Browsing by Subject "conservation tillage"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Literature Review Summary of the Influences to Soil Health Practice Adoption Behavior in the Midwest
    (2022-11-16) Roth, Sarah
    Increasing voluntary adoption of conservation practices by producers is key to reducing agricultural pollution in Minnesota’s waterways. In order to do this, we must understand producer adoption behavior including the drivers of and barriers to adoption. A literature review was conducted that was exclusive to studies in the Midwest, published since 2000, and focused on soil health practices of interest including cover crops, conservation tillage, perennials, and livestock integration. The major factors that influence producer behavior related to adoption were grouped into 5 main categories: farm characteristics, personal characteristics, perceived practice characteristics, social factors, and structural factors.
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    On-Farm Comparison of Conservation Tillage Systems for Corn Following Soybeans
    (University of Minnesota Extension, 2007-09) DeJong-Hughes, Jodi; Vetsch, Jeffrey
    The purpose of this publication is to assist producers and crop consultants in selecting a conservation tillage system for corn in a corn-soybean rotation. It presents results of on-farm yield trials conducted across southern Minnesota and provides management tips for conservation tillage.
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    Soil physical, chemical, and microbial community responses to two years of perennial Intermediate Wheatgrass versus annual maize/soybean management systems
    (2023-01) Link, Emma
    Intermediate Wheatgrass (IWG, Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey; IWG) is a perennial grain crop with a dense root system which has the potential to facilitate improvements in soil physical structure, fertility, and potentially soil carbon storage. An experiment was established in Rosemount, MN, USA to assess changes in soil physical, chemical, and microbial community responses to IWG system vs. annual corn/soy system management after two growing seasons. This experiment aims to 1) assess soil quality under four systems representing a gradient of perenniality, cropping system diversity and soil disturbance intervals and, 2) investigate relationships between soil microbial community characteristics and desired soil chemical and physical quality outcomes to better understand the mechanisms behind desired outcomes. In the first chapter of this study, we report the agronomic outcomes of the first two years of the experiment and examine how IWG vs. annual crop management affect soil chemical and physical properties over the course of two growing seasons. After two years, we find that the proportion of large water stable soil aggregates at 15-30 cm soil depth increased significantly in IWG but not IWG-alf intercropped systems compared to annual systems. We also find evidence of increased water use deep in the soil profile by IWG systems under drought conditions. In the second chapter, we investigate the responses of soil microbial community composition and potential function to two years of IWG vs. annual management. We find that after two years, fungal community composition varied significantly by cropping system and IWG systems are associated with increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biomass and AMF indicator species. We also find evidence of greater extracellular enzyme activity in IWG systems and an annual system with cover cropping.
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    Tillage Best Management Practices for the Minnesota River Basin Based on Soils, Landscape, Climate, Crops, and Economics
    (St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 1996) Moncrief, John F.; Evans, Samuel D.; Randall, Gyles W.; Senjem, Norman B.; Lueschen, William E.; Olson, Kent D.
    This book is a compilation of the following six publications, which are also available individually: Description of the Minnesota River Basin and General Recommendations of Residue Management Systems for Sediment control (FO-6673); Sediment Problems and Solutions for the Minnesota River (FO-6671); Tillage Best Management Practices for Corn-Soybean Rotations in the Minnesota River Basin (FO-6676); Tillage Best Management Practices for Continuous Corn in the Minnesota River Basin (FO-6672); Tillage Best Management Practices for Small Grain Production in the Upper Minnesota River Basin (FO-6674); Economic Comparison of Incremental Changes in Tillage Systems in the Minnesota River Basin (FO-6675).
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    Tips for Profitable Crop Residue Management Systems
    (St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 1993) Moncrief, John
    This fact sheet discusses crop residue management and its importance for the profitability of conservation tillage systems. Topics include: crop sequence, corn, soybeans, small grain, and alfalfa.