HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yusuf, R. I. Articles by Bullock, D. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Yusuf, R. I. Articles by Bullock, D. G. Agricola Articles by Yusuf, R. I. Articles by Bullock, D. G. Related Collections Soybean Agricultural Systems Soil Fertility and Productivity Tillage

INTEGRATED SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT

Growth Analysis of Soybean under No-Tillage and Conventional Tillage Systems

^a Dep. of Agricultural Engineering, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801-4798 USA

dbullock{at}uiuc.edu

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] plants grown with no-tillage (NT) often appear smaller than those grown with conventional tillage (CT), yet they produce similar grain yield. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that the early-season growth depression is offset by compensatory growth and changes in plant development. A 2-yr field study was conducted at Urbana, IL, on a long-term tillage experiment. Grain yield, moisture, protein, and oil content were similar for CT and NT treatments. Total plant, stem, leaf, and pod dry biomass were all initially about 15 to 20% greater under CT, but the difference declined until about R5 or R6; thus, compensatory growth did occur. At the initiation of sampling (V2) crop growth rate was about 20% greater under CT, but the difference declined until about R2. The advantage shifted to NT until about R6. Leaf area index (LAI) was greater for CT until about R4. Net assimilation rate was greater for NT until about R5. Increases in early-season crop growth rate for CT was due to increased LAI. Greater crop growth rate for NT late in the season was due to increased net assimilation rate. Leaf weight ratio was larger for the CT crop until about R6. Specific leaf area was less in CT than NT. This work supports our hypothesis that compensatory growth and alterations in plant development occur when soybean is grown in NT systems and helps to explain why grain yield does not decrease with NT even though early-season growth is affected.

Abbreviations: CGR, crop growth rate • CT, conventional tillage • L, leaf dry biomass • LAI, green leaf area index • LWR, leaf weight ratio • NAR, net assimilation rate • NT, no-tillage • P, pod dry biomass • S, stem dry biomass • SLA, specific leaf area • W, total plant dry biomass

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. W. Singer, S. D. Logsdon, and D. W. Meek Soybean Growth and Seed Yield Response to Tillage and Compost Agron. J., June 16, 2008; 100(4): 1039 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Pedersen and J. G. Lauer Soybean Growth and Development Response to Rotation Sequence and Tillage System Agron. J., July 1, 2004; 96(4): 1005 - 1012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Pedersen and J. G. Lauer Soybean Growth and Development in Various Management Systems and Planting Dates Crop Sci., March 1, 2004; 44(2): 508 - 515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]