KY No-Till Tobacco Project(Overcoming Challenges For Success)

Jon Anderson KY Department Fish and Wildlife Resources Brad Brown

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

How did this project evolve?

Jon Anderson started in 2012 in Somerset, KY.

Led to a Position in West KY

Partnered with Pulaski and ChristianCounty Conservation Districts with the Equipment

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Our Goal

Assist tobacco growers in applying good conservation in tobacco production with an end result of converting to no-till.

• Reduce Soil Erosion

• Improve Water Quality

• Enhance Wildlife Habitat

• Profitability

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

So How Do We Accomplish Our Goals?

• Take no-till transplanters to field

• Assist Growers with a test plot of no-till tobacco

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

No Till Tobacco Project Totals

2013 - 107.5 ac./19 producers

2014 - 228 ac./ 31 producers

2015 - 426 ac./ 56 producers

2016 - 475 ac./ 65 producers

2017 - 507 ac./ 56 producers

Yellow counties represent wherewe have had no-till plots

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Reasons To Grow No-Till Tobacco?

• Greatly Reduces Runoff and Erosion

• Less Disturbance to Soil Structure

• Increased Water Infiltration

• Increased Moisture Holding Capacity In Soil

• Much Less Energy Inputs

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Other Benefits of No-Till Tobacco

Much Cleaner Product at Harvest

Better Ground Conditions for ManagementPractices

Less Disease Spread

Wildlife Benefits

Compliance

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Why isn’t more Tobacco Being Grown Using No-Till ?

• Of the 85,000 acres of tobacco, still only 5 -10 % is being grown using no-till.

• More prevalent in central/eastern Ky.

• 30% using strip till in western KY.

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Some Reasons May Be:

• Changing Traditions• Equipment Cost / Upgrades• Market Uncertainty

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Yield?

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

322 274

30653197

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

CONVENTIONAL TILLED IN SOYBEAN RESIDUE

NO-TILL IN SOYBEAN RESIDUE

Yiel

d (lb

s./ac

.)

2017 No-till Tobacco Yield Plot in Calloway County

Lug Leaf

Total Yield (lbs./ac.)3471

Variety = D6 Dark Fire Cured Tobacco in both plots

Set Date = No-till 5/18/17Conv. Till 5/23/17

Plant Spacing = No-till 4900 plants/ac.Conv. Till 4585 plants/ac.

3387

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

0 0 128 110 0 24 36431 411 400372 323

488 494

107

652 693

838 841

1325

3906 3875

2672 2628

2786

19092022

362 349

489

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

CARLISLE CO. DARK FIRE D6

NO-TILL

CARLISLE CO. DARK FIRE 7309

STRIP-TILL

CALLOWAY CO. DARK FIRE NL

MADOLE STRIP-TILL

CALLOWAY CO. DARK FIRE NL

MADOLE NO-TILL

CALLOWAY CO. DARK FIRE D14

NO-TILL

CALLOWAY CO. DARK FIRE D6

NO-TILL

MARSHALL CO. DARK FIRE

NO-TILL

CALLOWAY CO. BURLEY KT 212

CONV. TILL

CALLOWAY CO. BURLEY KT 212

NO-TILL

HOPKINS CO. BURLEY 7371

NO-TILL

Yiel

d (lb

s./ac

.)

2016 No-till Tobacco Yield Plot Data Western Kentucky

Trash Lugs LeafTotal Yield (lbs./ac.)

4198

3288 3232

2893

25852751

1631 1601

2214

* Yields were greatly affected by heavy amounts of rain and the presence of disease in many areas during the 2016 growing season.

Side by Side Trial in Carlisle Co. Side by Side

Trial in Calloway Co.

Side by SideTrial inCalloway Co.

4278

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

580 585 721

2922

26562729

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

NO-TILL IN SPRAYED DOWN

COVER CROP

NO-TILL IN ROLLED DOWN COVER CROP

CONVENTIONAL TILLED IN

COVER CROP

Yiel

d (lb

s./ac

.)

2015 No-till Tobacco Yield Plot in Webster County with Cover Crops

Lug Leaf

Total Yield (lbs./ac.)

32413450

Cover Crop consists of 50 lbs./ac. of Cereal Rye5 lbs./ac. of Crimson Clover, and 2 lbs./ac. of Tillage Radish

Planted early September 2014

Sprayed Down Cover was terminated at around 12” tall

Rolled cover was terminated around 4 ft. by being chemically sprayed andthen rolled with cultipacker

Cover Crop in the conventional tilled tobacco was sprayed at 12” talland then tilled under.

3502

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

ModernSetters

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Old Style No-till Setter

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Poor Quality Set Quality Set

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Keys to Success

1. Know the Soil Type

A. Silt Loam or Sandy LoamB. Soil Moisture at setting time

1. Myth “Can Set No-till Quicker”

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Setting too Wet!

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

As a Result:(Restricted Root Growth)

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Keys to Success

2. Site Selection

A. Follow Crop field or cover cropB. Sod or areas of sparse cover not

recommended

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Keys to Success3. Follow Strict Herbicide Protocol

A. Pre-plant Herbicides1. Glyphosphate or Gramaxone as burndowns2. Spartan3. Prowl4. Command5. Devrinol

B. Post-plant Herbicides1. Command2. Devrinol

C. Few Rescue Options1. Poast for grass2. Shield sprayers3. Mechanical ( garden hoe, weedeater, cultivator)

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Bad Site Preparation Good Site Preparation

Weed Control

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Keys to Success

4. Fertilization

A. Soil Test B. Apply Lime and Phosphorus/Potassium in FallC. Nitrogen

1. Split Applications is optimal

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Keys to Success

5. Cover Crops

A. Plant early after harvest( Benefits: Protect top soil, Build Organic Matter,

Scavage nutrients, Feeds MicroOrganism)

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Cover Crop Research• Studying the effects cover crops have

on soil and no-till tobacco

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed

Questions?

2018

_TW

C65

_Bro

wn.

pdf

TW

C20

18(4

8) -

Doc

umen

t not

pee

r-re

view

ed