Digital Commons Network^™

Reducing Tick Populations Through Prescribed Burning, Andrea Salazar, Herman Griese, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective: Explore the effect of prescribed fire on tick population dynamics in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Study Description: Ticks were collected from spring (April), summer (August), or fall (September) burned pastures as well as control, unburned areas. Burning had been carried out for four consecutive years prior to this study. Tick populations were sampled every other week from March to August using material dragging and dry ice bait sampling methods. Tick species, sex, and life stage were identified morphologically and the total numbers for each burn treatment were calculated.

The Bottom Line: Consecutive burning of grazing pasture could be considered …

The Effects Of Seasonal Prescribed Burning On Flint Hills Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Populations, Herman Griese, Andrea Salazar, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective: This study aimed to determine if the season of prescribed burning impacted dung beetle communities on pastures grazed by cattle in the Flint Hills.

Study Description: Dung beetle populations at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker unit were sampled biweekly for three months over the summer grazing period to determine if beetle populations varied between spring, summer, or fall burned pastures.

Results: At least eight species of dung beetles were identified with a total of 8,646 dung beetles collected. Dung beetle populations were not different (P > 0.05) between spring, summer, and fall burned pastures although peak beetle populations …

Long-Term Effects Of April, August, Or October Prescribed Fire On Yearling Stocker Cattle Performance And Native Rangeland Plant Composition In The Kansas Flint Hills, Zachary M. Duncan, Alan J. Tajchman, Jack Lemmon, William R. Hollenbeck, Dale A. Blasi, K. C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective: The objective of our experiment was to determine if prescribed fire applied in April, August, or October influenced stocker growth performance or plant community characteristics in the Kansas Flint Hills over a 6-year period.

Study Description: A total of 1,939 yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 11 ± 5.7 days), summer (August 25 ± 6.2 days or fall (October 2 ± 9.0 days) over a 5-year period. Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights were recorded at the start and end of the grazing season. Native …

Tillage Intensity In A Long-Term Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation, Lucas A. Haag, Amanda Burnett, Dewayne Bond, Jeffrey Slattery, Alan Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was initiated in 1991 at the Kansas State University Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS. The purpose of the study was to identify the effects of tillage intensity on precipitation capture, soil water storage, and grain yield in a wheat-sorghum-fallow rotation. Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum increased with decreased tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghumfallow (WSF) rotation. In 2022, available soil water at sorghum planting was greater for no-tillage (NT) than reduced tillage (RT), which was greater than conventional tillage (CT). For wheat there was a similar pattern as sorghum, with available soil water at wheat planting …

Wheat And Grain Sorghum Sequencing For Three Crops In Four-Year Rotations, Lucas A. Haag, Dewayne Bond, Amanda Burnett, Jeffrey Slattery, Alan Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 1996, an effort began to quantify soil water storage, crop water use, and crop productivity on dryland systems in western Kansas. Research on 4-year crop rotations with wheat and grain sorghum was initiated at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS. Rotations were wheatwheat- sorghum-fallow (WWSF), wheat-sorghum-sorghum-fallow (WSSF), and continuous wheat (WW). Soil water at wheat planting averaged about 9.1 in. following sorghum, which is about 3.8 in. more than the average for the second wheat crop in a WWSF rotation. Soil water at sorghum planting was only about 1.5 in. less for the second sorghum crop compared with …

Evaluating The Impact Of Long-Term Phosphorus Placement On Corn And Soybean Rotation Under Minimum Tillage System, Gustavo A. Roa, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Phosphorus (P) management is typically done with a focus on the long term, given its impact on soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term P placement on corn and soybean yields under a minimum tillage system in Kansas. Long-term research trials were established in Scandia (irrigated field) and Ottawa (rainfed) in 2006. Fertilizer treatments were applied annually to corn, including broadcast, deep-band, and starter/deep-band at 40 lb/a of P₂O₅, with a control having no phosphorus fertilizer. Corn and soybean responded significantly to P fertilizer at both locations (compared …

Could The Use Of Nitrification Inhibitor Optimize The Nitrogen Use Efficiency Of Corn Production?, Pedro Morinigo, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for corn production, higher grain yields are depen­dent on N fertilizer application. Substances like the nitrification inhibitors (NI) were created to increase yields, promote nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and reduce N losses. The study was carried out in ten site-years in Kansas from 2017 to 2021, with the objec­tive of evaluating the nitrogen agronomic efficiency (NAE) in corn with and without the use of NI and comparing corn grain yield, grain N uptake, and soil mineral nitrogen content with the use of the NI. Nitrogen fertilizer at the rates of 100, 150, and 200 …

Chloride Fertilization’S Impacts On Kansas Winter Wheat Grain Yield During 2021-2022, Luiz O. Pradella, Jorge R. Soler, Romulo P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Previous work suggests that wheat can respond to chloride fertility in Kansas and other regions, but this response depends on Cl availability and the wheat variety. In this study, we aimed to identify and quantify the effects of chloride fertilizer application in different areas and winter wheat varieties across Kansas. Sixteen field experiments were conducted during the 2021–2022 growing season. All experiments were conducted in a split-plot design with Cl fertility levels as whole plot (0 or 20 lb Cl/a) and wheat variety as subplots, with either three or four replicates. One protocol evaluated 24 winter wheat varieties in three …

Field Evaluations Of Nitrogen-Fixing Products In Grain Sorghum, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Lucas A. Haag, Will Davis, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz, Charles W. Rice

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrogen fertilizer is one of the largest input expenses for grain crops. Biological prod­ucts are currently available that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria to supply nitrogen to a crop throughout the growing season. Pivot Bio PROVEN (developed for corn), RETURN (developed for sorghum) and experimental product versions were evaluated in grain sorghum at Manhattan, KS, in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Products were compared with an untreated check at five rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Products were applied at planting in-furrow in a volume of five gallons of water solution per acre. Crop response was characterized by several in-season parameters plus grain parameters and …

Assessing Corn Response To Cover Crops And Nitrogen Fertilization In A No-Till, Three-Year Rotation In Northeast Kansas, Jessica GrüNberg, Alexis Correira, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Deann R. Presley, Peter J. Tomlinson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A long-term cover crop experiment was established in 2007 at Ashland Bottoms near Manhattan, KS, to determine the effect of cover crops and nitrogen (N) rates on subse­quent corn growth and yield in a wheat-corn-soybean rotation. Treatments included chemical fallow, double crop soybean, different cover crops (cereal rye, crimson clover, a mix of cereal rye and crimson clover, and a diverse mix of seven species) planted in late summer after wheat harvest, and five N rates (0, 40, 80, 160, and 240 lb/acre) applied to the subsequent corn crop. Yield responded differently to N rate depending on cover crop …

Effects Of Prescribed-Fire Timing On Stocker Cattle Performance, Forage Biomass Accumulation, And Native Plant Species Composition, Z. M. Duncan, A. J. Tajchman, J. Lemmon, W. R. Hollenbeck, D. A. Blasi, K. C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to document the effects of prescribed-fire timing on stocker cattle performance, forage biomass accumulation, soil cover, and plant species composition in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Study Description: A total of 1,416 yearling stocker cattle were assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 9 ± 5.1 days), summer (August 23 ± 4.9 days), or fall (September 29 ± 8.7 days) over a 4-year period. Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights were recorded at the beginning and end of the grazing season. Native plant composition and …

Effect Of Corn Type And Form Of Supplement On Grazing Steers – Year 2, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Harley Allen, Larissa Muniz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Eighty stocker steers were grazed on bromegrass from the end of May to the middle of August and were provided five different feeds while on grass during the summer. Treatments evaluated included (1) mineral only; (2) free-choice supplementation in the form of liquid feed (MIX30) or (3) block format (Mintrate 40 Red); and hand-fed supplements of 60% corn:40% dried distillers grains at 0.5% of body weight on a dry matter basis offered daily where the corn was either an (4) isoline corn (ISO; parent genetic line) or (5) Enogen feed corn (ENO; includes alpha-amylase gene). Steers were weighed every 28 …

Evaluation Of Implants, Clover, And Fescue Variety On Stocker Steers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Larissa Muniz, Harley Allen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sixty-four growing steers were used in a split-plot experiment, where the whole plot was pasture, and the split-plot was the implant level. Whole plot treatment was a 4 × 2 factorial with four levels of fescue (High Endophyte, Low Endophyte, Novel, or Endophyte Free) and two levels of legume (Legumes or No Legumes). The split-plot included four implant levels (No Implant, Synovex One Grass, Revalor-G, or Ralgro). Data collected were weights and ultrasound carcass characteristics when steers were coming off grass. Steers on High Endophyte had a lower average daily gain (ADG) and final weight than steers on novel endophyte, …

Hard Red And Soft Red Winter Wheat Variety Testing - 2023, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Jane Lingenfelser, Xiaomao Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This is a summary of the winter wheat production conditions in southeast Kansas in 2021-2022 and the results of the winter wheat variety testing. Wheat production in 2022 benefited from dry conditions at flowering and harvest. Overall yields of hard red wheat were above multi-year averages, while soft red wheat yields were below the 15-year average. As in previous years, soft red winter wheat out-yielded hard red winter wheat varieties, but the extent was not as dramatic as in previous years.

Control Of Soil-Borne Disease Of Soybean, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Christopher R. Little, Xiaomao Lin, Sylvia R.G. Moraes

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil-borne diseases are a significant cause of reduction in crop yield. Alternative management of soils can enhance the natural disease-controlling organisms in the soil. This study explores the impact of alternative production methods on a primary soybean disease, charcoal rot, caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. Treatments that could potentially enhance or control the disease were implemented, and soil tests were conducted for nutrient and disease presence. Manure increased the nutrient levels in the soil, as expected, but did not impact the disease control. Solarization increased the temperature within the plots, and increased the number of colony forming units …

Improving Resilience Of Corn To Weather Through Improved Fertilizer Efficiency, Na Huang, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Xiaomao Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Fertilization is a critical management tool to improve crop productivity. Corn requires more N fertilizer than some other crops, but the fertility needs of the crop vary based on the growing environment. In this study, we used a modeling approach to examine the historical record and delineate the interaction between fertilizer and weather on the sensitivity of corn yield to climate in southeastern Kansas. Providing optimal fertilizer can improve corn yield. However, too much fertilizer can be expensive and wasteful. This study demonstrated that the climate resilience of corn is moderated by how much fertilizer is applied. The model results …

Nutrient Management Strategies To Control Broomsedge Infestation And Improve Yield And Quality Of Tall Fescue Hayfields, Junior I. Yasuoka, Dale Helwig, Wendie Powell, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study in tall fescue hayfields infested with broomsedge and bluestem was conducted at four locations in southeast Kansas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium fertilization affect yield, forage quality, and broomsedge/bluestem control in tall fescue hayfields. This trial will be repeated in 2023.

Algorithm To Estimate Sorghum Grain Number From Panicles Using Images Collected With A Smartphone At Field-Scale, G. N. Santiago, A. J. P. Carcedo, L. Marziotte, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An estimation of on-farm yield before harvest is important to help farmers make decisions about additional input use, time to harvest, and options for end uses of the harvestable product. However, obtaining a rapid assessment of on-farm yield can be challenging, especially for a sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) crop due to the complexity of counting the total number of grains in a panicle at field-scale. One alternative to reduce labor is to develop a rapid assessment method employing computer vision algorithms. Computer vision has already been utilized to account for the number of grains within a panicle, yet it …

Effect Of Early Planting On Soybean Yield: 2022 Growing Season, E. Adee, S. Dooley, B. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In an effort to increase soybean yield potential, early planting dates have been promoted as a management practice that can increase yield of soybeans. Early planting of soybeans can be a relative term, meaning late April/early May for some soybean producers in Kansas, but this definition of early planted soybeans is late March/early April. Theoretically, the earlier planting date could allow for more vegetative growth and interception of more light before blooming, increasing the yield potential. With the improvement of soybean seed treatments to protect seed when emergence is slowed due to cool and wet conditions, the early planting may …

Weed Control With Imiflex In Igrowth Forage Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier, S. H. Lancaster, C. M. Weber

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Igrowth (imidazolinone-resistant) forage sorghum hybrids were recently commercialized in Kansas. Even though the active ingredient of the herbicide associated with these systems, imazamox, is used in other crops, data are needed to define best practices for use in forage sorghum. The objective of experiments in Manhattan and Garden City, KS, was to investigate the use of ImiFlex (imazamox) herbicide in Igrowth (imidazolinone-tolerant) forage sorghum. At Garden City, volunteer corn and johnsongrass control 29 days after treatment was 90% or greater in all treatments that included ImiFlex. Similarly, Palmer amaranth control 28 days after treatment was 91% or greater at Manhattan. …

Previous Crop Impacts On Wheat Variety Performance In Central Kansas During The 2021–2022 Growing Season, L. Simão, A. Patrignani, J. Grané, L. Pradella, N. Giordano, J. A. Romero Soler, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The effect of a previous crop and its residue left on the field before the next crop is a consequence of soil water usage and residue quality. We evaluated the grain yield of forty winter wheat varieties, as well as soil bulk density, soil water content, and previous crop’s residue C:N ratio in three neighboring fields near Solomon, KS. Wherein these three fields, winter wheat was no-tilled following a previous crop of either 1) soybean; 2) cover crop mix (legume and cereal); or 3) winter wheat. The mix of cover crops consisted of pearl millet, sorghum sudan, and sunn hemp. …

Tillering Potential And Stability Of Winter Wheat Varieties Commonly Grown In Kansas, L. O. Pradella, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The tillering potential and stability of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can be positive traits by conferring adaptation to distinct production environments. The literature demonstrates a high correlation between the tillering potential and many yield components. However, the actual impact of tillering potential on grain yield is not clear. Our goal was to quantify the tillering potential and stability of a range of winter wheat varieties. Field experiments were conducted in six locations in the state of Kansas during the 2021–2022 season. A complete factorial treatment structure of twenty-five winter wheat varieties by two seeding rates (400,000 seeds per …

Allelopathic Potential Of Winter Wheat Varieties For Weed Suppression, C. Bott, A. Dille, A. Mohammad, L. Simão, L. O. Pradella, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summer weeds are an expensive economic and environmental problem during the fallow period following the harvest of a wheat crop. Anecdotal evidence suggests that different wheat varieties impact the need for weed control in the subsequent fallow period differently, with reasons ranging from residue amount and quality to the allelopathic potential of such residue. Thus, our objectives were to compare the allelopathic effects of different winter wheat varieties on weed and crop germination suppression. We collected the residue left after harvest of 25 varieties grown in a randomized complete block design in two Kansas locations (Hays and Great Bend) during …

Increasing Winter Wheat Grain Yield By Replicating The Management Adopted In High-Yielding Commercial Fields In Kansas During 2021–2022, L. Ryan, L. Haag, J. D. Holman, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Large winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield gaps between actual yields from farmers and yield potential in the U.S. Great Plains indicate the need to improve recommendations of best management strategies to profitably bridge these gaps. Many studies have compared individual management factors pre-determined by the individual researcher, but we are not aware of studies comparing combination of practices that producers are currently using, which would be more relevant for real-world scenarios. Our objective was to determine the yield gains resulting from management intensification using the combination of practices currently adopted in commercial wheat fields. Four management intensities (i.e., …

Wheat Variety-Specific Response To Seeding Rate Under Intensive Management Conditions In Western Kansas In 2021–2022, R. P. Lollato, N. Giordano, L. Ryan, L. M. Simão, J. A. Romero Soler, L. O. Pradella

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Wheat response to seeding rate is variable and depends on resource availability during the growing season (e.g., fertility, moisture, and temperature). Our objective was to evaluate winter wheat population and grain yield responses to seeding rate and its interaction with variety in a highly-managed production system where manageable stresses were limited. This study was established to evaluate the response of the wheat varieties Joe, WB-Grainfield, Langin, and LCS Revere to five seeding rates ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 seeds per acre. The site was managed by growers who consistently win state and national wheat yield contests near Leoti, KS. The …

Aerification Effects On ‘Innovation’ Zoysiagrass In 2020–2022, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

When a thatch layer accumulates on turfgrass it can be detrimental to the stand. A field experiment was initiated to investigate aerification treatments and their influence on thatch (organic matter level), quality, and color of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass that was sodded within the past year. Turfgrass that was intensely aerified had less organic matter content in the surface inch of the profile compared to turfgrass that was not aerified. Color was also enhanced in treatments receiving aerification compared to non-aerified turf, which may have been attributed to the trending higher nitrate content in aerified plots. Moderately aerified turf significantly increased rooting …

Stocker Steer Gains And Fly Numbers As Impacted By Burn Date And Type Of Mineral On Tallgrass Native Range – Year 4, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Harley Allen, Larissa Muniz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study aims to evaluate effectiveness of two operational management systems for steer gains and fly control. The first strategy evaluated was pasture burn date of March (MAR) or April (APR). The second management strategy was free-choice mineral with spices (SPICE) or without spices (CON). Eight pastures (n = 281 steers; initial weight 566 lb) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment structure. Steers were weighed individually, randomly assigned to treatment, and grazed for 89 days. Weekly, 33% of steers were photographed to count flies and evaluated for hair coat score. Steers that grazed pastures that were burned …

Climate Long-Term Trends Impacting Wheat Production Systems In Kansas, Octavia M.M. Tavares, Fábio Marin, Romulo Lollato, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Winter wheat production is of major importance in Kansas. The purpose of the study was to verify the evidence of climate change in a long-term weather data series from Wellington and Parsons, KS, to understand whether climate change has been affecting yield production.

Critical Soil Health Parameters To Improve Crop Production, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Bruno C. Pedreira, Carlos B. Pires

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil health is a critical determinant of plant performance. This manuscript describes how the physical, chemical, and biological components within the soil interact to create good soil health. Soil structure is important to provide support for plants, nutrient and water cycling, decreased compaction, and more efficient carbon storage. Measurements of soil properties are presented that can be done in the field on any soil.

Annual Summary Of Weather Data For Parsons - 2022, Matthew Sittel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation and temperatures from 2022 at the research locations represented in the 2023 Southeast Research and Extension Center Agricultural Research Report.