AGEN 2363. Chpt. 9 notes. Tillage Practices for Conservation.

I. Tillage objectives:

- prepare seedbed. Soil ‘Tilth’ =

- control weeds

- incorporate residue, fertilizers, lime, pesticides

- aerate soil

- raised beds, furrows for irrigation or wind erosion breaks

- others?

II. Soil erosion and water conservation effects of tillage.

A. Direct effects.

- tillage erosion: What? Why?

- organic matter decomposition –

- soil structure degradation/ surface crust enhancement –

- runoff, erodibility –

- fall vs spring plowing/disking –

- soil water evaporation –

B. Indirect effects.

- soil O.M. levels –

- soil microorganisms –

- soil fertility-

- soil productivity –

III. Categories of tillage implements:

Primary tillage: objectives:

examples:

Secondary tillage: objectives:

examples:

Seedbed prep.: objectives:

examples:

Sub-soilers: objectives:

examples:

Conservation tillage: objectives:

examples:

No-till planter: objectives:

Other examples:

IV. Examples of planting methods:

no-till planting -

flat planting –

ridge (raised bed) –

plow/plant –

strip-till planting –

ridge-till planting –

mulch till –

‘conventional’ tillage/planting -

‘twin-row’ or ‘bed’ planting –

stale seedbed planting –

contour planting –

Read the summary section at the end of the chapter.