Abstract
Minimum or reduced tillage has been of much interest because of increased efficiency in use of labor and equipment and reduction in time and costs. The effects of some minimum tillage practices on soil factors affecting the quality and yields of potatoes were studied in Aroostook County, Maine, during 1964 to 1969. Tillage treatments evaluated were: chisel-plant, direct-plant, plow-plant, chisel-plant with large-hill-no-cultivation, control, and control with large-hill-no-cultivation. The six tillage treatments did not appreciably affect yield regardless of some differences in emergence, soil firmness, soil water and soil temperature. Runoff and soil losses were not affected by chiseling. However erosion losses were greater from the chisel-plant treatment with a large-hill-no-cultivation during low rate rainstorms which occurred in 1969. The acceptance or rejection of any of the tillage practices would have to be based on the economics of soil and crop management. The data presented indicate that a chisel-point operation with cultivation is presently the most satisfactory method of reducing tillage.
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Contribution from Northeast Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Orono, Maine, in cooperation with the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04473.
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Grant, W.J., Epstein, E. Minimum tillage for potatoes. American Potato Journal 50, 193–203 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851770
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02851770