As strip till gains in popularity as a reduced-tillage option offering conventional tillage benefits for corn production, some of the most common questions revolve around phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) fertility management. This project was initiated to answer some of the more common questions around strip till and fertility placement and timing, particularly:
- How does yield of broadcast and incorporate P&K in a full-width tillage system compare to strip till with strip-placed P&K?
- If a grower is on soil they are comfortable strip tilling in either the spring or the fall, from a yield perspective, is there a preferred time to do so?
- If a grower fall applies P&K in the strip, is there yield response for moving a portion of this fertilizer to the planter as starter in the spring?
- How does yield performance of strip till compare to full width tillage?
Summary:
Based on first year results (2019) of applying moderate amounts of P&K fertilizer (60 lb/ac of both P2O5 and K2O) at five trials with low soil fertility:
- Yields of spring strip till and P&K were significantly higher than where P&K was broadcast and incorporated with full width tillage, 10.3 bu/ac greater on average, and significantly higher within 3 of 5 trials.
- Yields of spring strip till and P&K were significantly higher than fall strip till and P&K, 7.5 bu/ac greater on average. Responses were variable – two trials had large significant responses, while remaining trials were no different.
- On average, moving a portion of P&K from fall strip till applications to starter fertilizer on the planter the following spring did not result in a significant yield response compared to where all P&K was only applied through fall strip. However, there was one location where a significant response to starter was observed.
- When comparing similar nutrient placements, yield performance of strip till and full width tillage were similar. Spring strip till and P&K was significantly higher yielding than most other treatments applying the same rates of P&K but with different placement, timing or tillage.
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