RIDGE PLANTING FOR ROW CROPS ON A POORLY DRAINED SOIL .1. ROTATION AND DRAINAGE EFFECTS

A three-year study was conducted to assess effects of ridge planting and moldboard plowing on yield of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), produced in continuous or rotational cropping sequences, with or without tile drainage on a Hoytville silty clay soil (Mollic Ochraqualfs). Ridge planting involved planting without preplant tillage on ridges formed by cultivation of the previous year's crop. Ridge planting permitted earlier maize planting than moldboard plowing in two years and earlier soybean planting in one year. Ridge planting produced average maize yield greater than or equal to that produced by moldboard plowing for continuous maize production, but did not consistently influence yield of maize following soybean, or soybean planted in 76-cm rows following either crop. Soybean planted in 18-cm rows following moldboard plowing produced average yields greater than or equal to that planted in the 76-cm rows characteristic of ridge planting. Overall, ridge planting benefits situations where timely planting is a major objective. © 1990.