Abstract
Abstract Organic grain producers are interested in reducing tillage to conserve soil and decrease labor and fuel costs. We examined agronomic and economic tradeoffs associated with alternative strategies for reducing tillage frequency and intensity in a cover crop–soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) sequence within a corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean–spelt ( Triticum spelta L.) organic cropping system experiment in Pennsylvania. Tillage-based soybean production preceded by a cover crop mixture of annual ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum ), orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) and forage radish ( Raphanus sativus L.) interseeded into corn grain ( Z. mays L.) was compared with reduced-tillage soybean production preceded by roller-crimped cereal rye ( Secale cereale L.) that was sown after corn silage. Total aboveground weed biomass did not differ between soybean production strategies. Each strategy, however, was characterized by high inter-annual variability in weed abundance. Tillage-based soybean production marginally increased grain yield by 0.28 Mg ha −1 compared with reduced-tillage soybean. A path model of soybean yield indicated that soybean stand establishment and weed biomass were primary drivers of yield, but soybean production strategy had a measurable effect on yields due to factors other than within-season weed–crop competition. Cumulative tillage frequency and intensity were quantified for each cover crop—sequence using the Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) index. The reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in 50% less soil disturbance compared to tillage-based soybean sequence across study years. Finally, enterprise budget comparisons showed that the reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in lower input costs than the tillage-based soybean sequence but was approximately $114 ha −1 less profitable because of lower average yields.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Aboveground weed biomass did not differ between soybean production strategies.
- Taxon
- soybean
Glycine maxt0 - Treatment
- soybean production strategiese0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- Total aboveground weed biomasse0
- Direction
- did not differe0
- Comparator
- soybean production strategiese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Total aboveground weed biomass did not differ between soybean production strategies”
t0“organic soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
Both soybean strategies had high variation in weed abundance across years.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxt0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- high inter-annual variability in weed abundancee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Each strategy, however, was characterized by high inter-annual variability in weed abundance”
t0“organic soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
Tillage-based soybean production raised grain yield by 0.28 Mg ha −1 compared with reduced tillage.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Treatment
- Tillage-based soybean productione0
- Outcome
- grain yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 0.28 Mg ha −1e0
- Comparator
- reduced-tillage soybeane0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tillage-based soybean production marginally increased grain yield by 0.28 Mg ha −1 compared with reduced-tillage soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
Soybean stand establishment and weed biomass were the primary modeled drivers of soybean yield.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Interactor
- weede0weed
- Outcome
- soybean yielde0
- Qualifier
- soybean stand establishment and weed biomasse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“A path model of soybean yield indicated that soybean stand establishment and weed biomass were primary drivers of yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Soybean strategy affected yield through factors beyond within-season weed competition.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Treatment
- soybean production strategye0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“soybean production strategy had a measurable effect on yields due to factors other than within-season weed–crop competition”
Claim · model-written summary
The reduced-tillage soybean sequence caused 50% less soil disturbance than the tillage-based sequence.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Treatment
- reduced-tillage soybean sequencee0
- Outcome
- soil disturbancee0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- 50%e0
- Comparator
- tillage-based soybean sequencee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in 50% less soil disturbance compared to tillage-based soybean sequence across study years”
Claim · model-written summary
The reduced-tillage soybean sequence had lower input costs.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Treatment
- reduced-tillage soybean sequencee0
- Outcome
- input costse0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Comparator
- tillage-based soybean sequencee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in lower input costs than the tillage-based soybean sequence”
Claim · model-written summary
The reduced-tillage soybean sequence was approximately $114 ha −1 less profitable because average yield was lower.
- Taxon
- soybeanGlycine maxe0
- Treatment
- reduced-tillage soybean sequencee0
- Outcome
- profitablee0
- Direction
- lesse0
- Value
- $114 ha −1e0
- Comparator
- tillage-based soybean sequencee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the reduced-tillage soybean sequence resulted in lower input costs than the tillage-based soybean sequence but was approximately $114 ha −1 less profitable because of lower average yields”
The same questions in other papers
tillage · yield · Glycine max (soybean)Positive and negative results
263 papers in the same direction as this paper · 100 in the opposite direction · 26 reporting no difference from an alternative
- no effect
- no effect
- no effect
386 papers more in this group
See all 390 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.