ARS | Publication request: Sweet Corn, Southern Pea, and Watermelon Yields following Winter Annual Grazing across Tillage Systems

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: November 12, 2006
Publication Date: November 12, 2006
Citation: Balkcom, K.S., Reeves, D.W., Kemble, J.M., Dawkins, R.A. 2006. Sweet Corn, Southern Pea, and Watermelon Yields following Winter Annual Grazing across Tillage Systems [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. [CD-ROM]

Technical Abstract: Vegetable grower income may be supplemented by winter annual grazing of stockers, but excess soil compaction can decrease vegetable yields. We initiated a study to determine the optimal tillage system for sweet corn (Zea mays, L.) cv. `Silver Queen¿, southern pea (Vigna unguiculata L.) cv. `Pinkeye Purplehull¿, and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) cv. `AUProducer¿ production on a Wynnville fine sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Glossic Fragiudults), in north central Alabama from 2001-2003. Three surface tillage treatments (chisel/disk/level, disk/level, no surface tillage) and three deep tillage treatments (no deep tillage, in-row subsoiling, paratill) were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. Each fall, all plots were planted to ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cv. `Marshall¿ and stocked with 6.6 cattle ha-1. Winter annual grazing generated an average net income of $663.76 ha-1 minus labor over the 3 yr period. Preliminary results indicate that a combination of surface and deep tillage is required to maximize sweet corn and watermelon yields following, while only surface tillage affected southern pea yields following winter annual grazing.