Stubble-mulch tillage boosts nutrient uptake in cereals with nitrogen fertilization.
Stubble-mulch tillage and plowing with nitrogen fertilizer were compared for growing corn, oats, and wheat in Nebraska. Plant tissue and grain from both methods had similar levels of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. However, plant tissue from stubble-mulch tillage had slightly lower nitrogen content and lower yields compared to plowing. Adding nitrogen fertilizer helped to offset these differences.