U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center: Pendleton, OR
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Related TopicsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Pendleton, Oregon Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Wuest, Stewartitem
                                            CORP, MARY - Oregon State University
  Submitted to: Crop Management
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2011
                                    Publication  Date: 12/23/2011
                                    Citation: Wuest, S.B., Corp, M.K. 2011. One-pass tillage for summer fallow under arid summer conditions. Crop Management. DOI: 10.1094/CM-2011-1223-03-RS.Interpretive Summary: Millions of hectares of cropland with as low as 6 inches annual precipitation are used for production of winter wheat in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Despite soil conservation advances, erosion continues to be a problem. This on-farm study analyzed soil water data under six farmer-implemented fallow tillage practices. Statistical tools were used to separate year-to-year weather effects from the performance of the treatments. Soil bulk density differences were adjusted for also. Except where weeds were a problem, tilled fallow produced 1% better seed-zone water compared to no-till at an average soil water content of about 8%. A low disturbance, wide-blade undercutter sweep treatment was similar or superior to the farmer’s more intensive conventional tillage system. We measured an increase of over 0.5% using a two-pass sweep–rodweed treatment compared to the conventional multiple-pass tillage. These results indicate that very low disturbance, low erosion tilled summerfallow systems are possible while maintaining or improving economic performance.
                                Technical Abstract: Millions of ha of cropland with as low as 150 mm (5.91 in) annual precipitation are used for production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Despite soil conservation advances, erosion continues to be a problem. This on-farm study analyzed soil water data under six farmer-implemented fallow tillage practices. An incomplete block design in a mixed model was used to adjust treatment effects so that new treatments added in the third and fourth years of the four-year study could be compared to treatments present in all four years. Soil water content data was adjusted to depths of equivalent mass so that conclusions concerning water content would not be confounded with differences in soil bulk density. Except where weeds were a problem, tilled fallow produced 0.01 g g^1 (1%) better seed-zone water compared to no-till (at an average soil water content of about 0.08 g g^1 (8%)). A low disturbance, wide-blade undercutter sweep treatment was similar or superior to the farmer’s more intensive conventional tillage system. While not statistically significant, a measured increase of over 0.005 g g^1 (0.5%) using a two-pass sweep–rodweed treatment compared to the conventional multiple-pass tillage is incentive to further investigate and develop low disturbance systems.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov