No-till Corn Planting Following Early Hay Harvests

Corn producers looking for an opportunity to replace a declining hay field may consider planting corn following a first-cut harvest of hay or haylage. This late-planted corn crop is traditionally aimed at silage production. This may allow for earlier planted corn, that had originally been intended for silage, to be shifted to grain corn production. In some areas of the province, with proper hybrid selection, the late-planted crop may be targeted for grain corn production.

With time and heat unit accumulation being the limiting factors, this corn crop needs to be planted as quickly as possible following hay harvest. This makes the option of no-tilling the corn crop into the hay stubble very attractive. Many of the soil structural and erosion control benefits fostered by the previous forage crop will be enhanced and/or prolonged by using a no-till system.

Research Indicates Soil Moisture Is Key

The University of Guelph examined corn silage yields from several different cropping systems in a study conducted near Woodstock in 1988 and 1989. A five-year-old sod (75% alfalfa) was converted to corn production using both conventional tillage and no-till systems following the removal of a haylage crop in early June. Conventional and no-till silage yields were equivalent in 1989 but no-till yielded dramatically less than conventional tillage in 1988. Rainfall was 7% of normal during June of 1988, which resulted in no-till planting conditions that caused low plant stands and poor early growth. Success of the no-till corn planting following hay harvest in 1989 was attributed to adequate soil moisture.

Similar studies were conducted by the University of Wisconsin (M. Smith, P. Carter and A. Imholte) during 1985 to 1987, with similar results. No-till corn grain yields following an early season hay harvest where comparable to yields obtained by plowing in only one out of the three years. The successful no-tilling occurred in the year that had June rainfall that was above average. In the other two years of the experiment, no-till corn yields averaged 46 bu/acre less than those obtained with conventional tillage.

Low June Rainfall

If you are determined to plant corn following a hay harvest in early June and rain has been limiting, the lower risk alternative is some tillage prior to planting. This tillage does nothing to conserve moisture or soil structure. However, in these relatively hard, dry soils, it may be essential for good seed-to-soil contact and early corn root exploration. This is a common phenomenon in Ontario. Higher soil moisture can be measured in no-till compared to plowed soils, but if dry weather comes early the corn plants cannot establish a root system that allows for exploration of the soil profile. In these cases, no-till performs poorer than plowed ground. Even though your no-till ground has conserved more moisture the roots cannot get at it.

Adequate Soil Moisture

In years were soil moisture is adequate, no-till corn can do well in these sod fields providing we can get it established and off to a good start. Some suggestions are:

1. Above average planter unit down pressure and overall planter mass will be required. No “light-weights” recommended.
2. Some tight sods, especially those with a lot of grass in them, cannot be suitably worked with a three-coulter system common to many no-till planters. The resulting strip is clumpy, air filled and not conducive to germination or early plant growth. Try a single coulter along with trash removing wheels for a firmer, cleaner seedbed.
3. Chemical control of the sod and other weeds is critical. Apply a recommended pre-harvest treatment to the hay crop and/or herbicides during pre-emerge or post-emerge windows of the corn crop.
4. Select a hybrid with a heat unit rating suitable for the delayed planting date and intended use (silage or grain). Late-planted corn may be at greater risk to corn borer damage, so a Bt hybrid is recommended.
5. Use a seed applied insecticide to prevent in insect feeding. 

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