Combining Strip Tillage and Dual Cover Crops to Increase Profitability

Dr. Dale Mutch, Michigan State University Extension

Objectives:

1. Evaluate the benefits of single and combined legume and brassica cover crops in conventional-till, no-till and strip-till systems for a corn-soybean-wheat rotation.

2. Compare and quantify the effects on weed suppression, nitrogen availability, corn yield and soil characteristics between conventional-till, no-till, strip-till and strip-till with and without single and combined legume and brassica cover crops.

3. Compare and quantify the economic impact on net production cost and net production income between conventional-till, no-till and strip-till, in-row brassica, between-row legumes and combination systems.

In 2011 CMPM funded our proposal to evaluate six cover crop combinations in three different tillage systems at WK Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) in Hickory Corners, Michigan. We leveraged the CMPM grant to receive funding from Project GREEEN to conduct the same experiment at MSU in East Lansing, Michigan. Thus, we were able to evaluate this experiment on a Kalamazoo sandy loam (KBS) and a Capac Loam (MSU) soil type. Results:

In 2012 all cover crop treatments resulted in higher Pre- sidedress Nitrogen levels(PSNT) as compared to the no cover crop treatment at both locations.

In 2012 the highest yield for corn was with the strip till system as compared to either no-till or conventional tillage at both locations.

The lowest PSNT’s were recorded where no cover crops were seeded and therefore, they required the highest sidedress nitrogen rate of 130 lbs/acre for all tillage systems

Red clover and Austrian winter pea (both legumes) resulted in reduced nitrogen applications for all tillage systems at MSU. At KBS red clover reduced nitrogen rates for strip and conventional tillage while Austrian winter pea reduced nitrogen rates for no-till and conventional tillage systems. At MSU no nitrogen was applied for the red clover strip till treatment.

When comparing all tillage systems and averaging all cover crop treatments only the conventional tillage system had a greater net return compared to the no cover crop treatments at MSU.

When comparing all cover crops and averaging all tillage systems at MSU the oilseed radish treatment resulted in a positive net return as compared to the no cover treatment

At KBS Strip till and conventional till systems resulted in a greater net return when averaging all cover crops and comparing tillage treatments.

Averaging the tillage systems and comparing the cover crops resulted in Oilseed radish and Austrian winter pea having greater net returns as compared to the no cover system at KBS

Conclusions: Cover crops reduced nitrogen rates at both locations. The highest corn yields were recorded from the strip till system at both locations. Utilizing cover crops with the different tillage systems resulted in

higher yields but not always a higher net return. 2012 was an unusually dry and hot year. Another year of data collection should enhance analysis of the data.

Team:

Team Leader:

Dale R. Mutch 612 East Main Street Centreville, MI (269) 467-5645

Team Members:

Dean G. Baas 612 East Main Street Centreville, MI (269) 467-5646

Todd E. Martin MSU Agronomy Farm (269) 207-3010

Karen Renner 1066 Bogue St room 451 PSSB (517) 355-0271x1233

John Green KBS (269) 330-1804