Strip Tillage for Sugarbeet, Corn, and Soybean Production in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota.

A study was conducted to determine if strip tillage provides a suitable alternative to conventional tillage for producing sugarbeet and associated rotation crops in ND and MN.  A randomized split plot design was employed to test the effect of strip tillage versus conventional chisel plowing for three common rotation crops (sugarbeet, corn, and soybean) at two locations in eastern ND and western MN in 2007-2009.  In 2007, sugarbeet root yield and sugar content did not differ between treatments; root yield averaged 66.3 Mg ha^-1 for strip tillage treatments and 67.2 Mg ha^-1 for conventional tillage and net sugar averaged 14.5% for both treatments.  In 2007, soybean yield differed between locations but not treatments and ranged from 1.8 to 3.1 Mg ha^-1.  Corn yield averages did not differ between treatments and were 8.0 Mg ha^-1 for strip tillage and 8.8 Mg ha^-1 for conventional tillage.  In 2008, sugarbeet root yield and recoverable sugar content did not differ between treatments; average root yield was 61.4 Mg ha^-1 for strip tillage treatments and 63.8 Mg ha^-1 for conventional tillage; sugar content averaged 14.4% for strip till and 14.7% for chisel plow.  In 2008, soybean yield did not differ between treatments at one location and was significantly greater for strip tillage compared to conventional tillage at the other location; yields ranged from 2.2 to 3.3 Mg ha^-1.  In 2008, corn yields were significantly greater with strip tillage relative to conventional tillage at both locations; yields ranged from 8.8 to 12.5 Mg ha^-1.  Corn and soybean yields are reported on 0% moisture content basis.  Despite wet conditions, strip tillage performed as well as or better than chisel plowing for all crops in 2007 and 2008.