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Com Production
With Less Tillage
By Easley S. Smith
Agric. Extension Service Corn production with reduced tillage practices involves eliminating one or more tilling operations. Recent research results indicate that many farmers are performing unnecessary operations from which they are actually receiving lower net returns. The principal objective of reduced tillage is to lower the unit cost of production through more efficient production practices. The general requirements for corn production are: ' 1. Suitable soil with a high fertility. ,i 2. Application of additional plant food to maintain soil fertility and to make up for any deficiencies. 3. Plenty of moisture. 4. Planting corn at the proper depth and firming soil around the seed. 5. Some form of weed control.
Reduced tillage practices offer the following advantages: 1. Field travel is reduced, causing less soil compaction. 2. Elimination of certain operations, thus reducing machinery and labor costs. 3. Firm seed bed in the row and loose root bed between rows. 4. Soil and water conservation with less runoff. 5. Simplified weed control. Soil is left loose and undisturbed between the rows making a poor seedbed for weeds. Existing weeds may be controlled with chemicals. 6. Additional time and labor is available for other farm operations at a time when labor is usually scarce. 7. Equally or slightly better yields with proper management than c o n v e n t ion a 11 y grown corn. Disadvantages of reduced tillage practices are: 1. In some cases, special planting equipment is required which is not readily available
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