Tillage Conference WINTER ANNUAL GRAZING AND TILLAGE SYSTEMS EFFECTS ON

Winter annual grazing can supplement vegetable grower income, but can also decrease vegetable yields through excess soil compaction. We initiated a study to determine the optimal tillage system for sweet corn (Zea mays, L.) production on a Wynnville fine sandy loam (Fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Glossic Fragiudults), in north central Alabama from 2001-2003. A factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design of three surface tillage treatments (chisel/disk/level, disk/level, no surface tillage) and three deep tillage treatments (no deep tillage, in-row subsoiling, paratill) with four replications were administered to plots planted to ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) cv. ‘Marshall ’ each fall. Winter annual grazing generated an average net income over the 3 yr period of $268.75 ac-1 minus labor. Both surface tillage treatments were superior to no surface tillage each year. In-row subsoiling produced higher fresh corn ear weights in 2001, while both deep tillage treatments produced higher yields than no deep tillage in 2003. Leaf temperatures differences of less than 2 F ° were observed between surface and deep tillage treatments in 2001 and 2002. Differences of 1/16” were observed in average ear diameters between surface tillage treatments in 2001 and 200