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Conservation Tillage an Option for Tobacco Growers
By
Laura Skillman
MURRAY, Ky., (Feb. 14, 2007) – For 13 years, Bob Pearce has
researched how to make tobacco production work using
conservation tillage practices. The University of Kentucky
tobacco specialist says while burley farmers have been slow to
adopt the practice, technical advances are making it a more
attractive option.
Kentucky has a long history of no-till. It has become standard
practice into grain crops but not so with tobacco. Part of that
is tradition, Pearce said. Producers were raised plowing the
fields. In addition, lack of good weed control products and
transplanters made it less attractive to producers. However,
better weed control and transplanters make this less an issue
today. Finally, the uncertainty surrounding tobacco in the 1990s
and early 2000s, slowed many producers from making the move
until the buyout was completed.
Some advantages of conventional tillage include weed control,
reduced compaction and incorporation of organic matter,
fertilizer and chemicals into the soil. While it works well,
tillage also can increase soil erosion, resulting in higher fuel
usage, damaged soil structure and compaction if not done
properly, Pearce said.
Advantages with no-till include soil and water conservation,
reduced erosion, less fuel usage and the ability to get into
fields to perform various tasks when tilled patches are too wet.
Another advantage is a cleaner leaf because residue left on the
ground in no-till production limits mud and dirt splashing onto
it.
No-tilling tobacco does take some getting accustomed to, Pearce
said.
Over the years, Pearce has also been working to modify existing
transplanters to make them viable for no-till production. These
modifications include adding a coulter that can cut the residue
and provide an area where the plant can be placed in the ground.
A shank that breaks up soil beneath the surface is also helpful
in loosening soil to allow roots to get established. The shank
also helps pull the plant into the ground, and modified press
wheels help push dirt back around the plant. There are now some
no-till planters on the market, and many existing ones can be
easily modified.
Weed control has become less of an issue in no-till thanks to
new chemical formulations. But going into the weediest patch of
ground on the farm is still not the best management practice
when considering no-till tobacco, Pearce said. No-till planting
into soybean stubble offers the best option, but corn stubble
and wheat stubble can also be effectively used. If using a small
grain cover crop, producers need to kill it about a month before
planting or when it gets knee-high because it can compete with
plants and makes it more difficult for the transplanter to work
effectively. With sod, growers may benefit from fall
applications to kill the grass.
“The main thing is that there is really only one chance for weed
control in no-till, so early control is critical,” Pearce said.
“Post-transplant weed control is still the biggest weakness.
Mowers and weed eaters are an option, and there are some
chemicals that can be used to control grasses. Shield spraying
may also be an option, but there is nothing available today to
spray over the top that doesn’t also damage tobacco.”
Plant varieties and fertilization are no different for
conventional and no-till tobacco production. Research continues
in these areas, including use of liquid fertilizer and
fertilizer placement.
“No-till tobacco requires a higher level of management, is not
as forgiving and is still developing,” Pearce said. “For people
interested, I advise them to get as much information as can
through Extension, articles and farmers who have done it.” |
Contact: Bob Pearce, 859-257-5110 |
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