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Residual Effects of Corn (Zea Mays L.) Residues on Succeeding Crops Under Different Tillage Levels
Thesis Abstract:
The study consisted of a field and a pot experiment. It aimed to: 1) determine the stimulatory or inhibitory effect of corn residues on the growth and yield of subsequent crops such as corn, soybean, and mung bean; 2) evaluate the effects of tillage on the inhibitory or stimulatory effect of corn residues to subsequent crops; 3) determine the best time to plant subsequent crops when inhibitory effects of corn residue is no longer active.
The field experiment revealed that corn, soybean, or mung bean grown in a field previously planted to corn and with corn residues incorporated after harvest tended to be taller than plants grown after a fallow period (control). A significant difference in corn ear length and grain yield was observed between corn planted in a field with corn residues and corn planted after fallow. Higher grain yield and longer ear length were recorded in a field previously planted to corn and with corn residue incorporated. On the other hand, mung bean grain yield from field previously cropped to corn and with corn residue applied was not significantly different from grain yield obtained from fallow fields.
Results seemed to indicate that corn residue left in the field after harvest stimulated the following crops when minimum or zero tillage was employed. Results of the pot experiment suggested that decomposing corn residue in the field or a field previously planted to corn with corn residues spread on the soil surface after harvest will either inhibit or stimulate growth of subsequent corn, soybean, or mung bean crops depending on the time of planting.