Comparison of Organic and Conventional Crops, Long-Term Agroecological Research (LTAR) Site

The Neely-Kinyon LTAR site was established in 1998 to study the long-term effects of organic production in Iowa. Treatments at the LTAR site, replicated four times in a randomized complete block design, included the following rotations: conventional Corn-Soybean (C-S), organic Corn-Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa (C-S-O/A), organic Corn-Soybean-Oats/Alfalfa-Alfalfa (CS-O/A-A), and Soybean-Wheat (S-W). Variety selection and planting methods in 2006 were as follows: Pioneer 34A15 corn was planted at a depth of 1.75 in. as untreated seed at a rate of 32,000 seeds/acre in the organic plots and as treated seed in conventional plots, on May 16, 2006. Schillinger 240F.Y soybeans were planted at a depth of 2 in. in organic and conventional plots at a rate of 165,000 seeds/acre on May 22, 2006