Maize cultivation systems; weed control and economical aspectsHilfred HuitingRommie van der Weide, Yu Tong Qiu, Piet Bleeker, Marleen RiemensMonsanto Weed Workshop ”North”, 13-15 June 2011

Outline

Why reduced tillage?Which reduced tillage systems?Research and resultsPreliminary conclusionsFuture aspects

Why reduced tillage?

Economic advantages tillage reduction

Fuel savings (15 up to 80%)Labor savings (up to 60%)Decreased machinery costs (after initial investments)Increased supporting power of the soilIn time nutrient savings

Erosion risks enhanced by conventional tillage

CO2, N2O, CH4 emission reductionExtra carbon storage in the soil: up to 200 kg.ha-1.y-1 CIncreased drought tolerance (1% o.s. = 150,000 liters/ha)Better water infiltration and less erosion:

>90% at no till>60% at non inversion tillage

Improved surface water quality through decreased superficial emission of nutrients and pesticides

Environmental advantages tillage reduction

Creating More CompetetiveAlternatives and Tecnologies:

Sustainable FarmingIn Brasil

Fazenda Frank’anna farm, Brazil

Started no tillage system in 1976Comparison ploughing and no-till

Ploughing No-tillYield for 1 lt of fuel 50 kg 123 kgYield for 1 kg of NPK 15 kg 26 kg

Soil organic matter %, Fazenda Frank’anna

Which reduced tillage system?

In NL non inversion tillage in specific casesErosion only regional

Slopes, windIf necessary loosening the soil after a cropNo till virtually absentCultivation in various ways, often in combination with a powered tool (harrow or cultivator)

Ridge tillage of maize in Canada/USA

Ridge tillage

Crop residue previous year After sowing the new crop

Ridge tillage

Maize planting equipment used

Physical weed control in case of crop residues

No till and direct seeding:

Loosening the soil through:• increased soil fauna• rooting (cover) crops

Soil coverage for:• erosion prevention• weed control• possibilities for precision spraying

Research: setup and results

2009: start multiple year experiment maizePrevious: several years grassland at marine loam soil (Lelystad, NL). Experiment in total 180 plots on 2 ha.

Start with main treatments (in 3 replicates):PloughingPloughing with a caterpillar tractorNon inversion tillageRidge tillNo tillExperimental strip, e.g. strip tillage

Sub treatments:5 green manure crops in fallow2 weed control strategies

Trial overview, spring 2011

Experiment objectivesInvestigate practicability of reduced tillage systems as developed in the US and Canada in Dutch conditions;Investigate the interaction of tillage system, weed control method and green manure crop choice;Investigate the consequences for weed control, crop protection and economical and environmental aspects.

No tillage machinery (Evers Hunter)Aim: grow maize without soil cultivation

Strip tillage machinery (Dutch Pol/Kuipers)Aim: grow maize in permanent grassland/on less supportive soil; apply manure directly

Mechanical weed controlHarrowing,

powered harrow

Mechanical weed control

Blades and finger weeders

Mechanical weed control

Rotary strip cultivation

Mechanical weed control

Ridging up

Results 2009Cultivation Weed

controlRel. fresh yield

(53.0 t/ha)Rel. dry yield

(18.9 t/ha)% (weed)

coverPloughing Chem. 100 100 6

Mech. 104 100 20N.I. tillage Chem. 105 107 3

Mech. 104 107 29Ridge tillage Chem. 102 106 20

Mech. 100 103 37No till Chem. 90 88 2

Mech. 91 90 35Strip till Chem. 100 106 11Strip till no R Mech. 86 87 40Strip till no R Mow. 39 43 75N.I. till no R Mech. 98 99 22

Results 2009Cultivation Weed

controlRel. dry yield

(18.9 t/ha)Balance

without labourBalance

with labourPloughing Chem. 100 € 2,675 € 2,087

Mech. 100 € 2,734 € 2,135 N.I. tillage Chem. 107 € 2,938 € 2,337

Mech. 107 € 2,773 € 2,162 Ridge tillage Chem. 106 € 2,652 € 1,976

Mech. 103 € 2,650 € 1,963 No till Chem. 88 € 2,265 € 1,726

Mech. 90 € 2,870 € 2,337 Strip till Chem. 106 € 3,299 € 2,738 Strip till (avg.) Mech. 77 € 1,922 € 1,368

Results 2010Cultivation Weed

controlRel. dry yield

(17.5 t/ha)Balance

without labourBalance

with labourPloughing Chem. 100 € 2,466 € 1,878

Mech. 101 € 2,555 € 1,956 N.I. tillage Chem. 105 € 2,623 € 2,022

Mech. 96 € 2,308 € 1,696 Ridge tillage Chem. 95 € 2,441 € 1,765

Mech. 95 € 2,531 € 1,845 No till Chem. 92 € 2,428 € 1,888

Mech. 89 € 2,491 € 1,958 Strip till Chem. 93 € 2,655 € 2,094 Strip till (avg.) Mech. 74 € 2,105 € 1,551

Weed cover %; different cover crops

Cultivation Treatment RyeOilseed

rapeNo/

weedygrass/clover Hairy vetch

plough chem. 0.3 0.3 0.3 2.3 1.3mech. 0.3 0.3 2.0 1.3 2.3

NI tillage chem. 1.7 2.0 2.3 3.7 7.3mech. 1.7 2.0 7.0 4.6 5.0

Ridge till chem. 5.6 2.9 2.6 10.7 5.0mech. 3.3 7.6 6.0 8.3 5.7

No till chem. 2.7 3.7 5.7 6.3 7.4mech. 2.3 3.3 3.7 5.0 6.0

Preliminary conclusions

Preliminary conclusionsMore or less comparable yields if cover crop was killed with Roundup prior to maize planting

No till / strip till resulted in yield reduction during the first years. For organic farming non inversion tillage instead of ploughing is possible, but:

Mechanical equipment should be adapted to cover crop residues on the soil surface (e.g. moving harrows). Weed management difficult at organic no till and strip till; difficult to avoid yield losses.

Factor 2-3 more weeds left in case of non inversion tillage compared to ploughing in the second year.Cover crop choice influences weed pressure (less after rye and oilseed rape).

Reduced tillage systems will gain importance in Europe: economic en environmental contraints.

Optimising opportunities needed and longer term comparison

Yields, weeds and economics as well as environmental effects.

Optimal incorporation of precision techniques (sowing, fertilising, crop protection)

Future outlook

Thank you for your attention, discussion and (further) support!

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