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Modified Subsoiler Versus Uphill Moldboard Plow

Compare aggressive subsoiling with rough uphill plowing of wheat stubble for soil and water conservation.

Location: Fairfield, WA
Annual precipitation: 21 inches
Rotation: Wheat/lentil

Plow - 8 inch deep uphill plowing leaving some of straw on surface
Subsoil - Modified R&R subsoiler, 18 inches deep leaving most of straw on surface

The treatments were performed in the fall on 80 bushel wheat stubble. This is the first year of a multiple year test, and the first data is the lentil yield. Plots are 100 ft wide and extend 400 ft up and over a small ridge. The tillage was performed on the contour (across the plots). A 17.5 ft swath was cut and weighed using portable truck scales at harvest.

Lentil yields, lb/ac

Treatment	Rep 1	Rep 2	Rep 3	Rep 4	Average
Plow	1901	1353	368	1339	1240a
Subsoil	1705	736	1227	979	1162a
LSD (5%)					1032
CV					38.2%

Conclusion

There was a lot of variability in the lentil stand. Next season the field will be planted to wheat and erosion and residue differences over winter will be observed and measured.

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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