evaluation of vertical tilage tools
DESCRIPTION
69th SWCS International Annual Conference July 27-30, 2014 Lombard, ILTRANSCRIPT
Evaluation of Vertical Tillage Tools for Residue Management, Manure
Incorporation and Seeding Cover Crops
Evaluation of Vertical Tillage Tools for Residue Management, Manure
Incorporation and Seeding Cover CropsTim Harrigan
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Marilyn ThelenMSU Extension
Michigan State UniversityAnnual meeting of the
Soil and Water Conservation SocietyLombard, ILL
July 27-30, 2014
Tim HarriganBiosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Marilyn ThelenMSU Extension
Michigan State UniversityAnnual meeting of the
Soil and Water Conservation SocietyLombard, ILL
July 27-30, 2014
Problem
• What is the role of vertical tillage tools in:• Managing high-yielding corn residue
• Rate of decomposition? Planting soybeans?
• Pre-plant soil conditioning• Create uniform planting conditions across the field?
• Manure incorporation tool • How do they compare for N retention?
• Seeding cover crops• Broadcast and till versus drilling, etc?
Coulters create soil action
Gang angle creates soil action
18 degrees 0 degrees
Manure incorporation
Manure N loss
Soybean stand, planted May 7
Stand counts onMay 21June 26
Soybean stand, planted May 18
Soybean stand, planted May 18
Soybean stand, planted June 5
Soybean Yields 2013 (Landoll)Crumbaugh Farm,
Gratiot*J. Ferguson Farm, Tuscola**
TillageHarvest
Moisture, %Dry Yield, bu/ac
Harvest Moisture, %
Dry Yield, bu/ac
No‐Till 12.2 60.5 15.3 47.0
1X Fall 12.2 61.7 15.3 46.0
2X Fall 12.5 58.2 15.5 48.0
1X Fall, 1x Sp 13.0 61.1 15.4 49.0
2X Fall, 1x Sp 12.4 61.3 15.9 49.0
Salford and Great Plains Turbo-Till
Thelen Farm, Clinton Co.* Faivor Farm, Clinton Co.**
Tillage Harvest Moisture, %
Dry Yield,bu/ac
Harvest Moisture, %
Dry Yield, bu/ac
No‐Till 14.2 32.3 a ‐‐‐ 48.7 a
1X Spring 14.2 31.8 a ‐‐‐ 47.5 a
2X Spring 14.3 32.6 a ‐‐‐ 49.0 a
CV, % 5.7 4.1
Voisinet cover crop
• Fall Rye cover crop in corn residue.
• Mid-October 2012– Broadcast– 1x– 2x
• Case-IH Turbo-330• 500 to 600 lb/ac
surface biomass dry matter
Miller cover crop
SAfter wheat
Austrian winter pea + radish