No-Till Continuous Corn Residue Management

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Objective

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of residue digestion products applied to corn stalks following fall harvest by measuring the amount of residue remaining for the following year's planting operation in high-yielding, irrigated, no-till, continuous corn environments.

Study Description

Locations: 3 irrigated fields in south-central NE
Plot Layout: 20 ft wide by 100 ft long (strips)
Replicates: 2 per field location
Application: Oct. 20-28, 2011
Measurements:  April 11, 2012
Treatments:
  • Loveland - Accomplish® LM
  • 40 lbs/acre nitrogen (28% UAN)
  • 80 lbs/acre nitrogen (28% UAN)
  • Untreated check
  • Helena - Hydra Hume®
  • FHR Farms - Residue Digester
  • Chandler BioCat 1000
  • All treatments were applied according to label rates and application carrier volumes (minimum 20 gallons/acre).
  • 1/1000 acre of residue was collected for each treatment replication to measure residue reduction in spring after treatment application.
notill_continuous_corn_residue_mgmt_1

Residue collection near Shickley, NE; April 11, 2012.

Results

Chart - Residue Remaining on Surface at Planting
Chart - Surface Residue Reduction

  • Strips treated with 80 lbs/acre nitrogen or Helena Hydra-Hume showed the greatest reduction of surface residue weight; however, no treatments were significantly different in residue weight at planting time compared to the untreated check at α=0.1.
  • Although some treatments showed slight residue reduction, no visual differences were observed among treatments that would suggest enhancement of residue management for increased no-till plantability.
  • Very dry conditions at time of treatment application, followed by below average precipitation through planting time, likely reduced microbial activity required for surface residue breakdown, despite above average temperatures during this same time frame.


2012 data are based on average of all comparisons made in 3 locations through Dec. 19, 2012. Multiyear and multilocation is a better predictor of future performance. Do not use these or any other data from a limited number of trials as a significant factor in product selection. Product responses are variable and subject to a variety of environmental, disease and pest pressures. Individual results may vary. All products are trademarks of their manufacturers.