Project Number: 6612-61660-001-28
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Apr 27, 2006
End Date: Apr 01, 2008

Objective:
Evaluate the impact of conservation tillage with high residue management in corn production on water capture from rainfall and irrigation in the Coastal Plain. We will accomplish this by 1) direct measurement of soil water content, and 2) thermal infrared images of the canopy. We hope to answer the following questions: 1) can conservation tillage be a profitable management tool for corn production, 2) does strip-till management of corn reduce irrigation frequency and/or amount, and 3) can strip tillage reduce yield losses associated with limited water availability during critical crop growth stages?

Approach:
The research will be conducted at the University of Georgia, C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park, Camilla, GA and Lang Farm, Tifton, GA. Corn will be grown in summer and rye in fall/winter. A 2 tillage (conventional, strip till) by 2 levels of residue amount (rye planted with 0 and 40 lb N per acre; low-high residue) treatments will be replicated 4 times on 30 by 70 ft plots. Soil water in the top 1-ft of soil will be measured continuously to track daily water use and water deficit at each field to be able to make correct irrigation amount needs and application decisions. Remotely sensed data (Low-altitude remote sensing, hand held digital images) will be used to determine crop residue cover, distribution, and amount. Agronomic soil samples will be collected twice a year for nutrient analysis. Crop biomass will be determined and tissue samples collected at VT stage of corn and at desiccation of rye. These data will help us quantify crop response under variable residue and tillage systems.