The Effects of Tillage Systems on the Performance and Elemental Absorption by Selected Vegetable Crops1

Abstract

A three-year study was conducted with cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.), sweet corn ( Zea mays L.), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. Plant stand of cucumber was less in NT than in CT in 1973 and 1974, but the tillage system had no effect on cucumber plant stand in 1975 when a cover crop was used. Plant stand of NT sweet corn was less than CT in 1973, but equal to that of CT in 1974 and 1975. Tillage system had no effect on survival of tomato and pepper plants. Total yields of NT cucumber were lower than CT in 1974 because of lower plant stand in NT than in CT plots. However, lower NT tomato yields in 1973 and 1974 and NT pepper yields in each of the 3 years was attributed to greater reinfestation and competition of weeds in NT than in CT plots. NT sweet corn yields were as good or better than CT yields. Nutrient uptake varied with cropping system and sampling time. Generally, CT crops had more nitrogen but less phosphorus than NT crops. Calcium was higher in CT cucumber plants early in the 1973 and 1974 seasons but less than that in NT plants at the last sampling dates in 1974 and 1975. The other crops were less consistent than cucumber in calcium uptake. Potassium varied with cropping system and sampling date, while magnesium was not affected by cropping systems.