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No-Till Seeding Application on Various Residue Conditions

Objective

To evaluate annual no-till seeding applications on various residue conditions over a six year cropping system.

Location: Pullman, WA Annual precipitation: 20+ inches
Rotation: historical- Winter wheat/spring barley/spring wheat or dry peas
Rotation: desired- Spring wheat/winterwheat/spring wheat

Treatments

1B - Burn Stubble and No-till Seed
2B - Disc Stubble, Burn and No-till Seed
3B - Burn Stubble, No-till Seed and Deep Chisel
4S - No-till Seed into standing Stubble
5S - Disc Stubble and No-till Seed
6S - No-till Seed in Standing Stubble and Chisel

Comments

Winter Wheat was no-till seeded into spring wheat stubble in October 1994. The spring wheat had been severely damaged by Hessian fly during the 1993 growing season. Late burn treatments made in October 1993 resulted in residue levels which averaged 17% compared to an average of 46.6% for non-burned treatments.

Total precipitation for the 1994 growing season (September 1993-August 1994) was approximately 50% below the 30 year average (11 inches compared to 21 inches). The below normal precipitation coupled with Hessian fly infestations in the 1994 winter wheat crop reduced yields by over 50% for all treatments. The yield range from 14.4 to 34.8 bushels per acre should be compared to an expected proven yield of over 60 bushels per acre for this farm. A field evaluation made on May 13, 1994 showed that the winter wheat crop was almost entirely decimated. Significant rainfall the week following salvaged the crop allowing late developing tillers to mature.

The Chisel Treatment (included in 3B & 6S) was designed to chisel on a 12 foot spacing on the contour of slopes to provide a "channel" for surface water to be trapped upon run-off. This treatment was not applied during 1993 -1994 crop year due to equipment non-availability. Values for all treatments which were designed for the post seed chisel treatment are averaged with either burn & seed (1B) or no-till & seed (4S) in the 1994 yield results.

Residue cover, %. Treatment labels marked with the same numeral are treatments which were identical, because the chiseling was not performed.

Treatment	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Average
1B1	20	8.2	15	14.4
3B1	8.8	10.2	8.6	9.2
2B	11.4	41.8	29.0	27.4
5S	38.2	47.8	21.4	35.8
4S2	59.4	46.6	62.6	56.2
6S2	43.6	47.6	32.2	47.8

Yield of winter wheat, bu/ac. Treatment labels marked with the same numeral are treatments which were identical, because the chiseling was not performed.

Treatment	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Average
1B1	30.3	31.1	22.7	28.0
3B1	31.8	14.4	34.8	27.0
2B	20.5	18.9	29.0	22.8
5S	20.5	30.3	34.0	28.3
4S2	26.5	31.1	31.1	29.6
6S2	28.0	-	27.3	27.7

Conclusion

1. Residue influences. Residue cover had no influence on winter wheat yields. Residue levels from the Hessian fly infested 1993 spring wheat crop were reduced to an average of 11.8% where stubble was burned. Even at this level, the limited precipitation during the crop year did not result in any soil erosion. (Chart 1)
2. Yield reductions related to additive effect of tillage and burning.The only noticeable possible trend in yield reduction occurred when a discing operation was combined with burning prior to seeding. All yield differences are nonsignificant. During a moisture deficit crop year, the practices (disc and burn) are speculated to have enhanced moisture loss from the seed zone prior to planting and left minimal cover to prevent moisture loss during the spring. The additive effect of these operations was more severe than either of the treatments alone. (Chart 2)
3. Research trial continuation.This trial will continue for an additional five years. The 1995 crop is scheduled to be seeded to spring wheat.

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Hans Kok, WSU/UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist, UI Ag Science 231, PO Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844 USA Redesigned by Leila Styer, CAHE Computer Resource Unit; Maintained by Debbie Marsh, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU