Pushing the System: Deep Placed Nitrogen under Reduced Tilled Cabbage

Interest in reduced tillage methods is expanding in response to concerns for soil quality in vegetable systems. Reduced tillage (RT) refers to systems that minimize soil disturbance and maintain at least 30% residue cover. These systems can reduce soil and wind erosion, overcome compaction challenges typical of vegetable soils, conserve organic matter and improve overall soil health. In addition, past research has demonstrated a reduction in fuel use and equipment wear as well as an improvement in labor efficiency. Deep zone tillage is one reduced tillage (RT) method that minimizes the width of soil disturbance to the planting row while providing sufficient soil disturbance to increase drainage and aeration and decrease compaction. This disturbance results in improved conditions for seed germination compared to no-tillage systems which may not be feasible in the finer soils of the Northeast due to cooler soil temperatures and high moisture. Deep zone tillage has been tested with several crops in NYS and found to support similar yields to conventional full width plowing for sweet corn, dry beans, pumpkins, broccoli, squash, peppers, and cabbage.