Soil Biology and Yield Trends over 7 Yrs of Organic Reduced till Management in Wisconsin.

Reducing tillage in organic production systems continues to be a priority among organic farmers in the upper Midwest.  Additionally, the reduction of tillage could increase the motivation of conventional farmers to transition to organic management.  A 7-yr study has been conducted at the University of Wisconsin  Arlington Agricultural Research Station, integrating cover crop based reduced till strategies into a corn-oat-soybean-alfalfa rotation.  Yields of soybean and corn under of CCBRT increased during the first three years of management, and then stabilized during the remaining years.  The integration of CCBRT practices resulting in increased populations of AMF and gram negative bacteria in the soil.  Perennial weed populations continued to increase throughout CCBRT management, indicating a continued challenge of the system.