Life Sciences Commons^™

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. …

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 …

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A tall fescue production study was conducted at two locations, beginning in the fall of 2016 and the fall of 2017. At both sites, phosphorus (P) fertilization rate only affected the spring harvest, with few differences in yield. Applying nitrogen (N) in late fall or late winter resulted in greater spring yields than applying N in spring or not applying N. However, at Site 1 in 2017 fall harvest yields were greater from the spring N applica­tion, but this response was less at Site 2 in 2018. In both years, applying N increased tall fescue yield, but at Site 2 …

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.

2017 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Perennial Ryegrass Test: 2018 Data, Mingying Xiang, Jack Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

More than 100 entries of perennial ryegrass were evaluated in the perennial ryegrass National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) study in Manhattan, KS, in 2018. A broad variation occurred among entries. Several entries consistently ranked in the top 10 in quality from month to month.

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Planting date studies have been conducted for corn over many years. Often the focus has been to determine the 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 …

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, …

Harvest Method, Cultivar, And Time Of Swathing Effects On Yield And Oil Content Of Winter Canola, M. J. Stamm, S. J. Dooley, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Producers want to achieve the highest yield and oil content possible using either swathing or direct cutting to harvest winter canola. Multi-year experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of harvest method (swathing versus direct cutting) and cultivar on seed moisture, yield, and oil content; and to evaluate the effects of swathing timing on yield and oil content. The harvest method experiments were conducted for two seasons at the Redd Foundation Field near Partridge, KS. The time of swathing experiments were conducted for two seasons near Manhattan, KS. In 2016 and 2017, harvest method had a significant effect on seed …

Tillage Study For Corn And Soybeans: Comparing Vertical, Deep, And No-Tillage, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Trends from a tillage study conducted since 2011 have shown no clear differences between tillage systems for either corn or soybeans in lighter soils under irrigation. One out of seven years has shown a yield advantage for either corn or soybeans for any tillage system, which appears to be related to environmental conditions experienced during the season.

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 …

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A field study initiated in 2006 at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS, 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 2018 were greater than the long-term average. When averaged from 2007 through 2018, corn grain yields were 9 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 …

Long-Term Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Fertilization Of Irrigated Grain Sorghum, 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 2018, N applied alone increased yields 44 bu/a, whereas N and P applied together increased yields up to 67 bu/a. Averaged across the past 10 years, N and P fertilization increased sorghum yields up to 75 bu/a. Application of 80 lb/a N (with P) produced the maximum yield in 2018, which is slightly less than the 10-yr average. Application of potassium (K) has had no effect on sorghum yield throughout the study period. Average grain N …

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.

Split Applications Of Coyote And Lumax For Efficacy In Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In an effort to determine the efficacy of herbicide application timing in sorghum, full herbicide rates were applied 14 days preplant, and compared with split applications of half rates applied at two timings. Generally, weed control was best when half of the labeled rates were applied 14 days preplant followed by the other half preemergence, compared to full rates applied 14 days preplant. However, control of velvetleaf and common sunflower was excellent (95% or more) regardless of when the treatments were applied. Grain sorghum yields were similar among all herbicide treatments, and each treatment increased yield from 2 to 2.5-fold …

Changes In Soil Microbiology Under Conventional And No-Till Production During Crop Rotation, C. J. Hsiao, G. F. Sassenrath, L. Zeglin, G. Hettiarachchi, C. Rice

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil microbial activity is important for crop production. Soil microbes are involved in nutrient and water cycling within the soil, and interact with crop plants to provide the basic nutrient and water resources needed for crop production. Claypan soils have unique physical characteristics that impact soil biology. This study explored the tempo­ral changes in soil microbiology in a claypan soil under conventional and no-till produc­tion during a crop rotation of corn/winter wheat/soybean/fallow commonly planted in southeast Kansas. We found soil microbial activity changed more in the top two inches of soil than in the lower soil layers. Wheat resulted in …

Occasional Tillage And Nitrogen Application Effects On Winter Wheat And Grain Sorghum Yield, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, A. J. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Occasional tillage ahead of winter wheat planting could alleviate herbicide-resistant weeds, redistribute soil acidification, and improve seedbed at wheat planting. The objective of this study is to determine occasional tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application effects on winter wheat, and grain sorghum yields and soil quality in a wheat-sorghum-fallow cropping system. Treatments were three tillage practices: 1) continuous no-tillage (NT); 2) continuous reduced-tillage (RT); and 3) single tillage operation every 3 years (June-July) ahead of winter wheat planting [occasional tillage (OT)]. The sub-plot treatments were assigned to four N fertilizer rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 lb/a of N). Preliminary …

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, …

Evaluating Large Patch-Tolerant And Cold Hardy Zoysiagrass Germplasm In The Transition Zone, Mingying Xiang, Jack Fry, Megan Kennelly

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

More than 2,800 zoysiagrass progeny, all having a single parent in common that exhibited tolerance to large patch, were evaluated in several transition zone states for quality characteristics and large patch tolerance. From these evaluations conducted over several years, 10 progeny have been identified for further evaluation that have good quality and large patch tolerance that is superior to Meyer zoysiagrass.

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 …

Determining Profitable Forage Rotations, J. Holman, A. Obour, A. Schlegel, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Annual forages are an important crop in the High Plains, yet the region lacks recommended annual forage rotations compared to those developed for grain crops. Forages are important for the region’s livestock and dairy industries and are becoming increasingly important as irrigation capacity and grain prices decrease. Forages require less water than grain crops and may allow for increased cropping system intensity and op-opportunistic cropping. A study was initiated in 2012 at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, KS, comparing several 1-, 3-, and 4-year forage rotations with no-tillage and minimum-tillage. Data presented are from 2013 through 2018. Tillage …

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.

Economic Model For Optimum Standardized Total Tract Digestible Phosphorus For Finishing Pigs, C. M. Vier, S. S. Dritz, M. D. Tokach, U. A. Orlando, W. Cast, J. C. Woodworth, R. D. Goodband, J. M. Derouchey

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An adequate supply of dietary phosphorus (P) is important for pig growth performance and bone mineralization. However, P represents the third most expensive nutrient in swine diets after energy and protein and can greatly affect diet cost. Therefore, the objective of this project was to develop a tool to compare current dietary standardized total tract digestible (STTD) P concentrations to suggested values that yield maximum growth performance while accounting for different financial scenarios. The phosphorus economic tool is a Microsoft Excel-based model that evaluates the user’s current dietary STTD P concentrations for a specific production system and market conditions. The …

Disease Prevalence And Its Consequences On Blood Metabolites, Physical Activities, Milk Yield, And Fertility, J. S. Stevenson, S. Banuelos

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Health status of 160 lactating cows was monitored by assessing blood metabolites on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 after calving, in addition measures of physical activity during 20 days surrounding parturition. Cows with clinical disease (any with diagnosis of ketosis, metritis, mastitis, respiratory disease, or milk fever during the first 60 days in milk) were compared with outcomes in healthy cows. Expected differences were observed between health status groups for serum concentrations of free fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, haptoglobin, and calcium, but not for plasma glucose. Daily postpartum rumination and eating times were decreased in diseased cows and they spent …

Cattle Preference For Annual Forages, J. K. Farney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Many plant species that are available to use as cover crops also have potential as for­age for cattle. With this array of options it can be daunting to decide which plants to establish to meet goals as either a cover crop, forage, or for both. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the annual forages fed to cattle in the fall, winter, or sum­mer that cattle preferred. To summarize, grasses were the most highly preferred forage for cattle regardless of grazing period. Low glucosinolate brassicas such as ‘Graza’ forage radish was the most highly preferred brassica that was …

2018 Kansas Summer Annual Forage Hay And Silage Variety Trial, J. D. Holman, A. Obour, A. Esser, Jane Lingenfelser, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2018, 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 77 hay varieties and 87 silage varieties were evaluated.

Long-Term Tillage And Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates Effect On Grain Yield And Nitrogen Uptake In Dryland Wheat And Sorghum Production, M. Majrashi, A. K. Obour, C. J. Moorberg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Winter wheat and grain sorghum rotation is a common cropping system in dryland environments in western Kansas. A long-term field experiment (started in 1975) was conducted in Hays, KS, to examine interaction effects of tillage and nitrogen (N) fertil­izer rates on wheat and grain sorghum yields, protein content, N uptake, and N use effi­ciency (NUE). The experimental design was a split-split-plot arrangement of rotation, tillage, and N application treatments in a randomized complete block design. The main plots were the crop phase (winter wheat, grain sorghum, or fallow), sub-plots were three tillage systems (conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and …

Comparison Of Preemergence Herbicides For Residual Weed Control In Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Herbicides were studied to determine preemergence efficacy in grain sorghum. Velvetleaf and quinoa control did not differ between herbicides late in the season, and no treatment controlled puncturevine more than 81%. The three-way mixture of Callisto, atrazine, and Dual Magnum controlled Palmer amaranth and green foxtail as well as or better than any herbicide tested, whereas most herbicides controlled kochia 88% or more. Compared to the nontreated controls, all herbicides increased sorghum yield 46–146% except Callisto alone at 6 oz/a.

Anthem Maxx Tank Mixture Comparisons In Irrigated Corn, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The use of multiple herbicide modes of action in single versus sequential applications was examined for efficacy in corn. Common sunflower control was complete with all early postemergence and postemergence herbicides late in the season. Control of Russian thistle, Palmer amaranth, and green foxtail were 95% or more with all early postemergence and postemergence herbicides except Halex GT. All herbicide treatments increased grain yield 15–33% compared to the nontreated controls except Halex GT applied early postemergence.

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 …

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 …