TILLAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR VEGETABLES FOLLOWING WINTER ANNUAL GRAZING

In Alabama, over 400,000 ac of winter annuals are grazed prior to planting summer row crops. Previous research indicates that cattle grazed on ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) pastures over the winter months in Alabama can be profitable, but winter grazing creates excessive compaction, which can adversely affects yields of subsequent summer crops. We initiated a study to determine the optimal tillage system for sweet corn (Zea mays, L.), southern field pea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) production on a Wynnville fine sandy loam (Fine- loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Glossic Fragiudults), in north central Alabama from 2001 to 2003. Three surface tillage treatments (chisel/disk/level, disk/level, no surface tillage) and three deep tillage treatments (no deep tillage, in-row subsoiling, paratill) were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. Each fall, all plots were planted to ryegrass and stocked with 3 cattle ac-1. Southern field pea yields responded to surface tillage following winter annual grazing with disking comparable to chisel and disking. Sweet corn yields responded to a combination of surface and deep tillage, although deep tillage produced similar yields to surface tillage during one growing season. Watermelon yields were maximized following winter annual grazing with only deep tillage alone without any surface tillage