THE EFFECT OF TILLAGE ON SOIL TEMPERATURE AND CORN (Zea mays L.) GROWTH IN MANITOBA

The degree of tillage, presence of previous crop residues and the timing of tillage operations had a marked effect on soil temperatures. Zero tillage and the retention of the previous crop residues tended to depress the maximum soil temperatures at the 5.0-cm depth. Removal of crop residues from zero tillage plots resulted in an increase in maximum soil temperatures. Fall tillage resulted in lower maximum and higher minimum soil temperatures than where tillage was performed in the spring. Soil temperatures in the row were warmer than those recorded in the inter-row area of both the zero tillage and rotovated strip tillage treatments.Key words: Tillage, crop residues, soil temperature, corn