ECONOMIC COMPARISON OF ALTERNATIVE TILLAGE SYSTEMS FOR DELAWARE GRAIN FARMS

Abstract

DEFINITIONS Conventional tillage consists of several operations involving the moldboard plow, springtooth harrow, disk harrow, cultivator and other types of equipment. The ground is tilled to produce a smooth and fine seedbed. Reduced tillage is a technology practiced by an increasing num­ ber of farmers today. It involves the elimination of as many of . these operations as is technolog~~ally, biologically and econom­ ically feasible . The different types of reduced tillage can range from systems involving chisel plowing the ground in place of moldboard plowing to no-tillage. Under no-tillage, the seed is placed in soil that still carries the previous crop's residue. Weed control is accomplished through herbicides and the old crop resi­ due serves as a mulch which suppresses weed growth. Reduced tillage can reduce the amount of labor needed on a farm . In re­ duced tillage systems where the plowing operation is eliminated, crop residues left on top of the soil reduce moisture loss and soil erosion by wind and water. Legume cover crops can be used to supply nitrogen and provide a mulch cover.