No-till corn usually produces more than conventional tilled corn in years when water is limited. Corn may be planted in ryegrass or small grain sod or planted in soybeans or other crop stubble without disturbing the soil in the spring when rainfall is heavy and erosion is more of a problem. Drainage may be more important in a no-till situation since corn will not be on a bed to facilitate surface drainage.
Good drainage is absolutely necessary.
As in conventional tillage, heavy textured soils are not as well suited to corn production as the lighter textured soils. Do not attempt no-till corn production on fields infested with perennial weeds that cannot be controlled by preplant, preemergence, or postemergence herbicides. Mulch is extremely important for weed control, soil erosion control, and soil moisture conservation. Residues of 3,000 pounds per acre or more are needed for effective erosion control. It is possible to have too much mulch.