Conservation tillage in soybean and corn in the South Carolina Coastal Plain

Abstract

Numerous variations of conservation tillage (CT) systems have been adopted for soybean, corn and double-crop wheat grown on Coastal Plain Ultisols. A systematic investigation of the effect of these variations in cultural practices on yields was needed. A long term tillage study was established in Florence, SC to study these variations in conservation tillage systems. Soybean yields were favored by CT but were reduced by drilling. Burning of double-crop residues showed no yield advantage. Corn yields were slightly reduced by conservation tillage systems in which residues were left standing at planting. Double-crop yields were greatly increased by deep primary tillage. Double-cropped wheat and reduced operations with CT in soybean increased cash returns. However, caution is still in order when considering CT for corn in the Coastal Plain