Life Sciences Commons^™

Corn And Soybean Yield As Affected By Cover Crop And Phosphorus Fertilizer Management, Megan A. Bourns, Elaheh Khosh Manzar, Nathan O. Nelson, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Gerard J. Kluitenberg, Ganga M. Hettiarachchi, Elizabeth A. Yeager, Peter J. Tomlinson, Deann R. Presley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer additions are often required to meet crop nutrient demands, but over-fertilization can have economic consequences, as well as environmental consequences from agricultural P loss. Therefore, we require management strategies that balance crop P demand and the need to minimize environmental P loss. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cover crop addition and P fertilizer management strategy [build and maintain (BM), sufficiency (SF), and a zero-P control (CN)] on crop yield of a no-till, corn-soybean system for 2020, 2021, and 2022 crop years for a site near Manhattan, KS. The addition of a …

Fungicide Efficacy On Fusarium Head Blight Of Hard Red Winter Wheat In Parsons, Ks, Sylvia R.G. Moraes, Bruno C. Pedreira, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Erick De Wolf, Rodrigo B. Onofre, Kelsey Andersen Onofre

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2022, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the efficacy of fungicide programs on Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) levels. Fungicide treatments were evaluated in plots of the hard red winter wheat cultivar ‘KanMark’ inoculated withFusarium graminearumin Parsons, KS. Treatments consisted of a single application of Prosaro, Caramba, Miravis Ace, Prosaro Pro, or Sphaerex at early anthesis (Feekes 10.5.1), or dual application of Miravis Ace at early anthesis followed by (fb) Prosaro Pro, Sphaerex, or Folicur at 4 days after early anthesis. All fungicide programs numerically reduced FHB visual symptoms and resulted in …

Evaluation Of Grazing Options During Summer For Growing Heifers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Larissa Muniz, Harley Allen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Developing methods to provide high quality forage through most of the year is important for cattle operations. The purpose of this study was to determine forage management options to offset the summer “slump” with fescue. Four grass pasture treatments (10 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 49; initial wt 461 ± 65 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of novel fescue (FES), crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Heifers were weighed and they grazed pastures from May to September. Heifers on FES were continuously …

Impact Of Lime, Phosphorus, And Potassium On Yield And Forage Quality On Native Hay Meadows In Southeast Kansas, Junior I. Yasuoka, Wendie Powell, Walter H. Fick, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Native meadows are frequently harvested for hay in southeast Kansas to produce forage for winter use. However, the low soil fertility associated with nutrient removal has resulted in limited yield potential and broomsedge infestation. This study evaluated the effect of phosphorus, potassium, and lime on the forage yield and quality in a native meadow. Our results indicated that P and K fertilization contributes to improving yield and quality on native meadows in southeast Kansas. This study will be repeated in 2023, including broomsedge measurements.

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 fungusMacrophomina 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 …

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.

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. …

Herbicide Effects On Establishment Of Zoysiagrass From Sprigs In Two Consecutive Years, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weed control after planting warm-season grasses in the spring can be critical for acceptable establishment of the stand. However, many herbicide labels can be unclear on sprigging restrictions before or after the application of a product. Research was conducted on the growth effects of pre- and postemergence herbicides applied at or near the day of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass sprigging. Preliminary data from this study showed granular (Ronstar G) and liquid (Ronstar Flo) formulations of oxadiazon caused the least amount of injury to zoysiagrass.

2022 Fertilizer Station Weather Report, 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 fertilizer report.

Imiflex Evaluation At Two Kansas Locations In Igrowth Grain Sorghum, P. W. Geier, R. S. Currie, S. H. Lancaster, C. M. Weber

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Herbicide-tolerant grain sorghums, such as Igrowth (imidazolinone-resistant) 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 grain sorghum. The objective of these studies was to evaluate ImiFlex (imazamox) herbicide in Igrowth grain sorghum at two Kansas locations in 2022. ImiFlex applied postemergence provided 93% volunteer corn control, and 90 to 95% johnsongrass control regardless of application timing at Garden City. At Manhattan, ImiFlex controlled Palmer amaranth 90 to 99%. Early season grain sorghum injury was …

Does Winter Wheat Yield Response To Fungicide Application Depend On Nitrogen Management?, J. A. Romero Soler, L. O. Pradella, N. Giordano, G. Cruppe, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrogen and fungicide are among the more important management tools to increase wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) grain yield in Kansas. However, there is limited information on whether hard red winter wheat grain yield is impacted by the interaction of nitrogen rates and foliar fungicide application. Thus, our objective was to evaluate the effects of different N rates with or without a fungicide application at Feekes 10.5 on grain yield of two winter wheat genotypes with contrasting disease resistances to leaf and stripe rust. Eleven field experiments were established across Kansas using a factorial structure of two fungicide management options …

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 …

Impact Of Stubble Heights On Native Hay Meadows In Southeast Kansas, Junior I. Yasuoka, Wendie Powell, Walter H. Fick, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Management practices affect hay production in native meadows. The objective of this study was to evaluate how stubble heights affect forage yield and quality in a native meadow. Prescribed spring burns contribute to improving forage quality. Setting the stubble height at 3 inches resulted in high forage quality and had a low yield impact.

Occasional Tillage In A Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation: 2022 Growing Season, John D. Holman, Augustine K. Obour, Lucas A. Haag, Mikaela A. Lawrence

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beginning in 2012, research was conducted near 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. Treatments included no-till, single tillage post wheat harvest in mid-August, and single tillage mid-June during the fallow phase. This study was revised with two additional more intensive tillage treatments since 2019. The two additional treatments were 1) two tillage operations during the fallow phase and 2) one tillage during fallow phase and one tillage post wheat harvest. Grain yield varied greatly by year and location. Wheat yields ranged …

Observations On The Seasonal Abundance Of Sorghum Midge, Anthony Zukoff

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sorghum midge,Stenodiplosis sorghicola(Coquillett), is a major pest of sorghum production worldwide. Midge larvae develop within the sorghum spikelet protected from predation and chemical control. Feeding by larvae prevents grain development resulting in varying degrees of blank heads. Historically, sorghum midge has been considered a minor pest in Kansas. In recent years, significant midge infestations have been documented in several locations of the southwest and southeast portions of the state. Some basic information on sorghum midge seasonality in Kansas will help to refine some management recommendations if this pest becomes more prevalent. Sorghum midges were recovered from samples taken …

Industrial Weed Control With Plainview Sc, Randall S. Currie, Patrick W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this research was to determine application variable influence on Plainview SC (aminocyclopyrachlor/imazapyr/indaziflam) efficacy in an industrial setting. Plainview SC was applied at three rates and three application timings using two nozzle types to compare season-long weed control in noncropland. Late-season kochia control was best when Plainview SC was applied at 48 or 64 oz/a using flat-fan nozzles. Application timing did not affect these treatments. Similar control using the boomless nozzle required 64 oz/a of Plainview SC be applied either in fall or winter.

Efficacy Of Impact Mixtures And Timings In Field Corn, Randall S. Currie, Patrick W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this research was to determine the utility of topramezone (Impact) herbicide for efficacy in corn. An experiment evaluated Impact with various tank mix and premix partners at several application timings for weed control in corn. Most herbicides provided excellent control of Palmer amaranth, common lambsquarters, and green foxtail. When Impact alone was applied late postemergence (LPOST) following Dual II Magnum (metolachlor) applied preemergence (PRE), kochia and Russian thistle control was less than 85%. Herbicides applied early postemergence (EPOST) or postemergence (POST) provided the best johnsongrass control early in the season, but no treatments controlled johnsongrass more than …

Effects Of Late-Summer Prescribed Fire On Botanical Composition, Soil Cover, And Forage Production In Caucasian Bluestem-Infested Rangeland In The Kansas Smoky Hills: Year 4 Of 5, H. P. Giefer, K. R. Harmoney, M. P. Ramirez, A. J. Tajchman, Z. M. Duncan, J. Lemmon, K. C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Our objective was to determine effects of late-summer prescribed fire on frequency of Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) in the Kansas Smoky Hills as well as changes in soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production associated with fire treatment.

Study Description:The study was in Ellsworth County, KS. Eighteen one-acre plots were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: no burn, one burn (August 14, 2019), and two burns (August 14, 2019, and August 11, 2021). Soil cover, botanical composition, forage production, and Caucasian bluestem frequency were measured annually beginning in 2019.

The Bottom Line:These data suggest …

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 …

Wheat Variety Test Results For South Central Kansas - 2022, Jeffrey Seiler, Randy Hein, Ryan Flaming, Jennifer Carr, Romulo Lollato, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

South central Kansas is the highest producing wheat region in Kansas. This report summarizes the results of winter wheat variety tests for 2021-2022 in six locations.

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.

2022 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Dual-Purpose Variety Trials, Kraig Roozeboom, Jason Griffin

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 and has recently been approved in the United States. There are many uses for industrial hemp, and the market for industrial hemp is rapidly growing as more states are legalizing its production. Industrial hemp is marketed for oil, grain, and fiber. Varieties have been selected for improved fiber and grain production that can service these markets. However, little research-based information is available regarding adaptability or production of these varieties in Kansas. The objectives …

Performance Of Corn Hybrids With Contrasting Maturity In Northeastern Kansas, L. N. Lingua, I. Massigoge, A. J. P. Carcedo, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn (Zea maysL.) hybrid selection is one of the most important agricultural management decisions made by farmers. Both genetic yield potential and adaptation to the local environment vary widely across corn hybrids, and have a direct impact on yield and input costs. This study compared the performance of corn hybrids with contrasting comparative relative maturity (CRM, referring to their growth cycle), to evaluate their differences in crop phenology, grain yield and its components—grain number and grain weight. The field experiment was conducted during the 2022 growing season in Manhattan, KS (U.S.), testing five commercial corn hybrids with contrasting …

Impact Of Different Plant Canopy Traits On Sorghum Yields, M. F. Lucero, A. J. P. Carcedo, L. Marziotte, L. Mayor, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Studying changes in plant canopy can help to improve plant architecture and increase yields. Specifically, for sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL.), characterizing and identifying relevant canopy traits can be helpful not only to improve its productivity but to better fit this crop in the rotation from a system perspective. With this purpose, morphological characteristics of 20 sorghum hybrids were measured during the 2022 growing season in Wamego, KS, U.S. (United States). The most relevant canopy traits examined were leaf angle and leaf area at leaf- and at canopy-level (leaf area index, LAI), all determined at different points of the crop …

Dynamics Of Oil And Fatty Acid In Historical Sorghum Varieties, N. S. Volpato, A. J. P. Carcedo, T. Durrett, L. Marziotte, L. Mayor, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One of the important characteristics of cereal crops is their diverse pool of fatty acids. This study aims to determine the changes in sorghum oil content and fatty acid profile across many years of the market’s variety releases. Six sorghum varieties, all released between 1960 and 2019, were evaluated and grain traits were analyzed using linear models. Ten different fatty acids were characterized, but only three out of the total represented more than 90% of the total oil concentration: linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid. Total oil and linoleic acid concentration (g of oil/kg) slightly decreased across years of release. In …

Field Station Weather Reports, E. Adee, M. 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 Field Research Report and further details about the Kansas River Valley locations and the east central Kansas locations.

Grazing Cover Crops Improved Soil Health In Dryland Cropping Systems, Augustine K. Obour, John D. Holman, Logan M. Simon, Sandra K. Johnson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Integrating cover crops (CCs) in dryland crop production in the semiarid central Great Plains (CGP) can provide several ecosystem benefits. However, CC adoption has been slow in the CGP because CCs utilize water that otherwise would be available for the subsequent cash crop. Grazing CCs can provide economic benefits to offset revenue loss associated with decreased crop yields when CCs are grown ahead of a cash crop. Field experiments were conducted from 2015 through 2022 to quantify effects of grazing CCs on soil bulk density, aggregate stability, and chemical properties across western Kansas. At the Kansas State University HB Ranch …

Reviton And Vida With Tank Mixtures For Fallow Weed Control, Randall S. Currie, Patrick W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In search of techniques to reduce irrigation water use in the Ogallala Aquifer region, several deficit irrigation techniques were evaluated in corn and cotton production. Several iterations of deficit irrigation (based on ET), including partial root-zone deficit (PRD) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatments, were implemented in the 2021 and 2022 summer season. Corn and cotton did respond to the different deficit irrigation treatments. Significant yield advantages were observed in fixed PRD on both crops while RDI also showed some yield advantage for corn.

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 …

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 …