An Application of Tillage Force Mapping as a Cropping Management Tool

The authors present the results obtained from the practical application of a self-developed tillage force monitoring system in a 4-yr field-scale site-specific farming trial. The measured tillage force data were mapped and compared with other site-specific data gathered in the frame of the experiment. Remarkable similarity of the patterns of the tillage force and yield maps of maize from 2001 and 2002 or tillage force and soil saturation percentage maps was discovered. This observation led to the conclusion that tillage force, or factors causing high tillage force values, influence plant yield notably. Thus, tillage force mapping can be an effective tool for marking out within-field management zones or areas where the actual soil physical conditions may have limiting effect on yield.