Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Poultry Litter Application On Agricultural Production: A Meta-Analysis Of Crop Yield, Nutrient Uptake And Soil Fertility, Yaru Lin, Edzard Van Santen, Dexter Watts

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Meta-analysis is a statistical technique used to analyze large datasets containing results from numerous individual studies. It appears to be a promising approach in agricultural sciences. This study aimed to conduct a meta-analytic assessment to elucidate the influence of poultry litter (PL) application on crop yield, plant nutrient uptake, and soil fertility as compared to inorganic fertilizer (IF). A meta-analysis based on 116 studies (111 refereed articles and five unpublished data sets) with 2293 observations compared agronomic responses to PL and IF application. The natural log of the response ratio was used as effect size (ES) to express differences in …

Evaluation Of Tall Fescue Cultivars, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Spring 2015 yield was higher for ‘Ky 31 EF’ than for nine of the 19 other entries. Summer production of ‘PBU-B7’ was greater than for five lower-yielding entries. Total 2015 production was greater for ‘PBU-B1’ and Ky 31 EF than for seven other cultivars.

Adaptability Of Miscanthus Cultivars For Biomass Production, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2015, miscanthus dry matter (DM) did not differ between cultivars, averaging 10,250 lb DM/a. Total three-year production for the cultivars was also similar, averaging 26,170 lb/a.

Tillage And Nitrogen Placement Effects On Yields In A Short-Season Corn/Wheat/Double-Crop Soybean Rotation, D. W. Sweeney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Conventional tillage resulted in greater corn yield in 2015 than with reduced tillage or no-till. A tillage × N fertilizer treatment interaction showed that N placement did not affect corn yield in conventional or reduced tillage systems, but subsurface knife N placement in no-till resulted in greater yield than when N was surface-applied.

Timing Of Side-Dress Applications Of N For Corn In Conventional And No-Till Systems, D. W. Sweeney, D. E. Shoup

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In general, conventional tillage averaged nearly 40 bu/acre greater corn yield than no-till likely because of improved growth during the season. With conventional tillage, all side-dress treatments resulted in greater yield than with all N applied pre-plant. However, in lower-yielding no-till systems, the yield response to side-dress applications appeared to be greater for V10 applications compared with those at V6.

Use Of A Fungicide To Reduce Stomatal Conductance In Sweet Corn Planted At Different Populations With Limited Irrigation, D. W. Sweeney, M. B. Kirkham

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2015, increasing seeding rates increased the number of harvested sweet corn ears; however, total fresh weight did not increase above 22,500 seeds/acre. Sweet corn was little affected by limited irrigation or a fungicide applied for stomatal control.

2015 Soybean Production In Southeast Kansas, Gretchen Sassenrath, I. A. Ciampitti, D. E. Shoup, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Crop performance and yield varies as a function of the growing environment and soil properties within the field. Optimal soybean planting in southeast Kansas usually occurs from mid-May to mid-June for full-season or late-June to early-July for doublecropped soybean. Planting is timed to capture fall rains and cooler temperatures during critical periods of bean development and yield formation and avoid mid-summer heat and drought. Changing planting configuration (row spacing and plant population), timing of planting, and cultivar selection are methods of optimizing soybean production for different growing environments.

Soil Microbial Activity With Depth In Claypan Soils Of Southeast Kansas, C. J. Hsiao, Gretchen Sassenrath, Charles Rice, L. Zeglin, G. Hettiarachchi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Enzyme activities in soil indicate the relative activities of microbes, which include bacteria, fungi, algae, and other organisms. Changes in soil management alter the composition and activity of soil microbes. Plants rely on soil microbes to break down soil nutrients, and make those nutrients available for plant growth. Symbiotic relationships between soil microbes and plants enhance plant growth and productivity. Alternatively, antagonistic relationships between the soil microbial community and plants limit plant production. Soil dwellers such as nematodes or disease-causing fungi such asMacrophomina phaseolina(the fungus responsible for charcoal rot) can be particularly deleterious to crop growth and yield. …

Annual Summary Of Weather Data For Parsons, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weather Data for Parsons, Kansas, 2015.

East Central Kansas Experiment Field, Eric Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The research program at the East Central Kansas Experiment Field is designed to keep area crop producers abreast of technological advances in agronomic agriculture. Specific objectives are to (1) identify top performing varieties and hybrids of wheat, corn, soybean, and grain sorghum; (2) establish the amount of tillage and crop residue cover needed for optimum crop production; (3) evaluate weed and disease control practices using chemical, no chemical, and combination methods; and (4) test fertilizer rates, timing, and application methods for agronomic proficiency and environmental stewardship.

Balanced Nutrition And Crop Production Practices For Closing Sorghum Yield Gaps, B. Mchenry, Eric Adee, J. Kimball, P. V. Vara Prasad, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In order to study how diverse cropping system approaches influence grain sorghum productivity, field experiments were conducted in Topeka, KS at the Kansas River Valley Experiment Field; and in Ottawa, KS at the East Central Kansas Experiment Field. The primary objective of this study was to understand how to close yield gaps between the current on-farm yields and the maximum attainable yields. The factors that were tested include narrow row spacing; high and low plant population; balanced nutrition practices, including various timings of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N-P-K); micronutrient applications of iron and zinc (Fe and Zn); crop protection with …

Kansas River Valley Experiment Field, Eric Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The Kansas River Valley Experiment Field was established to study management and effective use of irrigation resources for crop production in the Kansas River Valley (KRV). The Paramore Unit consists of 80 acres located 3.5 miles east of Silver Lake on U.S. Highway 24, then 1 mile south of Kiro, and 1.5 miles east on 17th street. The Rossville Unit consists of 80 acres located 1 mile east of Rossville or 4 miles west of Silver Lake on U.S. Highway 24.

Tillage Study For Corn And Soybeans: Comparing Vertical, Deep, And No-Till, Eric Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The need for tillage in corn and soybean production in the Kansas River Valley continues to be debated. The soils of the Kansas River Valley are highly variable, with much of the soil sandy to silty loam in texture. These soils tend to be relatively low in organic matter (<2%) and susceptible to wind erosion. Although typically well drained, these soils can develop compaction layers under certain conditions. A tillage study was initiated in the fall of 2011 at the Kansas River Valley Experiment Field near Topeka to compare deep vs. shallow vs. no-till vs. deep tillage in alternate years. Corn and soybean crops will be rotated annually. This is intended to be a long-term study to determine if soil characteristics and yields change in response to a history of each tillage system.

Sudden Death Syndrome And Soybean Planting Date, Eric Adee, C. R. Little, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The effect of soybean planting date on the severity of sudden death syndrome (SDS) and yield were evaluated in two studies at the Kansas River Valley Experiment Field in 2015. One study was established to promote SDS and the other to minimize SDS. In both studies the severity of SDS was greatest with the earlier planting dates, except for the more tolerant variety. The yield was greatest with the earlier planting date, except for the most susceptible variety. The severity of SDS was not as great as had been observed in previous years.

Breaking Soybean Yield Barriers: A Cropping Systems Approach, I. A. Ciampitti, G. R. Balboa

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

During 2015, four soybean research trials were conducted in dryland and irrigated environments. Two trials were at Scandia, KS, and two were in Topeka, KS. The objective of these trials was to study the contribution of different farming systems to developing efficient and high-yielding soybean production systems. Each experiment had five treatments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). Under dryland and irrigation EI and AD treatments had the maximum yield in both locations. Under irrigation, yield gap was the largest as compared to the dryland environment in both …

Breaking Corn Yield Barriers: A Cropping Systems Approach, G. R. Balboa, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

During 2015, four corn research trials were conducted in dryland and irrigated environments. Two trials were at Scandia, KS and two were in Topeka, KS. The objective of these trials was to study the contribution of different farming management approaches for developing efficient and high-yielding corn production systems. Treatment layout consisted of five combinations: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). Under dryland and irrigation scenarios, EI and AD treatments presented the highest yields relative to the other combinations. Under irrigation, absolute yield gap was larger in both locations …

High-Yielding Soybean: Genetic Gain × Fertilizer Nitrogen Interaction, I. A. Ciampitti, J. Kimball, Eric Adee, O. Ortez, G. I. Carmona

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The U.S. accounts for 35% of the global soybean production. Potential soybean yields are determined by the interaction of genotype, environment, and management practices (G × E × M). The question “Do high yielding soybean need to be fertilized with nitrogen (N)?” is still a valid one. The overall objective of this project is to study the contribution of N via utilization of varying N strategies under historical and current soybean genotypes. Two field experiments were conducted during the 2015 growing season at Ottawa (east central KS) and at Ashland Bottoms (central KS). Three soybeans varieties were used (1990s = …

Response Of Drought-Tolerant Hybrids To Environmental Yield Potential, T. Newell, K. Roozeboom, I. A. Ciampitti, Eric Adee, G. Cramer, J. D. Holman, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Due to increasing non-irrigated corn acres, decreasing availability of irrigation water in some areas of western Kansas, and increasing water restrictions, producers are looking for more efficient ways to use available water. Drought-tolerant (DT) hybrid technologies are marketed for their ability to produce more stable yields in stress-prone environments. The objective of this research was to understand how DT and non-DT corn hybrids respond to a wide range of environmental conditions in terms of soil water status change, canopy indicators of stress, dry matter partitioning, and grain yield. Two DT hybrids, and one non-DT hybrid were compared in 2014 and …

Grain Sorghum Response To Band Applied Zinc Fertilizer, A. Tonon Rosa, N. O. Nelson, D. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Zinc (Zn) is one of the micronutrients found to be deficient in Kansas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of grain sorghum to Zn fertilization using strip trials. The experiment was set up in Manhattan, KS, in 2015. The experimental design consisted of two strips, one with Zn fertilizer and the other without, with five replications. Zn fertilizer was applied as starter in combination with ammonium polyphosphate at the rate of 0.5 lb Zn/a. Plant tissue samples were collected to determine Zn content. Grain yield was recorded by combine equipped with yield monitor. No significant differences …

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Fertilization For Newly Established Tall Fescue, D. W. Sweeney, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

(Abstract only. Link to: http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol1/iss4/1/) Article is nearly identical toNitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilization for Newly Established Tall Fescuepreviously published in Southeast Agricultural Research Center 2015, included in this PDF.

First-year production of tall fescue (Site 1 in 2013 and Site 2 in 2014) was affected by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), but not potassium (K) fertilization. Environmental conditions likely influenced the growth of the fescue and the response to fertilizer N and P in the first year of production at the two sites.

Response Of Soybean Grown On A Claypan Soil In Southeastern Kansas To The Residual Of Different Plant Nutrient Sources And Tillage, D. W. Sweeney, Philip Barnes, Gary Pierzynski

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

(Abstract only. Link to: http://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol1/iss4/3/) Article is nearly identical toResponse of Soybean Grown on a Claypan Soil in Southeastern Kansas to the Residual of Different Plant Nutrient Sources and Tillage, previously published in Southeast Agricultural Research Center Reports 2015.

The residual effects of turkey litter and fertilizer amendments applied in previous years had little effect on the yield, yield components, and dry matter production of the following soybean crop grown in 2014.

Precipitation Data, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Precipitation data for agricultural experiment stations in Kansas, 2014-2015.

Long-Term Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilization Of Irrigated Grain Sorghum, A. Schlegel, H. D. Bond

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Long-term research shows that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied to optimize production of irrigated grain sorghum in western Kansas. In 2015, N applied alone increased yields 66 bu/a, whereas N and P applied together increased yields up to 92 bu/a. Averaged across the past 10 years, N and P fertilization increased sorghum yields up to 76 bu/a. Application of 40 lb/a N (with P) was sufficient to produce 88% of maximum yield in 2015 which is slightly above the 10-year average. Application of potassium (K) has had no effect on sorghum yield throughout the study period. …

Determining Profitable Annual Forage Rotations, J. D. Holman, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell, I. Kisekka

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Producers are interested in growing annual forages, yet the region lacks proven recom­mended crop rotations such as those for grain crops. Forage production is important to the region’s livestock and dairy industries and is becoming increasingly important as irrigation well capacity declines. Forages require less water than grain crops and may al­low for increased cropping intensity and opportunistic cropping. A study was initiated in 2013 comparing several 1-, 3-, and 4-year forage rotations with no-till and minimum-till (min-till). Data presented are from 2013 through 2015. Winter triticale yields were increased by tillage. Double-crop forage sorghum yielded 23% less than full-season …

2015 Kansas Winter Annual Forage Variety Trial, J. D. Holman, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 16 winter annual forage varieties were tested for performance near Garden City, KS, at the Southwest Research-Extension Center in 2014-2015. Winter crops evaluated included wheat, triticale, and cereal rye.

Integrated Grain And Forage Rotations, J. D. Holman, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Producers are interested in growing forages in rotation with grain crops. Many produc­ers are interested in diversifying their operations to include livestock or grow feed for the livestock industry. By integrating forages into the cropping system, producers can take advantage of more markets and reduce market risk. Forages require less water to make a crop than grain crops, so the potential may exist to reduce fallow by including forages in the crop rotation. Reducing fallow through intensified grain/forage rotations may increase the profitability and sustainability compared to existing crop rotations.

This study was started in 2013, with crops grown in-phase …

Tillage Intensity In A Long-Term Wheat- Sorghum-Fallow Rotation, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum increased with decreased tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. In 2015, available soil water at wheat planting was greater for no-till (NT) and reduced till (RT) than for conventional till (CT). Simi­larly, for grain sorghum in 2015, available soil water at planting was increased with NT or RT and least with CT. Averaged across the 15-yr study, available soil water at wheat and sorghum planting was similar for RT and NT and about 1 inch greater than CT. Averaged across the past 15 years, NT wheat yields were 5 bu/a greater than …

Wheat Stubble Height On Subsequent Corn And Grain Sorghum Crops, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A field study initiated in 2006 was designed to evaluate the effects of three wheat stubble heights on subsequent grain yields of corn and grain sorghum. Corn and sorghum yields in 2015 were greater than the long-term average. When averaged from 2007 through 2015, corn grain yields were 10 bu/a greater when planted into either high or strip-cut stubble than into low-cut stubble. Average grain sorghum yields were 6 bu/a greater in high-cut stubble than low-cut stubble. Similarly, water use efficiency was greater for high or strip-cut stubble for corn and high-cut stubble for grain sorghum. Harvesting wheat shorter than …

Seeding Rate For Dryland Wheat, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman, L. Haag

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Four winter wheat varieties (Plainsgold Byrd, Limagrain T158, Syngenta TAM 111, and WestBred Winterhawk) were planted at five seeding rates (30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 lb/a) in the fall of 2014 at Colby, Garden City, and Tribune, KS. The objective of the study is to identify appropriate seeding rates for dryland winter wheat in western Kansas. Averaged across varieties, a seeding rate of 60 lb/a seemed to be adequate at all locations in 2015. The wheat variety T158 was the highest yielding (or in the highest group) at all locations. Other varieties may have been affected by differential response …

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilization Of Irrigated Corn, A. Schlegel, H. D. Bond

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Long-term research shows that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied to optimize production of irrigated corn in western Kansas. In 2015, N applied alone increased yields 70 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields only 12 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 129 bu/a. This is below the 10- year average, where N and P fertilization increased corn yields up to 144 bu/a. Applica­tion of 120 lb/a N (with P) produced about 98% of maximum yield in 2015, which is 5% more than the 10-year average. Application of 80 instead of 40 lb …