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Utilizing Strip Tillage for Tobacco Production

ANR Agent Update – Hopkinsville – October 19, 2011 – 10:00 AM. Utilizing Strip Tillage for Tobacco Production . Andy Bailey Tobacco Extension Specialist University of Kentucky / University of Tennessee. Conservation Tillage Systems for Tobacco.

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Utilizing Strip Tillage for Tobacco Production

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  1. ANR Agent Update – Hopkinsville – October 19, 2011 – 10:00 AM Utilizing Strip Tillage for Tobacco Production Andy Bailey Tobacco Extension Specialist University of Kentucky / University of Tennessee

  2. Conservation Tillage Systems for Tobacco • Conservation tillage has not been widely adopted for tobacco • Reasons: • Primary tillage and cultivation have been a major component of tobacco weed control programs • Lack of herbicides registered for tobacco • Tobacco growers’ perception of need for near-perfect plant stands that may be more likely with conventional tillage systems.

  3. Primary Tillage and Tobacco • Subsoiling • Moldboard plowing • If following perennial grass • Chisel plowing • Multiple disking • Soil finishing • As much as 3 hours per acre in land preparation and cultivation

  4. Cultivation and Tobacco • Typically cultivated at least twice in the first 5 to 6 weeks. • Reasoning: • Supplement weed control • Prevent soil crusting • Add soil to base of plant to increase standability and reduce sucker growth from base of plant • Risks: • Root and leaf damage from excessive cultivation • Transmission of diseases like Black Shankand TMV.

  5. Grower Concerns with No-Till • Poor stands? • More stand loss with no-till but losses minimal (<3%) • No or minimal effect on yield/A • Premature flowering? • Effect documented with no-till dark tobacco in established fescue sod residue • Presumably due to root competition with dense root system of grass • Minimal effect (1%), no effect on yield/A

  6. Conservation Tillage Tobacco in KY72,000 acres burley tobacco, 2-3% no-till, 7-8% strip till13,500 acres dark tobacco, <1% no-till, >15% strip till Strip-Till Minimal tillage preparation in strips where tobacco will be transplanted No-Till No tillage preparation prior to transplanting

  7. No-Till - TransplanterModification • No-till Coulter • Cuts residue • Provides narrow “tilled” zone • “Subsoil” shank • Provides loose soil under root ball • “Pulls” unit into soil • Press wheels • Close and firm soil around roots *Source: R. Pearce

  8. Why Strip-Till instead of No-Till? • Strip-till considered a hybrid of conventional tillage and no-tillage: • 12 to 16 inch tilled strip for transplanting, row middles no-till • No transplanter modifications needed for strip-till • Dark tobacco yields appear to be comparable in conventional and strip-tillage systems • Yields lower in some instances with no-till • Plant stand with strip-till comparable to conventional tillage (typically better stand than with no-till)

  9. Strip-Tillage Systems for Tobacco Good conservation of soil and water Less soil erosion than with conventional, but not as good as no-till May open up ground previously unsuitable for tobacco production Soil tilth improved over 4 to 5 year period Fuel savings in land preparation 0 tillage passes with no-till As few as 2 tillage passes with strip-till 5 to 6 tillage passes sometimes used for conventional tillage Weed control may be the biggest concern in strip-till and no-till Particularly glyphosate-resistant horseweed populations in west KY/TN Potentially cleaner tobacco at harvest Strip-till yields comparable to conventional tillage with normal rainfall, may yield better in a dry year?

  10. Strip-Tillage Systems for Tobacco Disadvantages: Expensive initial equipment costs Still some potential for erosion in crop row Additional herbicide costs Burndown application required prior to land preparation Glyphosate/Roundup (30 days prior to transplanting) Paraquat/Gramoxone (may require multiple applications) May need to increase rates of standard herbicides More potential for weed problems? Labor for weeding? Cannot fully incorporate certain nitrogen sources, insecticides, and fungicides as recommended.

  11. Strip-Till TobaccoForming Strips Strip-till unit Used to establish strips 4-row implement: approx. $16,500

  12. Strip-Till TobaccoStrip Finishing Multivator Used to freshen strips prior to transplanting 4-row implement: approx. $11,000

  13. Strip-Till TobaccoGeneral Production Guidelines • Form strips in the fall if possible • Can rework in spring if needed and use multivator prior to transplanting • Soybean/corn residue best, long-term fallow (CRP) or sod least ideal • Need at least 60% residue cover in row middles to see full benefit • Burn down with glyphosate in fall, can reapply glyphosate in spring up to 30 days prior to transplanting • Glyphosate-resistant horseweed can be a problem, pigweed could be soon • Field must be clean when tobacco is transplanted • Can add paraquat to tobacco herbicides to kill any green vegetation • Use full rates of best herbicides • Spartan: 10 to 12 oz/A Spartan 4F, 12.5 to 15 oz/A Spartan Charge • Command 3ME: 2 to 2.67 pt/A • Continue Ridomil/Lorsban even though not incorporating entire area.

  14. Strip-Till TobaccoFertilizer Application • Fertilizer sources: • P and K: any standard source can work, soil test to see if needed • If band applied, can reduce recommended P and K rate by 1/3. • Nitrogen: do not reduce recommended rate even if banded • Ammonium nitrate, UAN, or ESN are good N sources • Urea not preferred since we can’t incorporate entire area

  15. Problems with tobacco after harvesting wheat • Soil microbes breaking down wheat residue will compete for nitrogen applied for tobacco

  16. Dark-Fired Variety Performance in Different Tillage Systems2010 – Dale Seay Farm – Christian Co. - Crofton, KY

  17. Dark Tobacco Yield Comparisons of Conventional Tillage vs. Strip-Tillage

  18. Strip-Tillage vs. Conventional TillageBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co. • 85 lb/A yield increase in on-farm trial • Dark-fired price @ $2.56/pound = $217.60/acre LSD0.05 = 136 131 233 295 (total) Total Yield (lbs/A): 3835 3920 Yield (lbs/A)

  19. Conventional Tillage Herbicide Costs/HaBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co., KY • Spartan 4F – 8 oz/A $24.50/A • Prowl H2O – 1.5 pt/A $6.46/A $30.96/A

  20. Strip-Till Herbicide Costs/HaBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co., KY • Valor SX – 2 oz/A $9.25/A • Roundup Powermax – 22 oz/A $2.70/A • Gramoxone – 1 qt/A $6.06/A • Spartan 4F – 10 oz/A $30.62/A • Prowl H2O – 1.5 pt/A $6.46/A $55.09/A

  21. Strip-Till Land Prep Costs/HaBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co., KY • 2 pass spray (burndown + standard) @ $7.00/pass $14.00/A • 1 pass strip-tiller @ $19.50/pass $19.50/A • 1 pass soil finish (multivator tiller) @ $13.00/pass $13.00/A Total strip-till machinery costs = $46.50/A *Source: 2011 Univ. of KY Custom Machinery Rates

  22. Conventional Tillage Land Prep Costs/HaBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co., KY • 2 pass disk –tandem @ $13.00/pass $26.00/A • 1 pass chisel plow @ $15.00/pass $15.00/A • 1 pass standard herbicide spray @ $7.00/pass $7.00/A • 3 pass soil finish @ $13.00/pass $39.00/A • 3 pass cultivation @ $10.50/pass $31.50/A Total Conventional Till Machinery Cost = $111.50/A *Source: 2011 Univ. of KY Custom Machinery Rates

  23. Strip-Till Equipment Expense • Total equipment cost $27,500 • $3,928.57/year depreciation for 7 years • $78.57/ha for 50 acre grower

  24. Economic Assessment of Tillage SystemsBobby Toon Farm – Carlisle Co., KY

  25. Summary • Although not as environmentally sustainable as no-till, strip-till is more sustainable than conventional tillage. • Land preparation costs reduced by 61% and herbicide costs increased by 78% with strip-till. • Additional equipment expenses could be defrayed as used equipment becomes available. • If yield advantages for strip-till are consistent, there appears to be an economic advantage to strip-tillage.

  26. Questions?

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