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Burn/Minimum Till for Continuous Winter Wheat Production

Mark Lambert
with Roland Schirman, Columbia Co. Extension

Objective

To compare burn/minimum till versus standard fall tillage for continuous winter wheat production.

Location: Dayton, WA
Annual precipitation: 26 inches
Soil: Palouse silt loam
Rotation: Winter wheat

Treatments

Conventional tillage vs burn/minimum till

Comments

Tillage plots were reestablished over the 1993-94 tillage plot sites prior to September field burn. Fertilizer was applied cross-slope at 90 lb/A with a heavy duty applicator. Madsen winter wheat was seeded using conventional double disk drills. Lateness of fall rain delayed emergence beyond normal date for this location. Heavy rain (nearly 2 inches) on frozen soil occurred December 31-January 1. Drought conditions prevailed during the growing season.

Data

Wheat yield, bu/A

Treatment Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3 Average
Burn 58.8 37.5 57.8 51.4a
Till 53.0 39.6 50.5 47.7a
LSD (5%)       12.6
CV       7.2%

Soil Analysis, 24 Aug 94

  Organic Matter
%		 Available Water
inches		 Available Nitrogen
lb/ac
  Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3 Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3 Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3
Burn 2.97 2.63 2.63 1.22 1.00 1.23 117 141 50
Till 2.37 2.23 2.68 1.60 0.49 1.21 64 60 58

Conclusion

Although not statistically significant, a trend toward higher yield was observed in the burn/minimum till treatment. No differences in soil organic matter levels could be measured. Residual nitrogen differences cannot be explained.

     
 

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