Life Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Crop Yield And Yield Stability As Affected By Long-Term Tillage And Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates In Dryland Wheat And Sorghum Production Systems, M. Majrashi, A. K. Obour, C. J. Moorberg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A major challenge for agronomists is developing cropping systems that exhibit superior performance across variable environmental conditions, especially precipitation. Long-term field research trials provide a direct measure of the effect of environmental condi­tions within the context of treatment effects. Here we investigated the impact of tillage practices and nitrogen (N) rates on yields for dryland wheat and sorghum as influenced by weather and precipitation. The study focused on a long-term (40 years) tillage and N fertilizer experiment established in 1975 and managed as a split-split-plot arrangement of rotation (winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow) with three tillage systems (conven­tional tillage (CT), reduced tillage …

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 …

Southeast Kansas Crop Production Summary – 2018, G. F. Sassenrath, L. Mengarelli, J. Lingenfelser, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This is a summary of the crop production conditions in southeast Kansas in 2018, and the results of the variety testing for corn, soybean, sorghum, sunflower, and wheat.

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 …

Characterization Of Claypan Soils In Southeastern Kansas, M. A. Mathis Ii, S. E. Tucker-Kulesza, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil erosion reduces topsoil depth. In areas with a claypan, removal of productive topsoil reduces crop yield where the claypan layer is near the surface. The topsoil and claypan layer each have unique characteristics that impact crop production and within-field variability. To better understand these differences, the soil from an area of low crop yield and high crop yield were collected and laboratory tests were performed to determine the soil classification and undrained shear strength. Understanding the soil properties and the interaction between the topsoil and claypan layers may aid in under­standing the process by which topsoil is being eroded.

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.

Herbicide Strategies For Managing Glyphosate- And Dicamba-Resistant Kochia In Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybean, V. Kumar, R. Liu, T. Lambert, P. W. Stahlman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Kochia populations with multiple resistance to glyphosate and dicamba are an increasing concern for growers in the High Plains region, including Kansas. A field study was conducted at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS, to evaluate and develop herbicide options for controlling glyphosate- and dicamba-resistant kochia in Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybean. The study site was uniformly infested with a glyphosate- and dicamba-resistant kochia population prior to soybean planting. Fifteen herbicide treatments (programs), including PRE alone and PRE followed by (fb) POST-applied herbicides, were investigated in a randomized complete block design with four replications. …

Weather Information For Tribune, D. Bond, J. Slattery

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

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

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.

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.

Using Cover Crops As An Effective Weed Control Method In Southeast Kansas, L. I. Chism, J. A. Dille, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weed control is important to optimize crop production. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of different methods of fall-implemented weed control strategies. These strategies included different cover crop mixes, chemical control, and mechanical control. The cover crop mixes included four different commonly-planted winter cover crops. The chemical control was a fall-applied burndown, and the me­chanical control was vertical tillage. We found cover crop mixes that contained cereal rye provided the most weed control, with the chemical control being a close second. Spring oats die during the winter because of the low temperatures. The three cover crop mixes containing …

Biomass Production Of Single Species Cover Crop, G. F. Sassenrath, J. K. Farney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Cover crops can benefit agricultural production by improving soil health and productivity, reducing weeds, and providing biomass for grazing. In this one-year study, biomass production was measured in 17 different single species summer cover crops and a fallow control. Overall, grass species produced more biomass than brassicas, with legumes, broadleaves, and fallow yielding intermediate amounts of biomass. Within the grass species, pearl millet, brown midrib (BMR) sorghum, and sorghum sudan produced more biomass than proso millet; German millet and browntop millet had intermediate biomass production. Within the brassicas, both brown and yellow mustards produced more biomass than collards. There was …

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 …

Long-Term Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilization Of Irrigated Corn, A. Schlegel, 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 2018, N applied alone increased yields by 76 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields by more than 17 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 169 bu/a. This is 26 bu/a more than the 10-year average, where N and P fertilization increased corn yields up to 143 bu/a. Application of 120 lb/a N (with highest P rate) produced 97% of the maximum yield in 2018, which is slightly greater than the 10-year average. …

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.

Vida Alone And In Tank Mixtures For Kochia Control In Fallow, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

To learn more about kochia control in fallow, a comparison of Vida alone and in tank mixtures was conducted. Glyphosate alone provided no more than 40% kochia control, and was similar to Vida or 2,4-D alone late in the season. The tank mixture of Vida plus Gramoxone and Spartan controlled kochia the best regardless of rating date, and was the only treatment to provide more than 95% control at 28 days.

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.

Field Station Weather Reports, E. A. Adee, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The research program at the Kansas State University 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.

The Kansas River Valley Experiment Field was established to study management …

Influence Of Soybean Planting Date On Sudden Death Syndrome And Soybean Yield, E. A. Adee, C. R. Little, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a disease caused by the soilborne fungusFusarium virguliforme. This fungus prefers wet conditions and thus is usually most severe in irri­gated fields. Sudden death syndrome tends to be most severe on well-managed soybeans with a high yield potential. It also tends to be more prevalent on fields that are infested with soybean cyst nematode (SCN) or planted early when soils are wet and cool. Historical yield losses from this disease are generally in the range of 1–25%.

Soybean planting dates have been moving increasingly earlier in much of the soybean growing region, including …

Cover Crop Management Effects On Soil Water Content And Winter Wheat Yield In Dryland Systems, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, J. R. Jaeger

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Integrating cover crop (CCs) into dryland crop production in the semiarid central Great Plains (CGP) can provide several ecosystem benefits. However, CC adoption is slow and not widely popular in the CGP because CCs utilize water that otherwise would be available for the subsequent cash crop. Grazing or haying CCs can provide economic benefits to offset revenue loss associated with decreased crop yields when CCs are grown ahead of a cash crop. Objectives of the current research were to 1) determine forage production of CC mixtures, and 2) evaluate the impacts of removing CC for forage on soil water content, …

Influence Of Cultural Practices And Herbicide Programs For Managing Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth In Cold-Tolerant Sorghum, R. Liu, V. Kumar, R. Perumal, T. Lambert, T. Ostmeyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The widespread evolution of glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth (Amaran­thus palmeriS. Wats) has become a serious management concern for grain sorghum producers in western Kansas. To develop an integrated weed management (IWM) system, a field study was conducted at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center (KSU-ARC) in Hays, KS, in 2018, to evaluate the effect of sorghum hybrid, row spacing, and herbicide programs on GR Palmer amaranth control, shoot dry weight reduction, and sorghum grain yield. Treatments included two cold-tolerant grain sorghum hybrids: Pioneer 87P06 (commercial check) and ATx645/ ARCH12012R (developed by the KSU-ARC breeding program); row spacing …

Sugarcane Aphid Resistance In Pearl Millet, D. D. Serba, J. P. Michaud

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sugarcane aphid, (Melanaphis sacchari(Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)) has become an important pest of sorghum in the US. This recent invasion is assumed to be either as a result of a host shift from sugarcane in the south or introduction of a special­ized strain from tropical Africa. If host shift happened through adaptive change to infest sorghum, other closely related species such as pearl millet are in danger from this voracious pest. The resistance level of pearl millet genotypes representing A-, B-, R-lines and germplasm were evaluated under climate-controlled growth chamber along with resistant and susceptible sorghum hybrids. Ten plants …

Effects Of Cover Crops And Phosphorus Fertilizer Management On Soil Health Parameters In A No-Till Corn-Soybean Cropping System In Riley County, Kansas, L. M. Starr, P. J. Tomlinson, N. O. Nelson, C. L. Stewart, K. L. Roozeboom, G. J. Kluitenberg, D. R. Presley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was implemented to examine the effects of cover crops and mineral phos­phorus (P) fertilizer application on water quality and soil health parameters. The experiment was established in 2014, at the Kansas Agricultural Watershed (KAW) field research facility, Ashland Bottoms Research Farm, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS. The experiment was a 2 × 3 factorial design with two cover crop treatments (with and without) and three phosphorus fertilizer treatments (none, spring injected P, and fall broadcast P). Measures of nutrient demand (enzyme activity), microbial metabolic activity (soil respiration), and labile carbon (potassium permanganate oxidized carbon) were taken to assess …