Soybean yield response to 60 years of no-till in Ohio

Since 1962, Ohio researchers are studying how tillage affects soybean yields in different soil types through the The Triplett-van Doren No-Tillage and Crop Rotation Experiment. A new factsheet ‘Soybean yield response to over 60 years of no-tillage across different Ohio soils’ (https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0184), shares results from this long-term study, highlighting the findings by de Camargo Santos et al. (2025).

The factsheet highlighted that no-till and chisel plow were higher yielding systems than moldboard plow for soybean production (Table 1). Yield improvements were greater in silt-loam soils (Wooster) than in heavy-clay soils (Hoytville), showing how soil type can play a key role in determining soybean responses to tillage. At Wooster, no-till consistently produced the highest soybean yields since the 1960s, with increases of up to 5 bushels. In Hoytville, the no-till system resulted in lower soybean yields in the early years, but that changed over time. As soil health improved over the past few decades, soybean yields improved under no-till, even in clayey soils.

The early years of this experiment (1960s–1980s) were especially challenging for no-till. Farmers and researchers had limited tools: fewer herbicides, little knowledge of pest control in high-residue systems, and limited equipment designed for planting in undisturbed soil. Those early struggles affected overall crop performance. But over time, no-till management improved. Better planters and hands-on experience of managing no-till helped, but a big reason for the success was the soil itself. Years of reduced disturbance and protection from leaving crop residues on the surface improved soil health, giving soybeans a better place to grow.

One key takeaway from this research is that it can take time for soil health to improve and begin benefiting crop yields. Practices like no-till help build soil structure and organic matter – but these changes do not happen overnight. This long-term study shows that no-till’s biggest yield advantage came after years of consistent use.

Another key finding is that intensive soil disturbance using moldboard plow can result in significant yield penalties. Even though this tillage method is no longer common, this experiment clearly showed its lasting drawbacks for soil and yields.

Overall, this research highlights that building soil health through no-till can lead to more productive cropping systems. Long-term studies like the Triplett-van Doren experiment help us see that while different soils may respond at different rates, consistent no-till management can pay off over time.

Table 1. Average soybean grain yields and annual yield gains for each tillage system in Wooster (1964 to 2024) and Hoytville (1965 to 2024), Ohio.

Reference

de Camargo Santos, A., Culman, S. W., Deiss, L. Sixty years of crop diversification with perennials improves yields more than no-tillage in Ohio grain cropping systems. Field Crops Research, 109993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.109993