ALTERNATIVE TILLAGE SYSTEMS FOR CORN PRODUCTION IN MICHIGAN

Different forms of conservation tillage systems have been developed in recent years to reduce soil and water erosion problems which result when a conventional tillage/planting system is used. Conventional tillage normally refers to a full or maximum tillage program, while Conservation tillage, in contrast, is a form of non-inversion tillage which reduces soil and water loss. Conservation tillage has been encouraged in the Saginaw Bay watershed by a cost-share program administered by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS). This study was conducted to determine the impact of conventional and conservation tillage systems for corn production when related to erosion, machinery, labor, and timeliness costs.; Computer models were developed based upon the constraints at the farm level. Machinery, agronomic, and economic proper sets of data were collected and used for development of the models. A machinery replacement model analyzed the economic feasibility of a conservation tillage system through determining the switching and trading times when switching from a conventional to a conservation tillage system. Linear programming models were also formulated to determine the optimum machinery sets for commercial corn tillage systems and as input set of data for the machinery replacement model. The extra amount of corn residues on the soil surface can be reduced by an optimizing linear programming model.; The economics and cost advantages of chisel plow tillage systems were compared to conventional systems for common crop rotations.; The results indicate that conservation tillage systems have economic advantages to farmers. This can be, for example, indicated by the machinery replacement model presenting that conventional tillage systems are not profitable for farmers to continue due to higher machinery costs and the reduction in soil productivity from soil erosion.