), followed by the subsoiler at 209 bpa, Dyna-drive at 208, no-till at 203 and Aerway at 202. The differences in yield were not related to stand establishment as some of the lower yielding treatments had higher populations of plants: no-till had 33,875 plants per acre (ppa), Aerway at 32,583, subsoiler at 32,145, chisel at 31,333 and Dyna-drive having 31,083 ppa. Soil density was measured with a penetrometer in the row at 8 sites in each plot when the corn was at V7 in 2008 (2009 not yet analyzed). The amount of pressure to penetrate the soil was greater in the top 6 inches with the shallow tilled or no-till plots than with the deeper tilled plots, ranging from 212 down to 80 pounds per square inch. There was no difference in soil density between the treatments below 6 inches. There was an interaction between tillage system and year, indicating that specific environmental conditions experienced through a year may favor one system more than another. However, these data suggest that both compaction and residue cover can impact corn productivity, but compaction that has built up in the upper levels of the soil is more consistently a yield limiting factor in corn.
Publications
- Adee, E.A. 2008. To till or not. Electronic newsletter for growers and agricultural professionals. http://www.cropsci.illinois.edu/research/rdc/monmouth/newsletters/200 8/Oct_2008.cfm.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This data has been shared through newsletters, Extension meetings, field days, agricultural news outlets, and individual growers. This information is also available on the web at the research center's homepage. PARTICIPANTS: This information has been presented by Extension personnel in meetings and field days. In 2008, this data was presented at the Illinois Wheat Forum and a Extension meeting in IPM for Wheat. Also, it has been posted on the web in the form of a newsletter that was previously e-mailed or mailed out in paper form. TARGET AUDIENCES: The results from this research are to given to growers and agricultural consultants so they can have the data to make informed decisions in crop management. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The incorporation of corn rootworm resistant hybrids and soybean cyst nematode resistant varieties in 2006 were made to better reflect hybrids and varieties available to growers. Utilizing these best management practices would make the information generated by the study more applicable to the choices progressive growers are making today.
Impacts
A crop rotation study has been established at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, that includes continuous corn and soybeans, a two crop rotation of corn and soybeans, and a three crop rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat, with all entry points of each rotation planted each year. Each cropping system is split by conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT). Hybrids with resistance (RwBt) to corn rootworm (CRW) were planted in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Corn yields increased 10 bushels per acre (bpa) with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, which was not changed by the RwBt hybrids. The lower yield of continuous corn compared to the three crop rotation was reduced to 23 bpa with the use of RwBt hybrids from 78 bpa when depending on a soil insecticide to control CRW. The advantage of CT over NT corn was 5.1 bpa with the inclusion of RwBt hybrids, compared to NT yielding 9.3 bpa less than CT prior to the use of RwBt hybrids. There was no difference in corn yield following wheat or soybeans in the three crop rotation. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistant varieties were planted in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The yield increase with the three crop rotation over the two crop rotation was 2.8 bpa using SCN resistant varieties compared to the 5 bpa increase seen previously when SCN susceptible varieties were planted. Continuous soybeans yielded 5.6 bpa less than the three crop rotation with SCN resistant varieties compared to 6.5 bpa with SCN susceptible soybeans. With susceptible varieties, SCN eggs per 100cc of soil decreased from 11,244 with continuous soybeans to 5,920 for the two crop rotation to 2,312 for the three crop rotation. Two year's data with a SCN resistant variety shows 1,435 eggs with continuous soybeans, 1,075 eggs with two year rotation, and 654 SCN eggs in the three crop rotation. The incorporation of SCN resistant varieties had the greatest impact on the SCN population compared with susceptible varieties in continuous soybeans; however, there was still a benefit with longer crop rotations. Wheat yields were 4.6 bpa higher with CT than with NT. There was a 6.1 bpa advantage for wheat following soybean compared to following corn in the three crop rotation. This yield advantage for wheat after soybean can partially be attributed to lower scab infestation levels compared to wheat after corn. The average incidence of scab in wheat following corn was 17 percent compared to 7 percent following soybeans. This would be expected since the fungus causing scab, Fusarium graminearum, is also a corn disease that causes a stalk rot. From this preliminary data it appears that corn and soybean yields are significantly improved when a third crop such as wheat is added to the rotation. When SCN resistant varieties are planted the yield increase due to longer crop rotations is not as great as when planting susceptible varieties.
Publications
- Adee, E.A. 2008. Crop rotation: Is it necessary Electronic newsletter for growers and agricultural professionals. http://www.cropsci.uiuc.edu/research/rdc/monmouth/newsletters/2008/Fe b_2008.cfm.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A crop rotation study has been established at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, that includes continuous corn and soybeans, a two crop rotation of corn and soybeans and a three crop rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat, with all entry points of each rotation planted each year. Each cropping system is split by conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT). Hybrids with resistance (RwBt) to corn rootworm (CRW) were planted in 2006 and 2007.
PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Terry Niblack, nematologist with the University of Illinois, assisted in this study by quantifying soybean cyst nematode population from soil samples collected from this study.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Growers and agricultural consultants have been the target audiences for this research. Results from this study have been presented at field days and in newsletters.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Corn hybrids were updated to utilize genetically modified corn that is resistant to western corn rootworm larval feeding. This change was made to better reflect changes farmers were making to combat the rootworm problem in an environmentally safer and more consistent manner. Soybean varieties resistant to soybean cyst nematode have been included in the study after gathering data for five years with the planting of susceptible varieties.
Impacts
Corn yields increased 10 bushels per acre (bpa) with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, which was not changed by the RwBt hybrids. The lower yield of continuous corn compared to the three crop rotation was reduced to 27 bpa with the use of RwBt hybrids from 78 bpa when depending on a soil insecticide to control CRW. The comparison between NT and CT corn was not changed by inclusion of RwBt hybrids, with NT yielding 9.3 bpa less than CT. There was no difference in corn yield following wheat or soybeans in the three crop rotation. Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) resistant varieties were planted in 2006 and 2007. The yield increase with the three crop rotation over the two crop rotation was 2.8 bpa using SCN resistant varieties compared to the 5 bpa increase seen previously when SCN susceptible varieties were planted. Continuous soybeans yielded 4.5 bpa less than the three crop rotation with SCN resistant varieties compared to 6.5 bpa with SCN
susceptible soybeans. With susceptible varieties, SCN eggs per 100cc of soil decreased from 11,244 with continuous soybeans to 5,920 for the two crop rotation, to 2,312 for the three crop rotation. One year's data with a SCN resistant variety shows a 4.6 x reduction on eggs in the continuous and two year rotations and 2.98 x reduction in SCN eggs in the three crop rotation from the population observed with the susceptible varieties. Wheat yields were 4.8 bpa higher with CT than with NT. There was a 5.4 bpa advantage for wheat following soybean compared to following corn in the three crop rotation. This yield advantage for wheat after soybean can partially be attributed to lower scab infestation levels compared to wheat after corn. The average incidence of scab in wheat following corn was 21 percent compared to 8 percent following soybeans. This would be expected since the fungus causing scab, Fusarium graminearum, is also a corn disease that causes a stalk rot. From this preliminary
data it appears that corn and soybean yields are significantly improved when a third crop such as wheat is added to the rotation. When SCN resistant varieties are planted the yield increase due to longer crop rotations is not as great as when planting susceptible varieties. Additionally, unlike soybeans, the cereal crops, corn and wheat, do not yield as well with a no-till system as with a conventional tillage system. This may be due in part to the enhanced survival of diseases that overwinter in crop residues that are left on the soil surface, as is the case with scab. This crop rotation study is showing the benefit of increased corn and soybean yields when wheat is added to the rotation compared to the very prevalent corn/soybean rotation. A yield benefit for soybeans grown when wheat is added as third crop to a rotation can be partially attributed to the reduction in the population of soybean cyst nematode.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
A crop rotation study has been established at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, that includes continuous corn and soybeans, a two crop rotation of corn and soybeans and a three crop rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat, with all entry points of each rotation planted each year. Each cropping system is split by conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT). Corn yields with CT increased 7 to 12 bushels per acre (bpa) with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, and over 69 bpa better than continuous corn. No-till corn yields increased 6 to 10 bpa with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, and over 87 bushels better than continuous corn. No-till corn yielded 9 bpa less than corn grown with CT across all rotations. Corn following wheat yielded 5 bpa more than following soybeans in the three crop rotation. There was a 4 to 6 bpa increase in soybean yields grown in
the three crop rotation than with the two crop rotation, and 6 to 7 bushel increase over continuous soybeans. Soybean cyst nematode eggs per 100cc of soil decreased from 11,244 with continuous soybeans to 5,920 for the two crop rotation, to 2,312 for the three crop rotation with a soybean variety susceptible to soybean cyst nematode. Wheat yields were 4.7 bpa higher with CT than with NT. There was a 6 bpa advantage for wheat following soybean compared to following corn in the three crop rotation. This yield advantage for wheat after soybean can partially be attributed to lower scab infestation levels than compare to wheat after corn. The average incidence of scab in wheat following corn was 21 percent compared to 8 percent following soybeans. This would be expected since the fungus causing scab, Fusarium graminearum, is also a corn disease that causes a stalk rot. From this preliminary data it appears that corn and soybean yields are significantly improved when a third crop such as
wheat is added to the rotation. Additionally, unlike soybeans, the cereal crops, corn and wheat, do not yield as well with a no-till system as with a conventional tillage system. This may be due in part to the enhanced survival of diseases that overwinter in crop residues that are left on the soil surface, as is the case with scab.
Impacts
This crop rotation study is showing the benefit of increased corn and soybean yields when wheat is added to the rotation compared to the very prevalent corn/soybean rotation. A yield benefit for soybeans grown when wheat is added as third crop to a rotation can be partially attributed to the reduction in the population of soybean cyst nematode.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
A crop rotation study has been established at the University of Illinois Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, that includes continuous corn and soybeans, a two crop rotation of corn and soybeans and a three crop rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat, with all entry points of each rotation planted each year. Each cropping system is split by conventional tillage (CT) and no-till (NT). Corn yields with CT increased 8 to 13 bushels per acre with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, and over 84 bushels better than continuous corn. No-till corn yields increased 6 to 8 bushels per acre with the three crop rotation compared to the two crop rotation, and over 97 bushels better than continuous corn. No-till corn yielded 11 bushels per acre less than corn grown with CT across all rotations. There was a 3 to 6 bushel per acre increase in soybean yields grown in the three crop rotation than with the two crop rotation,
and 11 to 14 bushel increase over continuous soybeans. Soybean cyst nematode eggs per 100cc of soil decreased from 11,600 with continuous soybeans to 7,800 for the two crop rotation, to 2,800 for the three crop rotation. Soybean yields were 1.5 bushels per acre higher with NT than with CT. Wheat yields were 4 bushels per acre higher with CT than with NT. There was a 7 bushel per acre advantage for wheat following soybean in the three crop rotation compared to following corn. This yield advantage for wheat after soybean can partially be attributed to lower scab infestation levels than compare to wheat after corn. The average incidence of scab in wheat following corn was 21 percent compared to 8 percent following soybeans. This would be expected since the fungus causing scab, Fusarium graminearum, is also a corn disease that causes a stalk rot. From this preliminary data it appears that corn and soybean yields are significantly improved when a third crop such as wheat is added to the
rotation. Additionally, unlike soybeans, the cereal crops, corn and wheat, do not yield as well with a no-till system as with a conventional tillage system. This may be due in part to the enhanced survival of diseases that overwinter in crop residues that are left on the soil surface, as is the case with scab.
Impacts
This crop rotation study is showing the benefit of increased corn and soybean yields when wheat is added to the rotation compared to the very prevalent corn/soybean rotation. A yield benefit for soybeans grown when wheat is added as third crop to a rotation can be partially attributed to the reduction in the population of soybean cyst nematode.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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