What is it about?
Crop yields in organic cropping systems were evaluated over eight years. The experiment involved comparisons of tillage, rotation and fertility strategies. Crop yields, weed seed densities and potential gross returns were evaluated over time. Overall system performance was best with conventional tillage and a two-year rotation with a winter cover crop due to more effective weed control. The results indicate the need for better weed management strategies if conservation systems using reduced tillage and diverse crop rotations are to be economically viable for organic production in the Upper Midwest.
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Why is it important?
Tillage is often used for weed control in organically managed production systems. However, tillage can also lead to loss of soil organic C, which could negatively affect soil health. The experiment was used to determine if reducing tillage rather than eliminating tillage, could be a way to maintain soil health as well as provide weed management. However, strip-tillage and crop rotations were not as effect in this experiment at controlling weed pressure, thus yields were negatively affected.
Perspectives
Although strip-tillage didn't not function as well as expected for controlling weeds, this research helped us identify new avenues for research. Mainly, we need to shift focus to developing better weed management strategies that will still let us reduce or eliminate tillage.
Sharon Weyers
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Strip-tillage reduces productivity in organically managed grain and forage cropping systems in the Upper Midwest, USA, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, February 2017, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s1742170517000084.
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