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Evaluation Of Two Implants For Steers On Early-Intensively Grazed Tallgrass Native Range, J. K. Farney, M. E. Corrigan

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:To evaluate the effect of two implants that have different lengths of effective use on stocker cattle gains within an intensive early double-stocked native tallgrass prairie grazing system.

Study Description:Stocker steers (n = 281) were implanted with Revalor-G (Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ) or Synovex One Grass (Zoetis, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI) and grazed on tallgrass native range for 90 days during the summer. The steers were individually weighed, after an overnight shrink, on the day of implanting, at midpoint of grazing, and the end of the grazing period. Total gains and average daily gain were evaluated. …

Syngenta Enogen Feed Corn Silage Containing An Alpha Amylase Expression Trait Improves Feed Efficiency In Growing Calf Diets, M. A. Johnson, T. Spore, S. P. Montgomery, W. R. Hollenbeck, R. N. Wahl, E. D. Watson, D. A. Blasi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:To determine the growing calf response when fed Enogen Feed corn silage containing an alpha amylase expression trait.

Study Description:Crossbred steers of Tennessee origin (n = 352) were used to determine the effects on performance when fed Enogen Feed corn silage with either Enogen Feed corn or control corn at ad libitum intake.

The Bottom Line:When fed in an ad libitum fashion to growing calves, Enogen Feed corn silage improves the efficiency of feed conversion by 4.4% and average daily gain by 6.0%.

Pelleting And Starch Characteristics Of Diets Containing High Amylase Corn, C. N. Truelock, M. D. Tokach, C. R. Stark, C. R. Paulk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of die thickness and conditioning temperature on pelleting and starch characteristics in diets containing either conventional yellow dent or high amylase corn (Enogen^®, Syngenta Seeds, LLC). Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial of corn type (conventional and high amylase), die thickness (L:D 5.6 and 8.0), and conditioning temperature (165, 175, and 185°F). For the high amylase corn treatments, ground high amylase corn replaced conventional ground corn on a lb:lb basis. Diets were pelleted via steam conditioning (10 in × 55 in Wenger twin staff pre-conditioner, …

Use Of Satellite Imagery To Predict Corn Phenology At A Regional Scale, L. Nieto, R. Schwalbert, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Existing methods to report phenology are expensive, labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often not very accurate, especially at some specific crop growth stages. The objec­tive of this study was to develop large-scale phenology models via utilization of satellite imagery data and machine learning techniques for the southwest (SW) agricultural crop reporting district of Kansas. Different satellite images collected from Landsat were utilized as the main input to obtain different vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI; enhanced vegetation index, EVI; green chlorophyll vegeta­tion index, GCVI; normalized difference water index, NDWI; and global vegetation moisture index, CVMI). Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), temperature, precipitation, …

Effect Of Late Nitrogen Fertilization On Grain Yield And Grain Filling In Corn, J. A. Fernandez, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

For decades, yield improvement in corn has been accompanied by an increase in plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Modern hybrids are absorbing more N during reproductive stages, while delaying N remobilization to the grain for later in the growing season. To evaluate the effect of late-season N applications in distinct corn genotypes, grain yield and grain filling parameters were evaluated in field experiments under early and late N regimes during 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Hybrids with different release years (3394, 1990s; P1151, 2000s; and P1197, 2016) and contrasting N application scenarios (including a zero-N control) were evaluated at the Kansas …

Effects Of Interseeding Ladino Clover Into Tall Fescue Pastures Of Varying Endophyte Status On Grazing And Subsequent Finishing Performance Of Stocker Steers, L. W. Lomas, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One hundred ninety-two yearling steers grazing tall fescue pastures were used to evalu­ate the effects of fescue cultivar and interseeding ladino clover on available forage, grazing gains, and subsequent finishing performance in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Fescue cultivars evaluated were high-endophyte ‘Kentucky 31,’ low-endophyte Kentucky 31, ‘HM4,’ and ‘MaxQ.’ In 2016 and 2018, steers that grazed pastures of low-endophyte Kentucky 31, HM4, or MaxQ gained significantly more (P<0.05) and produced more (P<0.05) gain/a than those that grazed high-endophyte Kentucky 31 pastures. Gains of cattle that grazed low-endophyte Kentucky 31, HM4, or MaxQ were similar (P>0.05). In 2017, steer gains were similar (P>0.05) among all cultivars. High-endo­phyte Kentucky 31 pastures had more (P<0.05) available forage than low-endophyte Kentucky 31, HM4, or MaxQ pastures during both 2016 and 2017. Steer gains and gain/acre were similar (P>0.05) between pastures fertilized with nitrogen (N) in the spring and those interseeded …

Effects Of Various Grazing Systems On Grazing And Subsequent Finishing Performance, L. W. Lomas, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 360 mixed black yearling steers were used to compare grazing and subsequent finishing performance from pastures with ‘MaxQ’ tall fescue, a wheat-bermudagrass double-crop system, or a wheat-crabgrass double-crop system in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Daily gains of steers that grazed MaxQ fescue, wheat-bermudagrass, or wheat-crabgrass were similar (P>0.05) in 2010, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Daily gains of steers that grazed wheat-bermudagrass or wheat-crabgrass were greater (P>0.05) than those that grazed MaxQ fescue in 2011 and 2012. Daily gains of steers that grazed wheat-crabgrass were greater (P>0.05) than those …

Evaluation Of Supplemental Energy Source For Grazing Stocker Cattle, L. W. Lomas, J. K. Farney, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 180 steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures were used to evaluate the effects of supplemental energy source on available forage, grazing gains, subsequent finishing gains, and carcass characteristics in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Supple­mentation treatments evaluated were: no supplement, a supplement with starch as the primary source of energy, and a supplement with fat as the primary source of energy. Supplements were formulated to provide the same quantity of protein and energy per head daily. Supplementation with the starch-based or fat-based supplement during the grazing phase resulted in higher (P<0.05) grazing gains than feeding no supplement during all five years. In 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018, grazing gains of steers supple­mented with the starch-based or fat-based supplement were similar (P>0.05). In 2015, steers supplemented with …

Controlling Soil-Borne Disease In Soybean With A Mustard Cover Crop, G. F. Sassenrath, C. Little, K. Roozeboom, X. Lin, D. Jardine

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Charcoal rot is a soil-borne disease that is prevalent in southeast Kansas. The disease infects multiple crops, including soybean, and causes yield reductions. A high-gluco­sinolate mustard with biofumigant properties reduced the population levels in soil and in soybean plants of the fungus (Macrophomina phaseolina) that causes charcoal rot. In this study, management practices that incorporate use of mustard as a cover crop in soybean production systems were tested. Results indicate that tillage increases the char­coal rot fungus. The mustard cover crop was tested in field studies for its impact on soil health, fungal disease and propagules, and soybean …

Annual Summary Of Weather Data For Parsons - 2018, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Annual summary of weather data for Parsons, Kansas, 2018.

Occasional Tillage In A Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation, A. Schlegel, J. Holman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beginning in 2012, research was conducted in Garden City and Tribune, KS, to determine the effect of a single tillage operation every 3 years on grain yields in a wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum were generally not affected by a single tillage operation every 3 years in a WSF rotation. Grain yield varied greatly by year from 2014–2018. Wheat yields ranged across years from mid-20s to 80 bu/a at Tribune and less than 10 to near 60 bu/a at Garden City. Grain sorghum yields ranged from less than 50 to greater than 140 bu/a, depending …

Efficacy Of Zest Application Timings In Irrigated Acetolactase Synthase-Resistant Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Acetolactase synthase inhibiting (ALS) herbicides were evaluated for efficacy in ALS-resistant grain sorghum. Kochia and quinoa control were similar among all herbicides tested regardless of evaluation date. Cinch ATZ alone preemergence, and Cinch plus Resolve and Harmony GT PRE followed by Zest POST controlled puncturevine 73-78%. Late-season green foxtail control was best when Zest was included as an early postemergence or postemergence application. Cinch ATZ applied alone preemergence, Cinch ATZ preemergence followed by Zest POST, and Cinch plus Resolve and Harmony GT PRE followed by Zest POST controlled Palmer amaranth 81–84%, and resulted in the highest grain yields.

Efficacy Of Sequential Herbicide Applications In Glufosinate- And Glyphosate-Resistant Corn, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

To determine their efficacy in corn, this study compared two preemergence programs and sequential glufosinate (Interline) or glyphosate (Roundup PowerMax). Control of common sunflower and Russian thistle was excellent regardless of herbicide treatment. Preemergence herbicides alone provided no more than 78% johnsongrass control early in the season. By late season, only those plots receiving Roundup PowerMax had more than 85% johnsongrass control. However, corn yields did not differ among treatments, and all herbicides increased yield 70–97% relative to nontreated corn.

Herbicide And Application Timing Effects On Windmillgrass (Chloris Verticillata) Control, Nicholas Mitchell, Jared Hoyle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Windmillgrass (Chloris verticillataNutt.) populations commonly infest turfgrass systems in the midwest, which result in aesthetically unacceptable turfgrass stands. Research trials were initiated in 2017 and 2018, in Onaga and Junction City, KS, to determine windmillgrass control with various single herbicide applications at dif­ferent application timings. Pylex (topramezone) resulted in more than 80% wind­millgrass control 8 weeks after spring and summer application.

Influence Of Herbicide Combinations And Sequential Applications On Windmillgrass (Chloris Verticillata) Control, Nicholas Mitchell, Jared Hoyle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Windmillgrass (Chloris verticillataNutt.) populations commonly infest turfgrass systems in the midwest, which result in aesthetically unacceptable turfgrass stands. Pylex (topramezone) and Acclaim Extra (fenoxaprop) have resulted in fair control of windmillgrass with single applications. For adequate control of windmillgrass, a sequential application of Tenacity (mesotrione), three weeks after the initial application, is recommended. Additionally, studies have shown the addition of triclopyr to HPPD inhibitor herbicides increases windmillgrass control in a controlled environ­ment. Field experiments were initiated in 2018, at the Kansas State University Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center in Manhattan, KS, to determine the influence of herbicide combinations …

Pre-Plant Nitrogen Rate And Application Method And Side-Dress Nitrogen Rate Effects On Corn Grown No-Till On A Claypan Soil, D. W. Sweeney, D. Ruiz-Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn yield in 2018 was increased by about 5 bu/a with knife application of pre-plant nitrogen (N) fertilizer compared with broadcast application. Fertilizing with increasing rates of N applied pre-plant, at side-dress, or both had little effect on yield or yield components of corn in 2018.

Quality Grade Has No Effect On Top Sirloin Steaks Cooked To Multiple Degrees Of Doneness, B. A. Olson, E. A. Rice, J. M. Gonzalez, J. L. Vipham, M. D. Chao, T. A. Houser, E. A. Boyle, T. G. O'Quinn

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cooking top sirloin steaks from four quality grades to multiple degrees of doneness (rare, medium, well-done) on beef palatability traits.

Study Description:Beef top sirloin butts (n = 60; 15/quality grade) from four U.S. Department of Agriculture quality grades [Prime, Top Choice (Modest and Moderate marbling), Low Choice, and Select] were selected from a Midwest beef processor. Top butts were transported to the Kansas State University Meat Laboratory, fabricated into 1-in steaks, vacuum packaged, and aged for 28 days at 39.2°F. Following aging, steaks were frozen …

Estimating Annual Forage Yields With Plant Available Water And Growing Season Precipitation, J. Holman, A. Obour, A. Schlegel, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Forage production is important for the western Kansas region’s livestock and dairy industries and has become increasingly important as irrigation-well capacity declines. Forages require less water than grain crops and may allow for increased cropping intensity and opportunistic cropping. Being able to estimate forage production is important for determining forage availability versus forage needs. Data from several studies were used to quantify annual forage yield response to plant available water (PAW) at planting and growing season precipitation (GSP). In addition, water use efficiency was quantified. Forages evaluated included winter triticale, spring triticale, and forage sorghum. Preliminary results showed PAW and …

Mobile Drip Irrigation For Water Limited Crop Production: Initial Results, J. Aguilar, T. Oker, I. Kisekka

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The farmers within the Ogallala aquifer desire to extend the usable life of this aquifer despite experiencing diminishing well capacities, thus the quest for more efficient irrigation application technologies. Mobile drip irrigation (MDI), which integrates drip lines onto a mechanical irrigation system such as a center pivot, has attracted their attention lately. The concept is that by applying water along crop rows, it was hypothesized that MDI could eliminate water losses due to spray droplet evaporation, wind drift, and reduce soil evaporation due to limited surface wetting especially before canopy closure. A study was conducted with the following objectives: 1) …

Comparisons Of Acuron, Surestart Ii, And Valor For Residual Weed Control In Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Herbicides were compared to standard treatments for preplant efficacy and crop response in grain sorghum. All herbicides controlled buffalobur and velvetleaf similarly late in the season. SureStart II and Acuron provided the best Palmer amaranth, puncturevine, and green foxtail control. Valor at 1 or 2 oz/a provided less than 70% puncturevine and green foxtail control late in the season. Only minimal visual injury was observed, and all herbicides increased sorghum yield 47–122% relative to the untreated controls.

Southwest Research-Extension Center Field Day 2019, R. Gillen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Agricultural research was conducted at the Southwest Research-Extension Center in Kansas. Topics include cropping, tillage, soil fertility, and weed science.

Effects Of Conditioning Temperature On Pellet Quality Of Nursery Pig Diets, G. E. Nichols, C. R. Stark, A. M. Ogles, K. M. Dunmire, C. B. Paulk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of conditioning temperature on pellet durability index (PDI) and pellet hardness. A phase 1 swine nursery diet was formulated to contain 25% spray-dried whey. The diet was manufactured and pelleted at the Kansas State University O.H. Kruse Feed Technology and Innovation Center, Manhattan, KS. The treatments consisted of three different conditioning temperatures: 130, 145, and 160°F. Diets were steam conditioned (10 in width × 55 in length Wenger twin staff pre-conditioner, Model 150) for approximately 30 sec on a 1-ton 30-horsepower pellet mill (1012-2 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill) …

Deliberate Exercise Of Pregnant Holstein Heifers Improves Milk Composition During Lactation, J. Johnson, P. Steichen, B. J. Bradford, A. E. Rhodes, T. G. Rozell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Exercise has substantial impacts on systemic physiology, but little research has been conducted to assess how it may influence dairy cattle in modern confined production systems. Dairy heifers were walked for up to 45 minutes, 4 days per week for 8 weeks during pregnancy to assess impacts on subsequent health and productivity. Heifers that were exercised had increased milk protein and solids-not-fat concentrations for up to 15 weeks into lactation, and increased milk fat and energy-corrected milk production at some time points during this period, as compared to sedentary contemporaries. No adverse or beneficial effects of exercise were found on …

Corn Planting Date And Depth – Impacts On Yield, G. F. Sassenrath, L. Mengarelli, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn growth and production is dependent on environmental conditions during the growing season. Optimal corn growth occurs between 50 and 86°F. Early-season soil temperatures may reduce corn emergence. Conversely, later-planted corn may not have adequate moisture for good pollination and grain production. This research tested the impact of planting date and planting depth on corn yield. The yield decreased with later planting dates. Earlier planting dates had better yield at lower planting depths, but yield was reduced at deeper planting depths at later planting.

Wheat Grain Yield And Protein Response To Nitrogen And Sulfur Rates, B. R. Jaenisch, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Winter wheat is often double-cropped after soybeans in no-tillage systems. The soybean crop removes large quantities of sulfur (S), which might unbalance ratios of nitrogen (N) to S for the following wheat crop. Our objective was to evaluate the responses of two wheat varieties to three N and four S rates representing a range of N:S ratios. The experiment was arranged as a complete factorial with a split-split-plot design. Variety was the whole-plot, N the sub-plot, and S the sub-sub plot. Nitrogen rates were 50, 100, and 150% of the recommended rate for 60 bu/a, which corresponded to ~45, 87, …

Surface Lime Application In Long-Term No-Till Crop Production With Stratified Soil Ph, F. D. Hansel, D. A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Lime application is a key management strategy to control the acidifying effects promoted by long-term application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and is also a source of calcium for the crops. Two field studies located in Mitchell County was carried out during 3 years (2016-2018), exploring the effect of lime application in wheat (first year), corn (second year), and soybean (third year) crops. After the first year, there was an increase in wheat yield of up to 8% with lime application. For corn (second year), liming showed a yield response of up to 10%. Soybean (third year) yield response to lime …

Correlation Of Sikora And Smith-Mclean- Pratt Soil Buffer Ph Measurements, B. Rutter, D. A. Ruiz Diaz, J. Thomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Historically, the K-State Research and Extension Soil Testing Laboratory has used the Smith-McLean-Pratt (SMP) buffer solution to estimate total soil acidity and estimate lime recommendations. The SMP solution contains hazardous chemicals and poses a health risk to lab workers. The Sikora buffer solution was designed as a replacement for SMP and contains no hazardous chemicals. A study was conducted to investigate the relationship between these two buffers in Kansas soils. A strong positive correlation was observed between SMP and Sikora buffer pH measurements. However, linear regression suggests that the relationship is not 1:1 (slope = 0.88). Therefore recommendation equations using …

Intensive Wheat Management For Yield And Quality: The Role Of Variety, Environment, And Management Practices, R. P. Lollato, B. R. Jaenisch, D. Marburger

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Management (M), variety (V), and environment (E) greatly influence wheat yield and quality. With the objective of determining the partial influence of V, E, and M, we conducted a field experiment where we imposed four management intensities to five wheat varieties during six site-years in Kansas and Oklahoma. Management intensities were 1) low-input (N fertility for a yield goal of 60 bu/a); 2) high-input (foliar fungi­cide, sulfur and chloride fertilizers, growth regulator, and nitrogen (N) fertility for a yield goal of 100 bu/a); 3) high-input minus fungicide; and 4) high-input minus addi­tional N. We selected commonly grown wheat varieties with …

Weather Information For Garden City, 2018, J. Elliott

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summary of 2018 weather for research conducted at the Garden City field location.

Large-Scale Dryland Cropping Systems, A. Schlegel, L. Haag, A. Burnett

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was conducted from 2008–2018 at the Kansas State University Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS. The purpose of the study was to identify whether more intensive cropping systems can enhance and stabilize production in rainfed cropping systems to optimize economic crop production, more efficiently capture and utilize scarce precipitation, and maintain or enhance soil resources and environmental quality. The crop rotations evaluated were continuous grain sorghum (SS), wheat-fallow (WF), wheat-corn-fallow (WCF), wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF), wheat-corn-sorghum-fallow (WCSF), and wheat-sorghum-corn-fallow (WSCF). All rotations were grown using no-tillage practices except for WF, which was grown using reduced-tillage. The efficiency of precipitation capture …