Planting Date and Tillage Effects on Corn Following Corn1

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Abstract
Crop residue remaining on the soil surface for erosion control under no‐tillage (NT) corn (Zea mays L.) production depresses early season soil temperatures compared to conventional tillage (CT). This has resulted in questions concerning planting date recommendations for NT in the northern United States. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of planting date on crop development and grain yield when corn produced under CT and NT follows corn. Conventional and no‐till systems were compared during 1983 to 1985 at Arlington, WI, on a Plano silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic Typic Argiudoll). Planting dates were 26 April to 6 May (early), 14 to 19 May (medium), and 27 May to 6 June (late). Plots were overplanted and stands were thinned to constant densities following complete emergence. Daily seed‐zone soil temperature and seedling emergence were measured. Colder soil temperatures under NT were associated with reduced corn emergence, delayed emergence and silking, and increased harvest grain moisture compared to CT, for early planting. With medium and late planting dates, differences between tillage systems for emergence and silk date were less pronounced or inconsistent between years, or both. For both tillage systems, highest grain yields were generally obtained when planting was completed by early May, with yield declining as planting was delayed. Decreased grain yields with NT or delayed planting, or both, were related to reduced cumulative air growing degree days between silk and the first 0°C frost. These results suggest that for corn following corn in northern U.S. regions, current recommendations for early planting under CT are applicable to NT. However, increased seeding rates may be required to overcome reduced emergence with NT systems.

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