Transition to conservation tillage evaluated in San Joaquin Valley cotton and tomato rotations
Published source details Mitchell J.P., Southard R.J., Madden N.M., Klonsky K.M., Baker J.B., DeMoura R., Horwath W.R., Munk D.S., Wroble J.F., Hembree K.J. & Wallender W.W. (2008) Transition to conservation tillage evaluated in San Joaquin Valley cotton and tomato rotations. California Agriculture, 62, 74-79.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
| Action | Category | |
|---|---|---|
Crop production: Use reduced tillage in arable fields Action Link |  | |
Crop production: Grow cover crops in arable fields Action Link | |
Crop production: Use reduced tillage in arable fields
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1999–2003 in an irrigated tomato-cotton field in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA (same study as (24)), found higher tomato yields in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage. Crop yield: Higher tomato yields were found in plots with reduced tillage, compared to conventional tillage, in one of two comparisons (without winter cover crops: 58 vs 50 t/ha). Methods: Reduced tillage or conventional tillage was used on eight tomato plots each, in 1999–2003. The plots (9 x 82 m) had six raised beds each. Winter cover crops (triticale, rye, and vetch) were planted on half of the plots, in October 1999–2002, and crop residues were chopped in March. Different numbers of tillage practices were used for conventional tillage (19–23 tractor passes, including disc and chisel ploughing) and reduced tillage (11–12 tractor passes, not including disc and chisel ploughing). Tomato seedlings were transplanted in April 2000–2003. Fertilizer and herbicide were used in all plots. Tomatoes were grown in rotation with cotton.
Crop production: Grow cover crops in arable fields
A replicated, randomized, controlled study in 1999–2003 in an irrigated tomato-cotton field in the San Joaquin Valley, California, USA (same study as (24)), found lower crop yields in plots with winter cover crops, compared to plots without winter cover crops. Crop yield: Lower tomato yields were found in plots with cover crops, compared to plots without cover crops, in one of two comparisons (with reduced tillage: 52 vs 58 t/ha). Methods: Sixteen plots (9 x 82 m) had six raised beds each. Rainfed winter cover crops (Triticosecale triticale, Secale cereale Merced rye, and Vicia sativa common vetch) were planted on eight plots, in October 1999–2002, and crop residues were chopped in March. Reduced tillage or conventional tillage was used on half of the plots, in 1999–2003. Different numbers of tillage practices were used for conventional tillage (19–23 tractor passes, including disk and chisel ploughing) and reduced tillage (11–12 tractor passes, not including disk and chisel ploughing). Tomato seedlings were transplanted in April 2000–2003. Fertilizer and herbicide were used on all plots, and the tomatoes were irrigated. Tomatoes were grown in rotation with cotton.
