Tillage‐Soil Water Relations of Corn as Influenced by Weather¹

Abstract

Abstract Crop responses to tillage methods in the Corn Belt frequently vary among years and locations. Experiments on corn ( Zea mays L.) conducted in Iowa during 1956‐66 indicate that the effectiveness of tillage methods is associated with weather and consequent soil water conditions. On Moody silt loam, in northwestern Iowa, severe soil water deficits occurred in 6 of the 11 years. In these years, lister‐planted corn outyielded conventionally planted (plow‐disk‐harrow) corn by as much as 2,588 kg/ha (41.2 bu/acre). Intermediate crop responses were obtained from other tillage methods, which included wheel‐track planting, mulch tillage, ridge planting, and cultivator planting. Crop responses were related to differences in soil water regime attributed to tillage. Under favorable weather and soil water situations, there was little difference among the several treatments.