Life Sciences Commons^™

2020 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Dual-Purpose And Fiber Trial, Jason Griffin, Kraig Roozeboom, Lucas Haag, Andrew Euler, Michael Shelton, Tami Myers, Matthew Nielsen, Jared Petz, Clint Wilson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hemp is a broad term used to describe the many varieties ofCannabis sativaL. that produce less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The crop is globally significant, but only recently was allowed to be grown again in the United States. There are many uses for industrial hemp, which include oil, seed, and fiber, and the market for industrial hemp is rapidly growing as more states are legalizing its production. The market for industrial hemp is expected to grow from $5.33 billion in 2020 to 15.26 billion (15.8%) by 2027 as it gains more popularity (Grand View Research 2021, Valuates Reports …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire Timing On Native Plant Composition, Forage Biomass Accumulation, And Root Carbohydrate Reserves In The Kansas Flint Hills: Year 2 Of 6, Z. M. Duncan, A. J. Tajchman, M. P. Ramirez, J. Lemmon, W. R. Hollenbeck, D. A. Blasi, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective was to document the effects of prescribed fire timing on native plant composition, forage biomass, and root carbohydrate concentrations in key native tallgrass species in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Study Description:This experiment was conducted at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Unit. Eighteen pastures were grouped by watershed and assigned to one of three prescribed-burn treatments: spring (April 7 ± 2.1 days), summer (August 21 ± 5.7 days), or fall (October 2 ± 9.9 days). Botanical composition, forage biomass, and root carbohydrate concentrations in big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and purple prairie clover were evaluated …

Nitrogen Fertilizer Timing And Phosphorus And Potassium Fertilization Rates For Established Endophyte-Free Tall Fescue: Year 3, D. W. Sweeney, J. K. Farney, J. L. Moyer, D. A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Tall fescue production was measured during the third production year of a study with locations started in fall of 2016 and fall of 2017. Phosphorus (P) fertilization rate af­fected spring harvest yield at Site 1, but not at Site 2. Applying nitrogen (N) in late fall or late winter resulted in greater spring yields than applying N in spring or not applying N. However, fall harvest yields at Site 1 were greater with spring N application, but not at Site 2. The third-year tall fescue total yield rank as affected by N fertilizer timing was late winter>late fall=spring>no …

Testing Irrigated Cotton Production, J. Aguilar, R. S. Currie, D. Tomsicek, L. Haag, S. Duncan

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Cotton research was initiated in Garden City, KS, which is the northern rim of the typical cotton production area. Initial results showed that with specific seed varieties and strategic irrigation management, cotton could be grown and provide decent yield in this region. There is still additional research that needs conducted, particularly with regards to germination and seeding rates.

Preliminary Classification Of Soil, Plant, And Residue Cover Using Convolutional Neural Networks, D. Nahitiya, M. N. Bisheh, R. P. Lollato, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In agricultural fields, knowledge about the proportion of the soil surface covered with crop residue and vegetation canopy is key for improving soil and water conservation practices. In this study we trained a deep convolutional neural network to automate the classification of bare soil, crop stubble, and live vegetation from downward-facing images of agricultural fields. A comprehensive generic dataset, consisting of 3300 training and 645 test images, was collected from agricultural fields across Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Material Center located near Manhattan, KS. Despite the intricate patterns and color textures resulting …

Kansas Soil Health Partnership, C. B. Pires, I. A. Ciampitti, D. A. Ruiz Diaz, M. V. Sarto, Charles Rice

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was part of a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health, benefitting farmer profitability, supporting a stable food supply, and preserving the environment. This study’s objective was to measure the effect of soil management strategies on the soil microbial community distribution and activity. Four farmers in Kansas were accepted into the program to conduct on-farm comparisons of a standard farm practice and an improved practice. This was ongoing research, and for this field research report, we are presenting the study at one of the selected farms. This site was located near Bucyrus, Miami County …

2020 Kansas Summer Annual Forage Hay And Silage Variety Trial, J. D. Holman, A. Obour, S. J. Dooley, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2020, summer annual forage variety trials were conducted across Kansas near Garden City, Hays, and Scandia. All sites evaluated hay and silage entries. Companies were able to enter varieties into any possible combinations of research sites, so not all sites had all varieties. Across the sites, a total of 98 hay varieties, 78 sorghum silage varieties, and 11 dual-purpose sorghum silage varieties were evaluated.

Irrigated Grain Sorghum Response To Long-Term Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Fertilization, 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 grain sorghum in western Kansas. In 2020, N applied alone increased yields 60 bu/a, whereas N and P applied together increased yields up to 83 bu/a. Averaged across the past 10 years, N and P fertilization increased sorghum yields up to 82 bu/a. The application of 160 lb/a N (with P) produced the maximum yield in 2020, which is slightly less than the 10-year average (2011–2020). The application of potassium (K) has had no effect on sorghum yield throughout the study period. …

2020 K-State Industrial Hemp Cbd Variety Trial, Jason Griffin, Clint Wilson, Tami Myers

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hemp is a broad term used to describe the many varieties ofCannabis sativaL. that produce less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The crop is globally significant, but only recently was allowed to be grown once again in the United States. Varieties have been selected and are currently grown with a wide cannabinoid profile. Cannabinoids are of high interest for their putative medical and therapeutic role in humans and companion pets. Cannabidiol (CBD) and THC are the two cannabinoids of primary interest. THC is of interest because it determines whether the final product is considered hemp (0.3% THC). CBD is …

Biomass And Nutrient Accumulation By Dual-Purpose Hemp And Concurrent Soil Profile Water Depletion At Two Locations In Kansas In 2020, Kraig Roozeboom, Jason Griffin, Lucas Haag, Gerard Kluitenberg, Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, Michael Shelton, Tami Myers, Clint Wilson, Jared Petz, Matthew Nielsen, Andrew Euler

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Some crop producers are considering hemp as an alternative to the typical crops grown in the region. Hemp is viewed as a crop to potentially access new markets. Two of those potential markets are hemp grain and fiber. Little information is available for this region about production management for hemp intended for those markets. Experiments were planted in 2020 at Manhattan, Haysville, and Colby, KS, to characterize plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil water depletion. Results illustrated typical biomass and nutrient uptake patterns. Half of the total biomass was accumulated by 2,200 growing degree days (GDD), but accumulation continued until …

Efficacy Of Imiflex, Zest, And Assure Ii On Green Foxtail Control, V. Kumar, I. Effertz, T. Lambert, R. Liu, B. Bean

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grass weeds pose a serious management challenge in grain sorghum. Recent development of three herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum technologies such as Inzen, Igrowth, and DoubleTeam will provide the opportunity for producers to use nicosulfuron (Zest), imazamox (Imiflex), and quizalofop-p-ethyl (FirstAct) for grass weed control, respectively. The main objectives of this research were to (1) determine the effectiveness of Imiflex applied preemergence (PRE) on green foxtail control in comparison to commonly used group 15 herbicides; (2) compare the efficacy of Zest, Imiflex, and Assure II applied early- or late-POST at two different rates; and (3) determine the tank-mix compatibility of Zest, Imiflex, …

Wheat And Grain Sorghum In Four-Year Rotations, A. Schlegel, J. Holman, A. Burnett

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 wheat-wheat-sorghum-fallow (WWSF), wheat-sorghum-sorghum-fallow (WSSF), and continuous wheat (WW). Soil water at wheat planting averaged about 9 in. following sorghum, which is about 3 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 sorghum …

Weed Control With Imazamox Rates And Timings In Herbicide-Tolerant Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this trial was to evaluate weed control and crop response using imazamox (KFD-365-02) in herbicide-resistant grain sorghum. Palmer amaranth control was 80% or less late in the season due to the herbicide-resistant weed biotype in the experiment. Both velvetleaf and shattercane control exceeded 90% with most herbicides late in the year. Using KFD-365-02 at the 9.0 oz/a rate applied preemergence alone or with atrazine or Moccasin II Plus controlled green foxtail and puncturevine the best. Most early postemergence treatments caused minor sorghum necrosis 6 days after treatments, but sorghum recovered fully within one week.

Precipitation Data, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Precipitation data for Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stations and fields, 2019-2020.

Evaluation Of Warm Season Annual Forages For Livestock: Biomass And Cost Of Production, J. K. Farney, M. E. Reeb, Z. T. Buessing, K. Malone, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Seventeen warm season annual forage options were evaluated as livestock feed to be grazed, hayed, ensiled, or left as a cover crop. Treatments were planted in mid-May and terminated in late September with one harvest for silage, two hay cuttings, and three grazing rotations. One additional treatment was unharvested to serve as a cover crop. Biomass production and cost to produce final outputs were determined. Even with restricted rainfall during the summer months in 2020, the growth for the chosen forage options was at least 1,500 lb of dry matter (DM) per acre, with the exception of sun­flowers that had …

Impact Of Fertility And Mowing On Crabgrass Quantity And Quality For Hay Production In Southeast Kansas, D. Helwig, M. Haywood, J. K. Farney, B. C. Pedreira, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A crabgrass variety trial comparing Quick-N-Big and MoJo crabgrasses was conducted during the summer of 2020 at the K-State Research and Extension experiment station near Columbus, Kansas. The trial evaluated quantity and quality of forage produced under different nitrogen fertility scenarios and mowing management techniques. MoJo produced more biomass than Quick-N-Big. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer increased biomass production and forage protein content. Mowing was also found to enhance forage quality.

Southeast Kansas Weather Summary - 2020, G. F. Sassenrath, M. Knapp, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This is a summary of the weather conditions in southeast Kansas during the 2019/2020 growing season. The wet weather pattern that began in 2019 continued into the spring of 2020, creating adverse conditions for spring crop establishment. Dry conditions dur­ing the summer and fall limited crop and pasture production. Temperatures were very near the 10-year averages at each location.

Influence Of Herbicides And Irrigation On Tall Fescue Shoot And Root Growth, Dani Mcfadden, Jack Fry, Steve Keeley, Jared Hoyle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

When turfgrass stands are under renovation, a common problem is removing weeds prior to seeding because seedling turf does not emerge and compete well with weeds that are present. However, most herbicide labels recommend waiting for a defined period of time prior to seeding. If seeding is done prior to the date prescribed on the herbicide label, seed germination and seedling growth may be inhibited. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of irrigation prior to seeding on seedling growth after herbicide application. Overall, irrigation had no influence on the impact of herbicides on shoot or root growth …

Effect Of Late Planting Dates On Corn Yield, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Planting date studies have been conducted for corn over many years. Often the focus has been to determine optimum planting date for maximizing yield. In some areas, planting early-maturing corn hybrids as early as possible has been a successful strategy for avoiding hot, dry conditions at the critical pollination and early grain fill stages. Planting later can be an alternative strategy that attempts to avoid the most intense heat by moving the critical growth stages for corn centered around pollination to later in the growing season. This strategy has been adopted by some growers in areas that often encounter heat …

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation from 2020 at the research locations represented in the 2021 field report and further details about the Kansas River Valley locations and the east central Kansas locations.

Foxtail Management In Smooth Brome Hay Meadows, S. R. Lancaster, S. R. Duncan

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three different herbicides were applied at early bromegrass greenup and at post hay harvest to assess their effectiveness in controlling foxtail at two producer hay meadow sites in Pottawatomie (PT) and Dickinson (DK) counties. Pendimethalin applied early resulted in the greatest foxtail control, but control did not extend through the season to reduce late-summer infestations. Metsulfuron applied early resulted in approximately 30% visible brome injury. The injury was associated with 77 and 48% brome hay losses when compared to the untreated check, at the PT and DK sites, respectively. Injury from the early spring treatments was exacerbated by six freeze …

Winter Wheat Variety Response To Flag Leaf Foliar Fungicide Application In 2019–2020, G. Cruppe, B. R. Jaenisch, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Foliar fungicide can be an important tool in improving wheat yields, but its effectiveness is season- and variety-dependent. To evaluate the yield, test weight, and protein responses of different commercial winter wheat varieties to one foliar fungicide application around heading, we conducted a trial combining four winter wheat varieties and two fungicide management treatments in Manhattan during 2019–2020. The control treatment consisted of no fungicide application, and the alternative treatment consisted of 5 oz/a Absolute Maxx + NIS applied at heading. Varieties evaluated were Bob Dole, Larry, WB4269, and Zenda. The study was conducted under no-tillage practices following a previous …

Dual-Purpose Cover Crop Effects On Soil Health In Western Kansas No-Till Dryland Cropping, L. M. Simon, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, S. K. Johnson, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Increasing interest in soil health has led producers in western Kansas to consider cover crops (CCs) for increased soil cover and improved soil properties. However, grain yield reductions following CCs in dryland cropping systems necessitate dual-purpose forage harvest to balance goals of environmental and economic sustainability. This study was initiated in 2015 near Brownell, KS, to investigate the effects of dual-purpose CC management in place of fallow on selected soil chemical and physical properties in a no-till winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow cropping system. Mixed oat and triticale cover crops were either mechanically harvested as hayed forage to a height of 6 …

Irrigated Corn Response To Long-Term Nitrogen And Phosphorus Fertilization, 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 2020, N applied alone increased yields by 85 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields 10 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 136 bu/a which is 11 bu/a less than the 10-year average of 147 bu/a. The application of 120 lb N/a (with highest P rate) produced 98% of maximum yield in 2020, which is greater than the 10-year average (2011–2020). The application of 80 instead of 40 lb P₂O_{5 …}

Impact And Liberty Rates And Mixtures For Efficacy In Corn, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of the study was to compare Impact (topramezone), Liberty (glufosinate) and a premixture of the two herbicides (Sinate) for efficacy in corn. Rates for each herbicide were 0.75 and 1.0 oz/a for Impact, 22 and 30 oz/a for Liberty, and 21 and 28 oz/a for Sinate. Impact and Sinate, each at the high rates, and Status plus glyphosate provided the best kochia control for corn late in the season. These treatments, along with the low rate of Impact controlled crabgrass the best. Status was also the best treatment for Russian thistle, Palmer amaranth, and green foxtail control. The …

Weather Information For Tribune, 2020, D. Bond, J. Slattery

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summary of 2020 weather for research conducted at the Tribune Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station field location.

Macronutrient Fertility On An Irrigated Corn/Soybean In Rotation, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization on a corn/soybean cropping sequence were evaluated from 2013 to 2020 (corn planted in odd years) from a study initiated in 1983. Corn yield was near optimum at 160 lb/a N. Phosphorus and K fertilization alone increased corn yield 31 and 7 bu/a, respectively; and soybean yields 22 and 1.7 bu/a, respectively. As N fertilization increased, the response to P increased corn yield from 13 to 40 bu/a. The best return on fertilizer investment was when the N and P needs were met for both crops.

Corn Tiller Yield Contributions And Ear Development In Low Plant Densities, R. Veenstra, C. D. Messina, D. Berning, S. Wallace, M. Legleiter, L. Haag, P. V. Prasad, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Research in modern corn (Zea maysL.) hybrids investigating tiller contributions and ear development at low plant densities is scarce, particularly in water-limited environments. To fill this research gap, a second season of replicated experiments was conducted in 2020 at 7 sites across Kansas (Keats, Buhler, Greensburg, Garden City, Goodland, and two sites in Colby) evaluating two common, tiller-prone corn hybrids (P0805AM and P0657AM) at three target plant density levels (10000, 17000, and 24000 plants/a). Five of the listed sites also considered a tillering factor (tiller removal at development stage V10 [tenth-leaf] or tiller maintenance). Seasonal phenology, partitioned grain …

Corn Grain Weight: Dependence Upon Nitrogen Supply And Source-Sink Relations, J. A. Fernandez, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

From a yield component perspective, final grain yield in corn (Zea maysL.) is the result of the number of grains per unit area and their final grain weight. The understanding of grain weight parameters, the rate and duration of grain growth, is critical to improve our rational design of management practices and breeding strategies. In this study, we attempted to determine the effect on grain weight and grain-filling parameters of source-sink modifications (i.e. the amount of assimilates available per grain) during linear grain fill under contrasting levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization in two commercially available US corn hybrids. …

Does Grazing Cover Crops Impact Soil Properties?, A. K. Obour, L. M. Simon, J. D. Holman, S. K. Johnson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grazing of cover crops (CCs) by cattle could provide supplemental forage and additional revenue to offset grain yield losses when CCs are grown in semiarid rainfed cropping systems. However, grazing CCs could reduce the amount of residue retained on the soil surface and subsequently affect soil physical and chemical properties. This study evaluated effects of grazing CCs on soil bulk density, aggregate stability, and chemical properties using soil samples collected from three producer fields in west central Kansas that had paired grazed and non-grazed CC treatments, as well as adjacent native perennial pastures. Across sites, CC residue after grazing averaged …