The Effect of Tillage on Nutrient Content of Corn, Oats, and Wheat

Because of the nature of stubble-mulch tillage (in which it has in the past worked more consistently in Western Nebraska than eastern.) the question arises regarding the influence of the practices on the nutrient level of the soil and nutrient uptake by plants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of plowing or stubble-mulching on nutrient content in the plant fertilized with and without nitrogen. The plots used in this study were established at the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station Farm, Lincoln, Nebraska. Each of the four plot fields used in the experiment was split with respect to tillage practice. Each tillage practice was split with respect to fertilizer treatment. The soil over the area is designated as Sharpsburg silty clay loam. Three crops corn, oats, and wheat were selected for the study. The results of the study varied between the individual plots and crops used in the study. The most marked differences in the experiment were the results from the varied tillage practices on the plots studied. Advisor: T. M. McCalla