Conservation Tillage Corn and Forage Crops

Several reduced, or conservation tillage (CT) approaches are currently being evaluated in Central Valley forage production systems. In theory, these practices reduce costs and minimize the time needed to go from one crop to the next. Recent single-year trials with dairy forage producers in Stanislaus and Tulare Counties have evaluated the potential of several CT systems and have identified a number of production issues that must be addressed in order for them to be more widely adopted. In both of these trials, slightly lower yields were produced with the CT systems relative to standard till practices and surface irrigation water movement problems occurred. In one study, stand establishment, early season crop vigor and surface irrigation water movement and application efficiency were seen as problems needing additional work. Ongoing trials are trying to address these difficulties and improve CT forage systems.