A 3 year (1976-1978) tillage study was conducted with snap beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and lima beans (P. lunatus L.). Treatments included 2 no-till systems where furrows were opened with a fluted coulter or a vibratory unit, 2 reduced tillage methods with seedbeds prepared with a disk or a powered harrow, and conventional tillage. Tillage method did not affect soil pH at sampled depths. Soil P levels were higher at the 10−15 cm depth with conventional compared to tillage with vibratory unit. Soil K levels were higher at the 5−10 and 10−15 cm depths with conventional tillage. Tillage method did not affect petiole N, K, and Ca concentrations. Petiole P concentrations were lowest with conventional tillage. Petiole Mg concentrations were lowest with the no-till treatments using fluted coulter for snap beans and the vibratory unit for lima beans. Snap bean stand was highest with no-till using the vibratory unit. Tillage method did not affect mean snap bean yield or lima bean stand. Mean lima bean yield was highest with conventional tillage.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mullins et al. (1980) studied this question.