Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilization of Corn and Soybeans Managed with No-till and Chisel-Plow Tillage

No-till management results in little or no incorporation of residues and fertilizers with soil. Broadcast fertilization could be inefficient with no-till because phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) accumulate near the soil surface. Banding fertilizers at shallow depths with the planter or deeper before planting could be more effective. A study was initiated in 1994 at this farm and at four other research farms to evaluate P and K fertilizer placement for corn and soybeans managed with no-till and chisel-plow tillage. The study consists of four separate trials: P for corn, P for soybeans, K for corn, and K for soybeans. Both crops are grown on Marshall soil in rotation by alternating crops each year between adjacent areas. The tillage and fertilization treatments are applied for both crops, which are planted with 30-in. row spacing. Cornstalks of plots managed with chisel-plow tillage are chisel plowed in the fall and field cultivated in spring, whereas soybean residues are only field cultivated in spring. The planter is equipped with row cleaners and dry fertilizer attachments