Narrow Strip cropping or Strip-Intercropping is planting two or three crops of the same planter width in alternating strips across a field (Burk, 2002). The main benefit of Narrow strip cropping is to intercept sunlight more efficiently and maximize corn production (Iragavarapu, 1996). Increasing Low Photosynthesis Photon Flux Density (PPFD) duration and intensity to the lower leaves of corn with fluorescent lighting caused increased corn yield. (Ottman, 1988). Corn yields increased 30 bushels / acre in the controlled release N (ESN) Field trial in 2004 compared to Urea at the same nitrogen rate (Kaufmann, 2007). Similar corn yield increases of 20-40 bushel per acre in 15-foot strips were measured in Indiana (West, 1992) The practical farmer’s organization of Iowa reported a 20 to 30 bu/ac increase in corn yield in strip-cropping compared with corn grown in blocks (fields) (Mangold, 1992). Jim Graham of Iowa reported, “the strips did 20-30 bushel (per acre) better,” compared to regular fields (Walter, 1993)

Narrow strip cropping in a two-crop system often uses corn and soybeans alternated in a 4, 6, 8 or 12 row strip width depending on planter width. Four row systems produce the most yield enhancing effect for corn due to greater edge effect per acre than 6, 8 or 12 row systems. The practical farmers of Iowa reported a 20-30 bushel yield advantage for corn planted in 36-inch, four row strips (Mangold, 1992)

“Three years data from central Illinois found that stripping increased corn yield by 33.5 bu/ac in four-row strips, 28.5 bu/ac in six-row strips, and 25.5 bu/acre in eight row strips. In the same experiment, soybeans yields were reduced by 8, 6.5, and 5 bu/acre respectively, for strip widths of four, six and eight rows” (West, 1991).

With careful herbicide management and proper selection of post emerge herbicides dry beans, sunflowers, wheat, barley or oats can be substituted for soybeans in a two strip system.

A three crop system that alternates small grains next to corn can be planned to enhance the rotation effect and eliminate shading on the soybeans next to the corn. Research in Minnesota, in a N-S row strip cropping orientation using hand harvested data, the east outside soybean row in a 6 x 30 inch system next to wheat yield 23% greater than next to corn. In a three-crop soybean, corn and wheat system with E-W orientation the soybean next to wheat yielded 9% less then the non-border rows (Iragavarapu, 1996). There was some reduction of bean yield in a N-S orientation ( about 5%) verses a bean yield reduction of about 11% in an E-W row orientation (Seim, 1996). Iowa farmers that solid drilled soybeans in 15 foot wide by 7 inch row spacing in N-S row orientation had less than a 2% soybean yield reduction. (Seim, 1996) (Gogerty, 1990) As an alternative to wheat in Iowa, oats were substituted in the 3 crop system. Iowa State University soil scientist Rick Cruse reported more profit from oats than corn in a two crop system if the oat straw was harvested along with the grain. (Mangold, 1992). But grasshoppers or stalk borers can migrate from oats and wipe out border rows of soybeans increasing soybean yield losses. (Seim, 1996)

Planter width and harvest equipment should be multiples of each other to achieve efficient use of labor and equipment in a two-crop or three-crop system. Use no-till or ridge till to confine wheel tracks to the same area each year to control traffic and reduce soil compaction.(Reeder, 2000) Limit field traffic axle loads to less than 5 tons/axle during harvest and other field trips to minimize soil compaction. (Grigar, 2007) However, it may be necessary to adjust strip width to accommodate farm equipment to minimize partial or incomplete passes. Residue Management with Ridge Tillage (346) works well with a corn and soybean rotation. Ontario Ridge Tillage Farmers were able to add wheat in their Narrow Strip Cropping System by using a No till Drill. (Gogerty, 1990)

In two-crop narrow strips with corn and soybeans, select a corn hybrid that can tolerate high populations without lodging and compatible with soybean herbicides that will not affect crop rotation plans in the future. To improve corn yield, in narrow strips, increase corn row populations in outside rows up to 30 percent greater than inside rows to improve light use efficiency. This can be accomplished by adding a larger drive sprocket to drive the planting unit on the outside row. Use a row system equal to or less than 8 rows to take advantage of field edge sunlight and increase yield by narrow strip cropping. Orient rows north and south to maximize use of sunlight. In Ontario, Jim House using a 3 rows corn by 21 inch narrow strip cropping system produced over 300 bu/ac dry land corn. (Grigar, 1997) Corn in the outside edge rows will produce 2-3 ears per stalk. (Mangold,1992) Corn in our field trials yielded over 250 bushel in the outside rows of several hand checks in our 2004 and 2005 study with 200 lbs/ac nitrogen or less. Outside rows often produced more ears than inside rows. (Kaufmann, 2007)

To plan a narrow strip cropping system use last year’s residue corn or soybean crop residue. After small grain residue use strip tillage equipment with markers in the fall or early spring to plan the strip cropping system.

Weed control with herbicides is difficult with strip cropping because of sprayer boom width and concern for spray drift to the adjacent crop strip. Because corn and soybeans are planted in close proximity to each other successful herbicide applications can be challenging. Glyphosate tolerant corn and soybeans has improved weed control in this strip cropping system. Roundup Ready seed technology eliminates the concern for drift damage by herbicides that are crop specific.

Alternating herbicides with different modes of action can manage the potential buildup of herbicide-resistant weeds where narrow strip cropping is practiced. For example, genetically modified Liberty Link corn seed and Liberty Link soybean seed; or Clearfield (imidazolinone-resistant) corn hybrids and (imidazolinone-resistant) herbicides for soybeans. In 2010 combinations of Roundy Ready and ALS resistance seed will allow greater choices of herbicides and seed tolerant varieties to improve management of weed seed resistance.

According to John Burk’s paper:

“Strip-cropping can improve yields, profit margins, and reduce soil erosion. (West & Griffith, 1992). A ton of topsoil eroding from a farm is valued at 12.50 of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. If five tons of soil is lost per acre in one year, a farm can potentially have a loss of 62.50 per acre from soil erosion... Strip cropping can reduce erosion by five tons per acre per year (Ferguson, 1992)”.

A 3 year crop rotation of corn, soybeans and sugar beets with narrow strip cropping corn and soybeans for two year’s ahead of sugar beets controlled wind damage on seedling sugar beets on the John Burk farm in Bay County. Fall chisel plowing of the narrow strip cropping corn and soybean residue and one spring secondary tillage with a combination tool was used before planting sugar beets. After planting residue measurements averaged 12% soybean residue cover and 35% corn residue cover every 15 feet. (Burk, 2002). However, “Sugar beets planted in soybean residue had lower plant populations, percent sugar and recoverable sugar content.” (Burk, 2002)

Narrow Strip cropping has the potential to significantly increase corn yield by capturing more sunlight on the outer rows. Jim House, Ontario Farmer plants corn in 3 x 21 inch narrow rows and has corn grain yield in excess of 300 bushel per acre with no till: (Grigar, 1997)

The following management strategies should help farms profit more with Narrow Strip cropping:

1. Increase outside corn rows to 40,000 plants per acre (West, 1992) or all rows to 40,000 plants per acre (Gentry)
2. Use shorter hybrids in outside rows (West, 1992)
3. Increase Nitrogen to outside rows (West, 1992)
4. Use a 3 crop rotation to avoid shading. (West, 1992)
5. Apply additional water to corn as irrigation or sub-irrigation (Van Wagoner, 2006)
6.  Use ESN slow release N at 200 lbs actual Nitrogen per acre. Apply 100 lbs/ac N as starter fertilizer and the other 100 lbs/ac broadcast post emerge to maximize N efficiency (Kaufman, 2007)

Adopting all six management practices should make it possible to achieve 300 bushel per acre corn yields every year.

Related Content:

How Controlled Release Nitrogen Affects Strip-Cropped Corn

LITERATURE CITED

• Burk, J. 2002. Sugar beet production following corn and soybean strip-cropping. Michigan State University, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Masters Thesis.
• Ferguson, J. 1993. Herbicide-friendly hybrids offer new approach. Ag Consultant. p. 8.
• Fortin, M. C., J. Culley, M. Edwards. 1987. Soil water, plant growth and yield of strip-intercropped corn. Journal of Production Agriculture. 7:63-69.
• Gogerty R. 1990 Triple-play strip cropping. The Furrow. p. 25 & 26.
• Grigar J. 1997. Great lakes no till discussion group meeting notes. January 20 & 21Frankenmuth, Michigan.
• Grigar J. 2007. Soil compaction, symptoms, causes, correction, prevention. NRCS MI electron field office technical guide Job Sheet 324.1.
• Iragavarapu, T.K. G.W. Randall. 1987. Border effects on yields in a strip-intercropped soybean, corn and wheat production system. Journal of Production Agriculture. 9:101-107. 
• Kaufman, J., J. Grigar Jr. 2007. Effect of Controlled release nitrogen on strip-intercropped corn and soybean American Society of Agronomy Meeting, New Orleans, LA
• Klor, D., S. Klor. 1986. Strips boost yields, profits. The New Farm. 8:15-17.
• Mangold, G. 1992. Farmers test strip-crops. Soybean Digest. P.28-32.
• Ottman, M., J. Welsh. 1998. Supplemental radiation effects on senescence, plant nutrients, and yield of field-grown corn. Agronomy Journal. 80: 619-628.
• Reeder, R., J. Smith. 2000. OSU. Conservation tillage systems and management. MWPS-45, second edition, 2000, Crop residue management with no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till and strip-till, Chapter 11 Controlled traffic. p 77-82.
• Seim, D. 1995. Strips push corn yield. Farm Journal. p.1.
• Seim, D. 1996. Wheat bolsters strip-intercropping bean yield. Farm Journal
• Walter J. 1993. Good lookin’ strips. Corn Farmer, Spring Edition.
• West, T. D. and D. R. Griffith. 1992. Purdue. Effect of strip-intercropping corn and soybean on yield and profit. Agronomy Journal. 5:107-110.