Conventional and Reduced Tillage Methods in Corn Production Conventional and Reduced Tillage Methods in Corn Production (1982) (1982)

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Materials and Methods
Tests were made using four tillage systems (Table 1} in a split-plot design with four replications.Subplots were composed of cultivation when necessary and no cultivation.The D-P-D-S and D-D-S plots were 100 feet by 15 feet and planted with a 6-row planter.The D and N plots were 100 feet by 10 fee. and planted with a 4-row Buffalo Till planter. Herbicides were applied to all tillage treatments.Treatments D-P-D-S, D-D-S, and D were banded at planting with Lasso/ Atrazine (2.5 qts.and 2lbs/acre) in 20 gaUons of water per acre in 1974 and 1975.2,4-D was broadcast before planting on theN plots at 1.5 pints and 1.0 pints per acre during 1974 and 1975, respectively.Lasso/ Atrazine, at the above rates, was broadcast to all treatments after planting with 20 gallons of water per acre for 1976 through 1978.Beginning in 1979 through 1981 the water was increased to 40 gallons per acre and broadcast after planting to all plots.The rates of Lasso/ Atrazine remained the same ex- In 1979, two changes were made that may account for this reversal of trend.Prior to 1979, there was a significant difference in plant population attributed to the difference in planters.Adjustments to the Buffalo Till planter in 1979 provided comparable plant populations In 1979 through 1981.Also, 1979, herbicides were applied in 20 gallons of watei per acre, then beginning in 1979 the water was increased to 40 gallons per acre.The additional 20 gallons of water per acre may have provided better herbicide-soil contact thereby providing equivalent weed control among tillage methods from 1979 through 1981.(Table 4) .Either or both of these changes made in 1979 may be responsible for the reversal of the 6-year trend in yields and plant populations establishedin 1979.
There were no significant differences among tillage methods for yields or plant populations for the 8-year period of this study.The practice or absence of cultivation was not significant between tillage methods  1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 Avg. for yield, plant population, and weed in both the sixth-and eighth-year summaries.
However, there Is a difference in the cost associated with each tillage method.Table 1 shows the 1980 custom cost of the tillage systems.All applications of herbicides, fertilizers, and insecticides were applied uniformly to all plots and are excluded from the system cost.
One hypothesis at the beginning of the experiment was that a weed problem may develop after several years on the reduced tillage plots.A shatter cane problem did develop.Yet, there was no significant difference between tillage methods for control of shatter cane.

Conclusions
Reduced tillage produces comparable yields at reduced cost if there are comparable plant populations.Conventional tillage is just as likely to develop a weed problem as reduced tillage.Weeds uncontrolled by herbicides necessitate the rotation of crops with the use of different herbicides for weed control.Herbicides applied to no preplant tillage should be applied with 40 gallons per acre of carrier.

Table 4 . Tillage Treatment Broadleaf Weed Control.
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