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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Regional IPM Competitive Grants - Northeastern |
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Project Title:
Row Cultivation for Zone-till: Implications for Reduced Inputs and Soil Conservation |
Project Directors (PDs):
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Lead State: NY Lead Organization: Cornell University |
| Undesignated Funding: $56,201 |
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Start Date: Jun-01-1998 End Date: Jun-30-2000 |
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Site/Commodity: field corn, soybeans |
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Area of Emphasis: cultural controls |
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Summary:
This research will evaluate row cultivation for zone-tilled corn and soybean. Zone-till is a simultaneous tillage/planting operation that removes crop residues from a 15 inch area over the row and minimally tills this area while leaving the inter-row region undisturbed. Zone-till is an alternative to no-till in regions that are not well suited to no-till due to cool spring soil temperatures. Row cultivation in zone-till is made possible by a new breed of cultivators designed to operate in untilled soil with high levels of surface residues. These cultivators have the potential to greatly reduce herbicide inputs, enhance crop productivity, and improve the efficiency of farm operations. Furthermore, these benefits may be achieved without severely compromising the soil conservation benefits of the system (ie. surface residues and soil macropore development). The proposed research is needed to provide weed and crop management alternatives of Northeast Region that address the issues of soil erosion and off-site movement of agricultural chemicals associated with conventional tillage systems. The objectives of this research are to optimize the operating parameters of row-cultivation in zone till to provide adequate weed control while minimizing the impact on soil conservation. This technology will be evaluated through a broad-based coalition of growers, cooperative extension personnel, industry representatives, and university researchers. These objectives will be achieved by 1) replicated research station experiments, 2) on-farm trials with grower and extension cooperators, 3) grower meetings, and 4) outreach publications. Rigorous evaluation of row cultivation in zone-till by a broad agricultural audience will be necessary determine the feasibility of this system for the Northeast Region.
Objectives: 1. Determine the optimum operating parameters for row cultivation in zone-till with respect to cultivation timing and cultivation intensity to provide adequate weed control while minimizing the disturbance of surface residues and soil macropore structure. 2. Evaluate in-row weed control options that best compliment row cultivation in zone-till. 3. Compare the effects of sub-soil tillage on cultivator performance. 4. Evaluate the impact of row cultivation on soil erosion potential. 5. Conduct educational programs for farmers which facilitate understanding of the agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits and costs of the wider range of choices available for weed control in reduced-tillage systems. Outcomes and Impacts Summary from 2001 IPM Center report Field crop growers strive for a delicate balance in cultivation: they need to minimize soil loss, control weeds, and optimize growing conditions, all while keeping down the costs of farming. Tilling the soil controls weeds and enhances seedbed conditions, but it aggravates soil loss. "Zone-till" is a reduced-tillage system that limits the loss of soil by allowing farmers to till and plant in a single pass, barely disturbing soil in a limited area on the planted row. One of the challenges posed by most reduced-tillage systems is the lack of control options for weeds, which are estimated to cause more than $6 billion in agricultural losses each year nationally. Farmers who use reducedtillage systems must rely almost exclusively on herbicides for weed control. But a new type of "high-residue" row cultivator -- one that controls weeds with minimal soil disturbance and low potential for clogging with residue -- offers a new option for weed control in reducedtillage systems. Harold Van Es evaluated a highresidue, reduced-tillage cultivation system using field corn and soybeans. He identified an approach that affords excellent weed control and up to a 75 percent reduction in herbicide use without reducing yield. This method could save growers about $10 to $15 per acre in herbicide costs. The evaluation included input from a broad-based coalition of growers and agricultural experts who participated in research station experiments, on-farm trials, grower meetings, and the development of outreach publications. Van Es is also getting the word out through presentations, conferences, and training sessions. This work addresses soil health and water quality, important considerations on agricultural land throughout the Northeast. |
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