Long-term Tillage and Crop Rotation Experiment

60+ years of No-tillage and Crop Rotation Research – background and history behind one of the longest longest-running agricultural experiments in the United States

 

BACKGROUND

The Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage and Crop Rotation Experiment, a landmark agronomic trial established in 1962, played a key role in pioneering initiatives to assess the impact of conservation practices on soil health and crop productivity. The initial questions that motivated Drs. Triplett and Van Doren to start this project were:

  • How much tillage, if any, is needed to grow a crop?
  • How do tillage practices and crop rotation interact to affect crop yields?
  • How does reducing tillage impact crop yields in different soil types (heavy clay in Hoytville, OH, and lighter silt loam soils in Wooster, OH)?
  • How to manage weed control and nutrients in no-tillage systems?

Experimental sites

To answer these questions one experiment was implemented in two locations with soils with contrasting conditions, Wooster (silt-loam) and Hoytville (clay loam) with varying levels of tillage intensity and crop rotation diversification.

 

THE EXPERIMENT

Sites description
Experimental sites 

 

There are two sites as part of this experiment that were started in 1962 near Wooster, Ohio, USA (40° 45′ N, 81° 54′ W) and in 1963 near Hoytville, Ohio, USA (41° 13' N 83° 45' W) by Drs. David M. Van Doren and Glover B. Triplett. 

At Wooster, the dominant soil series is the Wooster silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Fragiudalfs). The parent material is low-lime glacial till, with a sporadic loess mantle of up to 51 cm thickness, and contains a fragipan at a depth ranging from 45 to 100 cm. This silt loam is well drained, having moderate permeability above the fragipan and moderate to slow permeability in the fragipan (USDA-SCS, 1984), with a slope ranging from 2 to 6 %, and a low to no shrink-swell potential (Soil Survey Staff, 2013a). Soil particle size (texture) distributions (0− 30 cm) were between 21–25 % for sand, 60–61 % for silt, and 15–18 % for clay (Dick et al., 1986a). Soil pH (1:1 soil weigh to water volume ratio) ranged from 5.4–6.8 (0− 30 cm). Native vegetation was hardwood forest (red, white and black oak) and relic forest remnants occur along creeks and in small woodlots (USDA-SCS, 1984). 

At Hoytville, the dominant soil series is the Hoytville clay loam (fine, illitic, mesic Mollic Epiaqualfs) developed on glacial-lacustrine deposits (glacial till reworked by wave action on a nearly lake plain level) (USDA-SCS, 1973). This clay loam is a very deep, poorly drained soil, with a slope ranging from 0 to 1 %, and high shrink-swell potential (Soil Survey Staff, 2013b). Subsurface tile drainage was installed in the Hoytville site nine-years before the experiment started, with 10 cm inside-diameter tile drains placed at 17 m spacing and 1.2–1.4 m depth (Dick et al., 1986b). Soil particle size (texture) distributions (0− 25 cm) were between 16–21 % for sand, 38–42 % for silt, and 37–46 % for clay (Dick et al., 1986b). Soil pH ranged from 4.3–7.5 (0− 30 cm). The original vegetation was a deciduous swamp forest (USDA-SCS, 1973). 

Both locations have a humid continental climate. More details about agronomic practices are described below and more information is available in the Triplett-Van Doren Tillage and Crop Rotation website (https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/55716). 

Experimental design and treatments 
The experiments were established in a two-way factorial design with three levels of tillage intensity and three crop rotations in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Tillage systems were (1) no-tillage, where the residue from previous years’ crops are left on the field and a single slot opening is used during planting; (2) chisel, a minimum tillage using a paraplow (1962–1983) and a chisel plow (1984-present) to loosen the soil while leaving > 30 % of the previous year’s residue at the soil surface; and (3) moldboard, a plow tillage where a moldboard plow was used to invert the soil to a depth of about 20 cm, thus burying most of the residues. Historically, tillage has been conducted during spring in the Wooster silt loam and during fall in the Hoytville clay loam. Secondary tillage operations occur in moldboard and chisel systems. Crop rotations are (1) continuous-corn (Zea mays L.); (2) 2-year corn and soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation; and (3) 3-year corn and oat (Avena sativa L.) and/or alfalfa (Medicago sativa) or clover (Trifolium repens L.) rotation. At harvest, crop residue was left in the field for corn, soybeans, and oats, while alfalfa and clover were cut for hay typically 2–3 times a year. With minor modifications over the years, these treatments have been continuously maintained since their beginning in 1962 (Wooster) and 1963 (Hoytville) (Dick et al., 2013). The Wooster experimental unit or individual plot dimensions were 22.3 m by 4.3 m, while in Hoytville experimental units were 30.5 m by 6.4 m. 

Exp design
 

60+ YEARS OF RESEARCH SHOW CONSISTENT BENEFITS OF CROP ROTATIONS AND NO-TILLAGE IN OHIO

These no-tillage and crop rotation research plots have been maintained since the implementation in the 1960s to continue to address relevant research questions concerning crop productivity and environmental health in conservation-driven agricultural systems.

The main takeaway from our study evaluating more than 60 years of data is that crop rotation with perennial forage crops (oats, alfalfa, clover, and red clover) was beneficial for corn production, with even higher benefits when systems were managed under no tillage systems (Table 1), and soybean performance was improved by reducing tillage practices (Table 2). Corn performance was significantly improved in rotations with forage, regardless of tillage system, when compared to monocropped corn and corn rotated with soybean (Table 1). Soybean yield and annual yield gains were improved under Chisel and No-till compared to Moldboard plow, showing the long-term benefits of the adoption of reduced till to no-till practices in both a well-drained (Wooster) and a poorly drained (Hoytville) soil (Table 2). 

Table 1. Corn production rank and summary of six decades (1965-2023) of grain yield and annual yield across all years for each tillage-rotation combination in Wooster and Hoytville, Ohio.

Experimental sites

Table 2. Soybean production rank and summary of six decades (1965-2023) of grain yield and annual yield gains according to the tillage system in Wooster and Hoytville, Ohio. 

Experimental sites

Experimental sites

Experimental sites

References 
  1. Dick, W.A., Van Doren Jr., D.M., Triplett, G.B., Henry, J.E., 1986a. Influence of long-term tillage and rotation combinations on crop yields and selected soil parameters. Results Obtained for a Typic Fragiudulf Soil. The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio, p. 34. Research Bulletin ll81. 

  2. Dick, W.A., Van Doren Jr., D.M., Triplett, G.B., Henry, J.E., 1986b. Influence of long-term tillage and rotation combinations on crop yields and selected soil parameters. Results Obtained for a Mollic Ochraqualf Soil. Research Bulletin 1180. The Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio, 30 p. 

  3. Dick, W.A., Triplett, G.B., Van Doren Jr., D.M., 2013. Triplett-Van Doren Long-term Tillage and Crop Rotation Data (Accessed 15 December 2019). Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio. https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/55716. 

  4. Soil Survey Staff, 2013a. Web Soil Survey (Accessed 15 April 2013). USDA-NRCS. https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov. 

  5. Soil Survey Staff, 2013b. Official Soil Series Descriptions (Accessed December 2019). USDA-NRCS. https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov. 

 

Peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, thesis, and dissertations from the Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage Experiment 
  1. de Camargo Santos, A., S.W. Culman, and L. Deiss. Sixty years of crop diversification with perennials improves yields more than no-tillage in Ohio grain cropping systems. (submitted to Field Crops Research, August 2024).
  2. Costa, A., R. Bommarco, M.E. Smith, T. Bowles, A.C.M. Gaudin, C.A. Watson, R. Alarcón, A. Berti, A. Blecharczyk, F.J. Calderon, S. Culman, W. Deen, C.F. Drury, A. Garcia Y Garcia, A. García-Díaz, E. Hernández Plaza, K. Jonczyk, O. Jäck, L. Navarrete Martínez, F. Montemurro, F. Morari, A. Onofri, S.L. Osborne, J.L. Tenorio Pasamón, B. Sandström, I. Santín-Montanyá, Z. Sawinska, M.R. Schmer, J. Stalenga, J. Strock, F. Tei, C.F.E. Topp, D. Ventrella, R.L. Walker, and G. Vico. 2024. Crop rotational diversity can mitigate climate-induced grain yield losses. Glob Chang Biol. 30(5):e17298. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17298
  3. Smith, M.E., G. Vico, A. Costa, T. Bowles, A.C.M. Gaudin, S. Hallin, C.A. Watson, R. Alarcòn, A. Berti, A. Blecharczyk, F.J. Calderon, S. Culman, W. Deen, C.F. Drury, A.G.y. Garcia, A. García-Díaz, E.H. Plaza, K. Jonczyk, O. Jäck, ... and R. Bommarco. 2023. Increasing crop rotational diversity can enhance cereal yields. Commun. Earth Environ. 4(1): Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247- 023-00746-0
  4. Bagnall, D.K., C.L.S. Morgan, G.M. Bean, D. Liptzin, S.B. Cappellazzi, M. Cope, K.L.H. Greub, E.L. Rieke, C.E. Norris, P.W. Tracy, E. Aberle, A. Ashworth, O.B. Tavarez, A.I. Bary, R.L. Baumhardt, A.B. Gracia, D.C. Brainard, J.R. Brennan, D.B. Reyes, … and C.W. Honeycutt. 2022. Selecting soil hydraulic properties as indicators of soil health: Measurement response to management and site characteristics. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 86(5): 1206–1226. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20428
  5. Bagnall, D.K., C.L.S. Morgan, M. Cope, G.M. Bean, S. Cappellazzi, K. Greub, D. Liptzin, C.L. Norris, E. Rieke, P. Tracy, E. Aberle, A. Ashworth, O. Bañuelos Tavarez, A. Bary, R.L. Baumhardt, A. Borbón Gracia, D. Brainard, J. Brennan, D. Briones Reyes, ... and C.W. Honeycutt. 2022. Carbon-sensitive pedotransfer functions for plant available water. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 86(3): 612–629. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20395
  6. Liptzin, D., C.E. Norris, S.B. Cappellazzi, G.M. Bean, M. Cope, K.L.H. Greub, E.L. Rieke, P.W. Tracy, E. Aberle, A. Ashworth, O. Bañuelos Tavarez, A.I. Bary, R.L. Baumhardt, A. Borbón Gracia, D.C. Brainard, J.R. Brennan, D. Briones Reyes, D. Bruhjell, C.N. Carlyle, … and C.W. Honeycutt. 2022. An evaluation of carbon indicators of soil health in long-term agricultural experiments. Soil Biol. Biochem. 172: 108708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108708
  7. Rieke, E. L., D.K. Bagnall, C.L.S. Morgan, K.D. Flynn, J.A. Howe, K.L.H. Greub, G. Mac Bean, S.B. Cappellazzi, M. Cope, D. Liptzin, C.E. Norris, P.W. Tracy, E. Aberle, A. Ashworth, O. Bañuelos Tavarez, A.I. Bary, R.L. Baumhardt, A. Borbón Gracia, D.C. Brainard, … C.W. Honeycutt. 2022. Evaluation of aggregate stability methods for soil health. Geoderma, 428: 116156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.116156
  8. Rieke, E. L., S. B. Cappellazzi, M. Cope, D. Liptzin, G. Mac Bean, K. L. H. Greub, C. E. Norris, P. W. Tracy, E. Aberle, A. Ashworth, O. Bañuelos Tavarez, A. I. Bary, R. L. Baumhardt, A. Borbón Gracia, D. C. Brainard, J. R. Brennan, D. Briones Reyes, D. Bruhjell, C. N. Carlyle, ... C. W. Honeycutt. 2022. Linking soil microbial community structure to potential carbon mineralization: A continental scale assessment of reduced tillage. Soil Biol. Biochem. 168: 108618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108618
  9. Martin, T., S. Culman, and C. D. Sprunger. 2022. Quality or Quantity? Determining the Impact of Fine Root Traits on Soil Health in Row Crop Agriculture. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 22(2): 2322–2333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-022-00811-1
  10. Mooshammer, M., A. S. Grandy, F. Calderón, S. Culman, B. Deen, R. A. Drijber, K. Dunfield, V. L. Jin, R. M. Lehman, S. L. Osborne, M. Schmer, and T. M. Bowles. 2022. Microbial feedbacks on soil organic matter dynamics underlying the legacy effect of diversified cropping systems. Soil Biol. Biochem. 167: 108584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108584
  11. Deiss, L., A. Sall, M.S. Demyan, S.W. Culman. 2021. Does crop rotation affect soil organic matter stratification in tillage systems? Soil Tillage Res. 209: 104932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104932
  12. Mestelan, S., N.E. Smeck, C.D. Sprunger, A. Dyck, and W.A. Dick. 2021. Four decades of continuously applied tillage or notillage on soil properties and soil morphology. Agrosystems Geosci. Environ. 4 (3). https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20195  
  13. Bowles, T. M., M. Mooshammer, Y. Socolar, F. Calderón, M. A. Cavigelli, S. W. Culman, W. Deen, C. F. Drury, A. G. y. Garcia, A. C. M. Gaudin, W. S. Harkcom, R. M. Lehman, S. L. Osborne, G. P. Robertson, J. Salerno, M. R. Schmer, J. Strock, and A. S. Grandy. 2020. Long-Term Evidence Shows that Crop-Rotation Diversification Increases Agricultural Resilience to Adverse Growing Conditions in North America. One Earth. 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.02.007
  14. Sengupta, A., J. Hariharan, P.S. Grewal, and W.A. Dick. 2020. Bacterial community dissimilarity in soils is driven by longterm landuse practices. Agrosystems Geosci. Environ. 3 (1). https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20031
  15. Norris, C. E., G. M. Bean, S. B. Cappellazzi, M. Cope, K. L. H. Greub, D. Liptzin, E. L. Rieke, P. W. Tracy, C. L. S. Morgan, and C. W. Honeycutt. 2020. Introducing the North American project to evaluate soil health measurements. J. Agron., 112(4): 3195-3215. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20234
  16. Hernández, T.D.B., B.K. Slater, R.T. Corbalá, and J.M. Shaffer. 2019. Assessment of long-term tillage practices on physical properties of two Ohio soils. Soil and Tillage Res. 186: 270–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2018.11.004
  17. Daigh, A.L., W.A. Dick, M.J. Helmers, R. Lal, J.G. Lauer, E. Nafziger, C.H. Pederson, J. Strock, M. Villamil, A. Mukherjee, R. Cruse. 2018. Yields and yield stability of no-till and chisel-plow fields in the midwestern US corn belt. Field Crops. Res. 218: 243-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.04.002
  18. Sengupta, A., and W.A. Dick. 2017. Methanotrophic bacterial diversity in two diverse soils under varying land-use practices as determined by high-throughput sequencing of the pmoA gene. Appl. Soil Ecol. 119: 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2017.05.031
  19. Hariharan, J., A. Sengupta, P. Grewal, and W.A. Dick. 2017. Functional predictions of microbial communities in soil as affected by longterm tillage practices. A&EL 2(1): 170031. https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2017.09.0031
  20.  Maas, E.D.v.L., R. Lal, K. Coleman, A. Montenegro, W.A. Dick. 2017. Modeling soil organic carbon in corn (Zea mays L.)-based systems in Ohio under climate change. JSWC. 72 (3) 191-204. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.72.3.191
  21. Nakajima, T., R.K. Shrestha, P.-A. Jacinthe, R. Lal, S. Bilen, and W. Dick. 2016. Soil organic carbon pools in ploughed and no-till Alfisols of central Ohio. Soil Use Manag. 32: 515-524. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12305
  22. Sengupta, A., and W.A. Dick. 2015. Bacterial Community Diversity in Soil Under two Tillage Practices as Determined by Pyrosequencing. Microb. Ecol. 70: 853–859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-015-0609-4
  23. Hernández, T.D.B. 2015. Assessment of effects of long-term tillage practices on soil properties in Ohio. M. Sc. Thesis. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=osu1429825085&disposition=inline
  24. Campbell, B., L. Chen, C. Dygert, and W.A. Dick. 2014. Tillage and crop rotation impacts on greenhouse gas fluxes from soil at two long-term agronomic experimental sites in Ohio. JSWC 69 (6): 543–52. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.69.6.543
  25. Jacinthe, PA., W.A. Dick, R. Lal, R. K. Shrestha and S. Bilen. 2013. Effects of no-till duration on the methane oxidation capacity of Alfisols. Biol. Fertil. Soils. 50: 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-013-0866-7
  26. Bilen, S., R. Shrestha, PA. Jacinthe, W. A. Dick, R. Lal. 2013. Environmental Impacts of No-Till and Cultivation Practices on Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 2(2): 1862-1870.
  27. Kumar, S., A. Kadono, R. Lal, W.A. Dick. 2012. Long-term tillage and crop rotations for 47–49 years influences hydrological properties of two soils in Ohio. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (76): 2195–2207. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2012.0098
  28. Kumar, S., A. Kadono, R. Lal, W.A. Dick. 2012. Long-term no-till impacts on organic carbon and properties of two contrasting soils and corn yields in Ohio. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (76): 1798–1809. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2012.0055
  29. Rusinamhodzi, L., M. Corbeels, M.T. van Wijk, M. C. Rufino, J. Nyamangara, and K. E. Giller.  2011. A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions. Agron. Sustain. Dev. 31:657–673. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-011-0040-2
  30. Sundermeier, A.P., K.R. Islam, Y. Raut, R.C. Reeder, and W.A. Dick. 2011. Continuous No-Till Impacts on Soil Biophysical Carbon Sequestration. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 75: 1779-1788.https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2010.0334
  31. Ussiri, D.A.N. and R. Lal. 2009. Long-term tillage effects on soil carbon storage and carbon dioxide emissions in continuous corn cropping system from an alfisol in Ohio. Soil Tillage Res. 104(1):39-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2008.11.008
  32. Sosnoskie, L., C. Herms, J. Cardina, and T. Webster. 2009. Seedbank and Emerged Weed Communities Following Adoption of Glyphosate-Resistant Crops in a Long-Term Tillage and Rotation StudyWeed Sci. 57(3): 261-270. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-08-147.1
  33. Mestelan, S.A. 2008. Impact of long-term no till and plow till on soil properties and soil nutrient cycling. Ph. D.  dissertation. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1199221756
  34. Haile-Mariam, S., H.P. Collins, S. Wright, and E.A. Paul. 2008. Fractionation and long-term laboratory incubation to measure soil organic matter dynamics. Soil Sci. Soc.  Am. J. 72:370-378. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2007.0126
  35. Triplett, G.B., Jr. and W.A. Dick. 2008. No-Tillage crop production: A revolution in agriculture. Agron. J. 100: S153-S165. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2007.0005c
  36. Rotenberg, D., R. Joshi, M. Benitez, L.G. Chapin, A. Camp, C. Zumpetta, A. Osborne, W.A. Dick, and B.B.M. Gardener. 2007. Farm management effects on rhizosphere colonization by native populations of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol-producing Pseudomonas spp.  and their contributions to crop health. Phytopathology 97:756-766. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-97-6-0756
  37. Sosnoskie, L. M., C. P. Herms, and J. Cardina. 2006. Weed seedbank community composition in a 35-year-old tillage and rotation experiment. Weed Sci. 54: 263-273. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-05-001R2.1
  38. Jarecki, Marek K. and R. Lal. 2005. Soil organic carbon sequestration rates in two long-term no-till experiments in Ohio. Soil Sci. 170(4): 280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-200504000-00005
  39. Martens, D.A. and W.A. Dick. 2003. Recovery of fertilizer nitrogen from continuous corn soils under contrasting tillage management. Biol. Fert. Soil 38:144-153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-003-0645-y
  40. Cardina, J., C. P. Herms and D.J. Doohan. 2002. Crop rotation and tillage system effects on weed seedbanks. Weed Sci. 50:448-460. https://doi.org/10.1614/0043-1745(2002)050[0448:CRATSE]2.0.CO;2  
  41. Jacinthe, P.-A., R. Lal, and J.M. Kimble. 2002. Carbon dioxide evolution in runoff from simulated rainfall on long-term no-till and plowed soils in southwestern Ohio. Soil and Tillage Res. 66(1): 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(02)00010-7
  42. Collins, H.P., E.T. Elliott, K. Paustian, L.G. Bundy, W.A. Dick, D.R. Huggins, A.J.M.  Smucker, E.A. Paul. 2000. Soil carbon pools and fluxes in long-term corn belt agroecosystems. Soil Biol. Biochem. 32:157-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00136-4
  43. M.J. Shipitalo, W. A. Dick, W. M. Edwards. 2000. Conservation tillage and macropore factors that affect water movement and the fate of chemicals. Soil Tillage Res. 53: 167-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(99)00104-X
  44. Lal, R. 1999. Long-term tillage and wheel traffic effects on soil quality for two central Ohio soils. J. Sustain. Agric. 14(4): 67-84. https://doi.org/10.1300/J064v14n04_07
  45. Collins, H.P., R.L. Blevins, L.G. Bundy, D.R. Christenson, W.A. Dick, D.R. Huggins, and E.A. Paul. 1999. Soil carbon dynamics in corn-based agroecosystems: Results from carbon-13 natural abundance. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 63:584-591. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1999.03615995006300030022x
  46. Clivati, A.A. 1999. A fractal description of the soil aggregate distribution. Ph. D.  Dissertation. Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
  47. Dick, W.A. and J.T. Durkalski. 1998. No-tillage production agriculture and carbon sequestration in a typic fragiudalf soil of northeastern Ohio. p. 59-70. In R.Lal, J.  Kimble, R. Follett, B Stewart (eds.) Management of carbon sequestration in soil. CRC Press, New York.
  48. Mahboubi, A.A. and R. Lal. 1998. Long-term tillage effects on changes in structural properties of two soils in central Ohio. Technical note. Soil and Tillage Res. 45:107-118.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0933-3630(96)00127-4
  49. Cardina, J, T.M. Webster, and C. P. Herms. 1998. Long-term tillage and rotation effects on soil seedbank characteristics. Asp. of Appl. Biol. 51:213-220. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:131069958
  50. Dick, W.A., R.L. Blevins, W.W. Frye, S.E. Peters, D.R. Christenson, F.J. Pierce and M.L. Vitosh. 1998. Impacts of agricultural management practices on C sequestration in forest-derived soils of the eastern Corn Belt. Soil Tillage Res. 47 (3-4): 235-244.
  51. Dick, W.A., W.M. Edwards, and E.L. McCoy. 1997. Continuous application of no tillage to Ohio soils: Changes in crop yields and organic matter-related soil properties. p 171-182. In E.A. Paul, C.V. Cole, E.T. Elliot, K. Paustian (eds.) Soil Organic Matter in Temperate Agroecosystems, Long-Term Experiments in North America. CRC Press, New York. 
  52. Choudhary, M.A., R. Lal, W.A. Dick. 1997. Long-term tillage effects on runoff and soil erosion under simulated rainfall for a central Ohio soil. Soil Tillage Res. 42:175- 184. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(97)00005-6
  53. Lal, R., A.A. Mahboubi, and N.R. Fausey. 1994. Long-term tillage and rotation effects on properties of a central Ohio soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58:517-522. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800020038x
  54. Lal, R., T.J. Logan, D.J. Eckert, W.A. Dick, and M.J. Shipitalo. 1994. Conservation tillage in the corn belt of the United States. p73-114. In Martin R. Carter (ed.).  Conservation Tillage in Temperate Agroecosystems. Lewis Publ. Boca Raton, FL. 
  55. Granovsky, A.V., E.L. McCoy, W.A. Dick, M.J. Shipitalo, and W.M Edwards. 1993.  Water and Chemical Transport through long-term no-till and plowed soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57:1560-1567. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700060028x
  56. Mahboubi, A.A., R. Lal, and N.R. Fausey. 1993. Twenty-eight years of tillage effects on two soils in Ohio. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57:506-512. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700020034x
  57. Edwards, W.M., G.B. Triplett, D.M. Van Doren, L.B. Owens, C.E. Redmond and W.A. Dick. 1993. Tillage studies with a corn-soybean rotation: hydrology and sediment loss. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57: 1051-1055. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1993.03615995005700040028x
  58. Cardina, J., E. Regnier and K. Harrison. 1991. Long-term tillage effects on seed banks in three Ohio soils. Weed Sci. 39:186-194. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043174500071459
  59. Dick, W.A., E.L. McCoy, W.M. Edwards, and R. Lal. 1991. Continuous application of no-tillage to Ohio soils. Agron. J. 83:65-73. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1991.00021962008300010017x
  60. Logan, T.J., R. Lal, W.A. Dick. 1991. Tillage systems and soil properties in North America. Soil and Tillage Research. Soil Tillage Res. 20: 241-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-1987(91)90042-V
  61. Lal, R. and D.M. Van Doren, Jr. 1990. Influence of 25 years of continuous corn production by three tillage methods on water infiltration for two soils in Ohio. Soil Tillage Res.16:71-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-1987(90)90022-6
  62. Lal, R., J. Eckert, N.R. Fausey, and W.M Edwards.1990. Conservation tillage in sustainable agriculture. pp203- 225. In Sustainable Agricultural Systems, C.A.  Edwards, R. Lal, P. Madden, R.H. Miller, and Gar House (eds). Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, Iowa.
  63. Roseberg, R.J. and E.L. McCoy. 1988. Time series analysis for statistical inferences in tillage experiments. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 52:1771-1776. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200060046x
  64. W.A. Dick, T.C. Daniel. 1987. Soil chemical and biological properties as affected by conservation tillage: Environmental impacts. In T.J. Logan, et al. (Eds.), Effects of Conservation Tillage on Groundwater Quality: Nitrates and Pesticides, Lewis Publishers, Inc, Chelsen, MI, USA.
  65. Dick, W.A. and D.M. Van Doren, Jr. 1985. Continuous tillage and rotation combinations effects on corn, soybean, and oat yields. Agron. J. 77:459-465. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1985.00021962007700030023x
  66. Triplett, G.B., Jr. and D.M Van Doren, Jr. 1985. An Overview of the Ohio Conservation Tillage Research. p. 59-68. In D’ltri, F.M. (ed.) A Systems Approach to Conservation Tillage. Lewis Publ. Chelsea, MI. 
  67. Dick, W.A. 1984. Influence of long-term tillage and crop rotation combinations on soil enzyme activities. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:569-574. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800030020x  
  68. Van Doren, D.M. Jr., W.C. Moldenhauer, and G.B. Triplett, Jr. 1984. Influence of long-term tillage and crop rotation on water erosion. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 48:636-640. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1984.03615995004800030033x
  69. Dick, W.A. 1983. Organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and pH in soil profiles as affected by tillage intensity. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 47:102-107. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1983.03615995004700010021x
  70. Van Doren, D.M., Jr. and G.B. Triplett, Jr. 1979. Tillage systems for optimizing crop production. p. 2-23. In R. Lal (ed.) Soil tillage and crop production. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Ibadan, Nigeria.  
  71. Van Doren, D.M. Jr., G.B. Triplett, Jr. and J.E. Henry. 1976. Influence of long-term tillage, crop rotation, and soil type combinations on corn yield. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.  40:100-105. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1976.03615995004000010027x
  72. Van Doren, D.M. Jr., G.B. Triplett, Jr. and J.E. Henry.1975. Long-term influence of tillage, rotation, soil on corn yield. Ohio Report, Sept.-Oct p.80-82. 
  73. Van Doren, D.M.Jr., G.B. Triplett, Jr. and J.E. Henry. 1975. No-till is profitable on many soil types. Crops and Soils Mag. 27:7-9. 
  74. Van Doren, D.M., Jr. and G.B. Triplett, Jr. 1973. Mulch and tillage relationships in corn culture. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 37:766-769. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1973.03615995003700050037x
  75. Van Doren, D.M. Jr., G.B. Triplett, and J.E. Henry. 1972. Long-term tillage and rotation. Agronomy Series 214. p. 58-59, OARDC. Wooster, OH. 
  76. Triplett, G.B., Jr., D.M Van Doren, Jr., and W.H. Johnson.1970. Response of tillage systems as influenced by soil type. Trans. of the ASAE 13:765-767. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.38714
  77. Triplett, G. B., D.M. Van Doren, and B.L. Schmidt. 1968. Effect of corn (Zea mays l.) stover mulch on no-tillage corn yield and water infiltration. Agron. J. 60 (2): 236–39. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1968.00021962006000020028x
  78. Triplett, G.B.Jr., W.H. Johnson, and D.M Van Doren, Jr. 1963. Performance of two experimental planters for no-tillage corn culture. Agron. J. 55:408-409. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1963.00021962005500040036x

 

Research bulletins from the Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage Experiment

  1. Cardina, J., L. M. Sosnoskie, and C. P. Herms. 2003. Seedbank changes following the adoption of glyphosate-tolerant crops. Asp. Appl. Biol. 69:77-82.
  2. The Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage Experimental Plots - An appeal for support (brochure)2001Ohio Agricultural Research and Development. Center /OSU, Wooster, OH. 
  3. Dick, W.A., D. M. Van Doren, Jr., G. B. Triplett, Jr. and J. E. Henry. Dec. 1986. Influence of long-term tillage and rotation combinations on crop yields and selected soil parameters. I Results obtained for a Mollic Ochraqualf soil. Research Bulletin 1180, The Ohio State University. OARDC, Wooster, OH. 30pgs.
  4. Dick, W.A., W.M. Edwards, and E. Haghiri. 1986. Water movement through soil to which no-tillage cropping practices have been continuously applied. Proc. Agricultural Impacts on Ground Water. pp. 243–252. Natl. Water Well Assoc., Dublin, OH.
  5. Dick, W.A., D. M. Van Doren, Jr., G. B. Triplett, Jr. and J. E. Henry. Dec. 1986. Influence of long-term tillage and rotation combinations on crop yields and selected soil parameters. II Results obtained for a typic Fragiudalf soil. Research Bulletin 1181, The Ohio State University. OARDC, Wooster, OH. 34 pgs. 
  6. Triplett, G.B, Jr. and J.V. Mannering. 1978. Crop residue management in crop rotation and multiple cropping systems. p.187-206. In ASA, CSSA, SSSA. Crop Residue Management Systems. Madison, WI. 
  7. Triplett, G.B.Jr. and D.M. Van Doren, Jr.1977. Agriculture without tillage. Sci. Am.  236:28-33.
  8. Bone, S.W., D.M. Van Doren, Jr. and G.B. Triplett, Jr. 1977. Tillage research in OhioA guide to the selection of profitable tillage systems. Bulletin 620. Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio State University. 11 pgs. 
  9. Triplett, G.B. Jr. 1976. The pros’s and con’s of minimum tillage in corn. Proceedings of the 31st Annual Corn and Sorghum Research Conference. p144-158. Published as Journal Article No. 188-76. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH.
  10. Triplett, G.B., Jr., D.M Van Doren, Jr., S.W. Bone. 1973. An evaluation of Ohio soils in relation to no-tillage corn production. Res. Bull. 1068. OARDC, Wooster, OH.
  11. Harrold, L.L., G. B. Triplett, Jr. and R.E. Youker. 1967. Less soil and water loss from no-tillage corn. Ohio Report on Research and Development 52: 22-23.

 

Presentations at scientific conferences from the Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage Experiment

  1. de Camargo Santos, A., S. Culman, S. Tajik, B. Robinson, V. Moreira Moreira and L. Deiss. 2024. A Legacy of Resilience: Long-Term Impact of Crop Diversification and No-Tillage on Crop Yields. Oral presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX.
  2. Moreira Moreira, V., A. de Camargo Santos, B. Robinson, S. Tajik, S. Culman, and L. Deiss. 2024. Fostering Soil Health with Regenerative Agriculture in Ohio: Legacy of Crop Rotation and No Tillage Practices Spanning Six Decades. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. San Antonio, TX.
  3. Deiss L, S. W. Culman, and W. A. Dick. 2023. The Triplett-Van Doren No-Tillage Experiment: Learning from 60 Years of Tillage and Crop Rotation Practices in Ohio. Oral presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Saint Louis, MI.
  4. Gray M, L. Deiss, A. Sall, S. W. Culman, M. S. Demyan, and N. Gonzalez-Maldonado. 2020. Does crop rotation affect soil organic matter stratification in tillage systems? Oral presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AR. 
  5. Sprunger, C. 2020. The role that roots play in building soil organic matter 
    and soil health.
     Oral presentation at the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference. Ada, OH.
  6. Islam R, V. S. Shedekar, N. Didenko, W. Dick, B. Khaitove. 2017. Long-Term Tillage Effects on Soil Health. Oral presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Tampa, FL.
  7. Sengupta, A., and W. A. Dick. Microbial Diversity in Long-Term Plots Using Pyrosequencing.Poster presentation at the Sustainable.Org Conference. Washington D.C., USA.
  8. Chen L., H. Xu, Y. Zhao, M. Huang, C. Dygert, W. A. Dick. 2015. Long-Term Tillage and Crop Rotation for 5 Decades Impacts on Fertility of Two Contrasting Soils in Ohio. Oral presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN.
  9. PA Jacinthe, R. K. Shrestha, S. Bilen, W. A. Dick and R. Lal. 2011. Greenhouse Gases Emission and Carbon Sequestration in Agro-Ecosystems under Long-Term No-Till: Implications for Global Warming Mitigation. Poster presentation at the AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. San Francisco, CA.
  10. Mestelan, S., W. Dick, N. Smeck and J. Durkalski. 2007. Soil organic carbon evolution in soils of contrasting drainage under continuious corn as influenced by tillage. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. 
  11. Mestelan, S., N. Smeck, W. A. Dick and J. Durkalski. 2007. Long-term effect of continuous tillage on well and poorly drained soils. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. 
  12. Vyn, T.J., J.G Lauer, W. A. Dick and G. Triplett. 2007. Tillage system impacts on crop and soil responses to crop rotations: The view from long-term experiments. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. 
  13. Sundermeir, A., R. Reeder, Y. Raut, W. Dick and K. Islam. 2007. Long-term effects on P availability in soil. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting, New Orleans. LA.
  14. Sundermeier, A., K. Islam, W. Dick and R. Reeder. 2007. Soil biophysical C sequestration in response to tillage. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting, New Orleans. LA. 
  15. Reeder, R., A. Sundermeier, Y. Raut, W. A. Dick and K. Islam. 2007. Tillage impacts on C, N, and P distribution in the soil organic matter. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA. 
  16. Mestelan, S.A., N.E. Smeck, J.T. Durkalski, and W.A. Dick. 2006. Changes in soil profile properties as affected by 44 years of continuous no-tillage. In: Conference Proceedings of the International Soil Tillage Research Organisation. Kiel, Germany.
  17. Dick, W.A. and J.T. Durkalski. 2002. Forty years of continuous no-Tillage: Summary of results and lessons learned. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN. 
  18. Durkalski, J.T., W.A. Dick, and D. Martens. 2002. Agricultural management impacts (1962-1998) on soil carbon and nitrogen content in Ohio. Poster presentation at the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN. 
  19. Dick, W.A., P. R. Thomison, D. M. Jordan, B. L. Bishop. 1994. Yield response of maize hybrids to long-term application of no-tillage. Oral presentation at the Soil Tillage for Crop Production and Protection of the Environment. Aalborg, Denmark.