Alternating the Shank Location on a Paratill Every Other Year Provides Some Benefits

摘要

Paratill operations are usually conducted with the shanks placed in the same location year after year, disrupting the same volume of soil. Moving the location of the shanks on the toolbar so they alternate from the previous years location can potentially increase the volume of soil disrupted below ground. A corn-cotton rotation study was initiated in 2004 at the Field Crops Unit of the E.V. Smith Agricultural Research Center, near Shorter, AL. Data were not available until 2005 because of the timing of the alternating shank location tillage treatment. There were no differences in corn yield the first two years of the study. Total rainfall for the May to August period in 2006 was low (13.0). Differences in soil moisture between treatments during both growing seasons were small. However, there were significant differences in cotton yield. The alternating shank location produced greater cotton yield both years, 203 lb/ac greater (3,012 vs. 2,809 lb/ac) in 2005, and 475 lb/ac greater (1,978 vs. 1,503 lb/ac) in 2006. Soil penetration resistance data collected at the end of both seasons suggest that the alternating shank location treatment loosens a greater volume of soil. The alternating shank location could show some benefits to corn in future years.