Multi-Year Soybean Tillage Study

Key Points

Objective: To evaluate the yield and economic impacts of various tillage programs in a soybean after corn rotation, including conventional till, strip-till, vertical till, and no-till. We also evaluate the yield and economic benefit of implementing a vertical tillage in corn stalks before a fall strip-till application to aid stalk decomposition.
A Close Competition: There is a variance of about 1.0 Bu/A separating the average yield between tillage programs across all six years of our data.
Results: To understand both yield and economics, the University of Illinois Machinery Cost Estimate Summary is used to calculate individual cost of each tillage program. In 2023, for the three reduced tillage programs, an extra $10/A burn-down is also included due to higher herbicide costs that year.

Which tillage program is best for soybeans in a soybean after corn rotation?

Tillage and crop rotations can have a significant impact on soil preparation ahead of planting and yield increases as the soil improves in health. When we get this right, it can lead to some significant increases in yield. If we get it wrong, it can lead to air pockets, slowing us down in the field and even decreasing yield.

We’ve had great success with several of our tillage programs at the PTI Farm. In this study, we evaluated the yield and economic impact of various tillage programs, including conventional till, strip-till, vertical till, and no-till.

Chart showing yield impact of soybean tillage methods in soybeans in 2018-2023

Chart showing yield impact of soybean tillage methods in soybeans in 2023

In our soybean tillage study, when we compare all six years of data, there is a variance of up to 1.0 Bu/A separating the average yields. When we look at 2023, the yields varied less than 5.0 Bu/A between all tillage programs with vertical tillage offering the highest yield of 77.6 Bu/A.

Where these methods separate more drastically is the economics. Across all six years of the study, and considering the University of Illinois Machinery Cost Estimates, no-till has provided economic gains of +$8.37/A over strip-till, +$23.77/A over conventional till, and +$8.82/A over vertical tillage.

In 2023, no-till also offered the highest overall revenue in this tillage system study. Compared to no-till, strip-till offered losses of -$36.37/A, vertical tillage -$7.13/A and due to higher equipment cost, conventional tillage had the highest losses of -$90.74/A.

Chart showing economic impact of soybean tillage methods in soybeans in 2018-2023

Chart showing economic impact of soybean tillage methods in soybeans in 2023

Separately, we evaluated the yield and economic benefit of implementing a vertical tillage in corn stalks before a fall strip-till application to aid stalk decomposition.

Vertical tillage pre-strip-till proved to be beneficial with a +0.6 Bu/A yield contribution. As a result of the extra pass, though, net economic losses occurred of -$9.75/A.