1. R. David Myers Extension Educator, Agriculture Sustainable and Low Input Strip-Till & No-Till Vegetable Planting Tactics 2004-2006 Preliminary Report

2. Fountain of Wealth?

8. Do We Need Pesticides? National Organic Standards http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm

9. Do We Need Pesticides? Organic Trade Association http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html Current Organic Food Sales 1-2% The Rodale Institute has set a goal of 100,000 certified organic U.S. farmers, representing five percent of the 2 million American farmers, by the year 2013, In May 2003. Certified organic U.S. farmers now number approximately 12,200. —The Rodale Institute, www.newfarm.org/news/05 0103/0528/100,000.shtml. www.newfarm.org/news/05 0103/0528/100,000.shtml

10. German Foxtail Millet 5 Days AP

11. German Foxtail Millet 60 Days AP

17. Pak Choi Plot Yield 9-7-00

19. Kai Brady Ferguson Manufacturing Company P.O. Box 1098 Suffolk, VA 23439 Phone 757 539-3409 Fax 757 934-3612

20. Quote: Ferguson Company 2-13-03 Ferguson 1-Row Rip-Strip-Till Implement Assembled Components: 4”X 4”X 48” front bar with Cat. 1 hitch 2.5” X 2.5” X 48” bar with no-till coulter 4” X 7” X 48” bar with 1 subsoiler shank & 2 side coulters 2.5” X 2.5” X 48” bar with 2 parallel linkages & 1 double basket assembly – 12” baskets Depth gauge wheel assembly 2- park stands Dealer Retail $2,954.00

22. Monosem Planters US/A.T.I. Inc. 17135 W 116 th Street Lenexa, KS 66219 Paul Wood Eastern US Sales Phone 757 539-3409 Ext. 5 Fax 757 934-3612 Monosem Dealers  Binkley & Hurst Bros. Inc, Lilitz, PA 717 626-4705  Leatherbury Equipment Inc. Cheriton, VA 757 331-2681  Robertson Equipment Inc. Colerain, NC 252 356-4782

23. Quote: Binkley & Hurst Inc. 2-14-03 Monosem NG Plus Mounted Planter Assembled Components: 2-Row NG + 36” wide planter 1.4 bushel seed hopper Turbo fan PTO with vacuum gauge Dry fertilizer with double disk openers Frame mounted no-till coulter Trash sweeps Heavy duty down pressure spring kit Small seed air cleanout system Concave and v-closing disks 14 sets of seed plates Dealer Retail $12,923.00

25. Table 1. Vegetable Planting Data CropVarietyRow Spacing (inches) In Between Planting Depth (inches) Target Planting Dates Spring Fall Sugar Snap PeasSugar Bon1 3/4 361/23 /1-3/128/15-8/24 CollardsChampion1 3/4 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 KaleBlue Curled Scotch1 5/8 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 TurnipsPurple Top1 3/4 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 Chinese CabbagePak Choy & Michili1 5/8 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 SpinachTyee & Melody1 5/8 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 RadishRed Globe & Icicle1 3/4 361/44/7-4/248/15-8/24 LettuceSalad Bowl & Oak Leaf1 1/16 361/84/7-4/248/15-8/24 Swiss ChardFordhook1 3/8 363/84/7-4/248/15-8/24 Sweet CornArgent &Incredible8 1/3 361 1/4 4/28-5/8NA PopcornSouth American Yellow Giant 8 1/3 361 1/4 4/28-5/8NA Ornamental CornIndian8 1/3 361 1/4 4/28-5/8NA Snap BeansJade2361 1/4 5/8-5/20NA Summer SquashGoldbar, Fortune Straightneck & Seneca Zucchini 18361 1/2 5/8-5/20NA WatermelonCrimson Sweet, Sugar Baby & Jubilee 221201 1/2 5/8-5/20NA Pumpkins & Winter Squash Autumn Gold, Cushaw Striped, Bird House, Jack-Be-Little & Gourd Mix 221201 1/2 6/7-6/20NA

29. Table 2. Vegetable Strip-Till & No-Till Yield Averages 2004-2006 CropVarietyYield lbs/acre Strip-Till No-Till KaleBlue Curled Scotch11,315a8,345b TurnipsPurple Top32,625a26,100b Chinese CabbagePak Choy15,950a11,600b Chinese CabbageMichili20,300a17,400b RadishRed Globe4,644a4,060b Swiss ChardFordhook7,975a7,685b Sweet CornArgent8,350a7,940a PopcornSouth American Yellow Giant 4,900a5,082a Ornamental CornIndian10,527a8,258b Summer SquashGoldbar15,518a8,276b Summer SquashSeneca Zucchini23,413a22,596a WatermelonJubilee20,283a16,063b PumpkinsAutumn Gold,12,524a12,251a GourdsMixed3,405a3,367a GourdsBirdhouse14,422a14,520a

31. Leafy Greens Yield Lbs/Acre 7 WAP CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006 a b a b a b a b a b

34. Indian Corn Ear Weight/Acre 12 WAP CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006 a b

35. Popcorn Ear Weight/Acre 12 WAP CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006

38. Zucchini Squash Yield 7-9 WAP, Harvested Weekly CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006

39. Yellow Squash Yield 7-9 WAP, Harvested Weekly CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006 a b

41. Watermelon Yield 13 WAP CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006 a b

45. Pumpkin & Gourds Yield Lbs/Acre 15 WAP CMREC, Upper Marlboro 2004-2006

46. Preliminary Study Conclusions Response to strip-tillage may be variety sensitive. For most crops investigated in this study strip-tillage led to a 20% to 30% increased plant population at emergence than no-tillage. Strip-tillage warms the soil which provided a 15% to 35% yield increase in early spring planted leafy greens and vegetables. Strip-tillage eliminated the cover crop competition, which led to robust seedling growth.

47. Preliminary Study Conclusions Early pre plant burndown (EPP) of the cover crop is recommended when soil moisture is limiting. During drought conditions EPP one week prior to planting for each foot of cover crop canopy. EPP of cover crop will also reduce the chance for seed germination inhibition due to allelopathy. No-tillage may be more cost effective for summer vegetables with fast germination and quick seedling growth.

50. R. David Myers Extension Educator, Agriculture Thank You! Any Questions? Check out our website!!! www.AnneArundel.umd.edu Sustainable and Low Input Strip-Till & No-Till Vegetable Planting Tactics 2004-2006 Preliminary Report