Life Sciences Commons^™

Agricultural Bio-Stimulant Application To Enhance Phosphorus Availability In Grain Sorghum, A. Obour

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of AgZyme and SuperHume (both products of Ag Concepts Corp) application on phosphorus (P) uptake and utilization efficiency in grain sorghum. Treatments were a control, 30 lb P₂O₅/a, 20 oz/a AgZyme, 20 oz/a AgZyme + 30 lb P₂O₅/a, 20 oz/a AgZyme + 30 lb P₂O₅/a + 6 qt/a SuperHume, which were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Preliminary results in 2016 showed grain sorghum aboveground biomass, grain moisture content, and test weight were not affected by …

Long-Term Tillage And Nitrogen Fertilization Effects On Soil Surface Chemistry, A. Obour, J. D. Holman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Long-term crop management practices can affect nutrient cycling and availability to crops. This study examined the long-term effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application (N rates of 0, 20, 40, and 60 lb N/a) and tillage intensity (conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT)) on soil phosphorus (P), micronutrients, and soil acidity in a dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)–fallow cropping system. Results showed soil organic matter (SOM), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were greater under NT compared to CT or RT. Similarly, NT ( 32 ppm) increased P accumulation in the upper …

Corn Grain Yield Trends From 2012 To 2016: A 26-Year Long-Term Experiment, J. Rivera-Zayas, Charles Rice

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Long-term research trials provide an understanding of long-term effects on crop production. This long-term research studied the effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) systems. Factors of this 22-year study of corn (Zea mays L.) production also included the application of nitrogen (N) in the forms of ammonium nitrate and manure at rates of 150 lb/N/a. Corn grain yield trends during 2012 to 2016 were affected by the interaction between N source and year (P < 0.05). The interaction between tillage practices and N source and the overall interaction between the last 5 years did not yield performance (P > 0.05). Under the studied conditions the 75 lb/N/a as N fertilizer or manure achieved high corn yields.

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 2016, N applied alone increased yields 71 bu/a, whereas N and P applied together increased yields up to 93 bu/a. Averaged across the past 10 years, N and P fertilization increased sorghum yields up to 77 bu/a. Application of 80 lb/a N (with P) was sufficient to produce 89% of maximum yield in 2016 which is slightly less than the 10-yr average. Application of potassium (K) has had no effect on sorghum yield throughout the study …

Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) Suppression With Half Rates Of Dicamba And Atrazine With Increasing Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor) Density And Nitrogen Rate, I. B. Cuvaca, R. Currie, A. J. Foster

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Palmer amaranth (PA) competition can result in severe yield loss in grain sorghum. Increasing sorghum density and nutrient supply could promote early/rapid canopy closure and therefore reduce the amount of light that could otherwise penetrate the canopy and promote PA growth in sorghum. A study was conducted at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, KS, to determine if PA could be suppressed with dicamba and atrazine applied as PRE at half rates combined with increasing sorghum density (60,000, 90,000, and 120,000 seeds/a), and nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 lb/a). Preliminary results indicate that increasing plant density and nitrogen rate …

Impact Of Cover Crops And Phosphorus Fertilizer Management On Nutrient Cycling In No-Tillage Corn-Soybean Rotation, R. E. Carver, N. O. Nelson, D. S. Abel, K. Roozeboom, G. J. Kluitenberg, P. J. Tomlinson, J. R. Williams

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of cover crops and different fertilizer management techniques on the amount of nutrients being removed and recycled in the soil system. This study was conducted at Ashland Bottoms, KS, from 2014-2016. A 2 × 3 factorial design with three replicates was utilized in this study. The fertilizer management treatments included a control of 0 lb/a P₂O₅, along with fall broadcast and spring injected applications of P₂O₅ based on a build and maintain recommendation system. Results show that total uptake of K₂O …

Kansas Fertilizer Research 2017

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Reports on fertilizer and related topics from Kansas State University.

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Application Effects On Pearl Millet Forage Yield And Nutritive Value, D. D. Serba, A. Obour

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

There is limited information on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer requirement of pearl millet forage in dryland systems. Determination of optimum N and P rates for pearl millet forage production in dryland environments of the Great Plains will have economic advantage for farmers and ranchers growing pearl millet for forage. A field experiment was conducted in 2016 at the Agricultural Research Center-Hays, KS, to investigate N and P fertilizer application effects on forage yield and nutritive value of pearl millet. Factorial combinations of five levels of N (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 lb/a) and three levels of …

Biochar And Nitrogen Effects On Winter Wheat Growth, T. E. Zee, N. O. Nelson, G. Newdigger

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Biochar, a co-product of thermochemical bioenergy production, may be a valuable soil amendment, but little is known about its potential long-term effects on plant growth and soil fertility. In order to gain more information, this experiment was performed to see if the addition of biochar, in comparison to lime and fertilizer treatments, has the potential to return key nutrients back to the soil or increase crop yield. A field study to investigate the effects of biochar on plant growth was initiated in 2011 near St. John, KS. Treatments included biochar applied at 16.6 ton/a (biochar), lime and annual applications of …

Long-Term 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 2016, N applied alone increased yields 85 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields only 12 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 164 bu/a. This is 20 bu/a greater than the 10-year average, where N and P fertilization increased corn yields up to 144 bu/a. Application of 120 lb/a N (with highest P rate) produced about 94% of maximum yield in 2016, which is similar to the 10-year average. Application of 80 instead …

Interaction Of Seeding And Nitrogen Rate On Grain Sorghum Yield In Southwest Kansas, A. J. Foster, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman, I. A. Ciampitti, C. Thompson, D. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study compared drilled planted sorghum at four seeding rates to planted sorghum at three different nitrogen (N) fertility levels at two locations in southwest Kansas (Garden City and Tribune). At the Garden City location, no difference was observed in yield among the drilled seeded sorghum populations greater than 27,000 seeds/a compared to the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 27,000 seeds/a with a planter at 30 in.-row spacing). At Tribune, there was no difference in yield between the drilled sorghum and the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 40,000 seeds/a with a planter at 30 in.-row spacing) regardless of …

Productivity Of A Triticale And Crimson Clover Winter Cover Crop For Dairies, K. Olagaray, C. Takiya, M. Scheffel, T. Brown, J. S. Stevenson, D. H. Min, B. Bradford

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The potential for a winter cover crop to align with agronomic objectives and to support milk production was evaluated at the Kansas State University Dairy Teaching and Research Center, Manhattan, KS. August planting of a triticale and crimson clover blend following corn silage harvest resulted in production of more than 3.5 tons of dry matter prior to subsequent corn planting. After ensiling, the impact of triticale/crimson clover silage (TCS) on milk production was evaluated in 48 mid- to late-lactation Holstein cows. Cows were blocked by parity (1 and 2+) and milk production, then randomly assigned within block to treatment sequence …

Development Of A Berry Processing Score For Sorghum Silage And Assessment Of Processing Effects On Sorghum Silage Starch Digestibility, J. R. Johnson, J. P. Goeser, Michael Brouk

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objectives of this study were to develop a berry processing score (BPS) for sorghum silage, similar to the kernel processing score currently used for corn silage, and to evaluate the effects of processing on starch digestibility. Sorghum silage samples were collected from commercial farms in Kansas and randomly assigned to 1 of 4 processing levels differing in roll gap spacing: unprocessed (UNP), 1.5 (1.5P), 1.0 (1.0P), or 0.5 (0.5P) mm. Differences in BPS and starch digestibility were found–as the roll gap decreased, both BPS and starch digestibility increased. Thus, by processing sorghum silage during harvest and measuring the extent …

Including Legumes In Bermudagrass Pastures, J. L. Moyer, L. W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Use of legumes in bermudagrass pastures did not affect summer cow gains in 2016. Forage availability was also similar where ladino clover was used in the Legume system compared with where Nitrogen (N) alone was used. Estimated forage crude protein (CP) was greater for the Legume than the Nitrogen system in early summer, but was similar by mid-summer.

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Tall fescue production was studied during a third year at two locations. In 2015, Site 1 was affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization rates; while in 2016, Site 2 mainly received production differences by N fertilization rates. Potassium (K) fertilization caused little effect at both sites.

Third-year production of tall fescue was affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization rates at Site 1 in 2015, but mainly by N fertilization rates at Site 2 in 2016, with little effect from potassium (K) fertilization at either site.

Crop Production Summary, Southeast Kansas – 2016, Gretchen Sassenrath, L. Mengarelli, Jane Lingenfelser, X. Lin, D. E. Shoup

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Crop production in southeast Kansas is summarized from variety trials and research plot experiments conducted at the Southeast Research and Extension Center fields in 2016.

Cover Crop System To Control Charcoal Rot In Soybeans, Gretchen Sassenrath, C. R. Little, C. J. Hsiao, D. E. Shoup, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This research compares methods of controlling charcoal rot in soybean cultivars from three maturity groups commonly grown in southeast Kansas. The results indicate that a mustard plant that produces high levels of glucosinolates can be used as a cover crop to reduce the charcoal rot disease in soybeans.

Measuring Soil Electrical Conductivity To Delineate Zones Of Variability In Production Fields, Gretchen Sassenrath, S. Kulesza

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Production fields in southeast Kansas are highly variable. Differences in elevation and changes in soil texture contribute to unevenness in plant-available moisture and nutrients, resulting in significant inconsistencies in crop production and yield within a field. These variabilities complicate management and impact the return on investments from different areas of the field. Identification of the regions of variability is possible through several methods, including visual inspection, remote imagery, and yield maps. An additional method of assessing soil variability is by measuring the electrical conductivity of the soil. Measuring apparent electrical conductivity gives a map of the spatial distribution of soil …

Research Center Personnel, Acknowledgments, L. W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Research Center Personnel, Southeast Agricultural Research Center, Kansas

We thank the following individuals, organizations, and firms that contributed to this year’s research programs through financial support, product donations, or services.

Forage Report 2016, J. D. Holman, G. Cramer, A. Esser, Jane Lingenfelser, S. Maxwell, J. L. Moyer, A. Obour, T. Roberts

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2016 summer annual forage variety trials were conducted across Kansas near Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Mound Valley, 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 99 hay varieties and 99 silage varieties were evaluated.

Searc Agricultural Research 2017, L. W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Southeast Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research 2017. Topics include grazing and supplemental feed for beef cattle, forage, pasture, hay, grasses, legumes, tillage, fertilizer, corn, soybeans, wheat, and soil health and variability.

Wheat And Grain Sorghum In Four-Year Rotations, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman, C. Thompson

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), wheatsorghum- 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 in. less for the second sorghum crop compared with …

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 and 2015 at Colby, Garden City, and Tribune, KS. The objective of the study was 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. However, with higher yields in 2016, a higher seeding rate (75 lb/a) was beneficial. The wheat variety T158 was the highest yielding (or …

Alternative Cropping Systems With Limited Irrigation, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A limited irrigation study involving four cropping systems and evaluating four crop rotations was initiated at the Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune, KS, in 2012. The cropping systems were two annual systems (continuous corn [C-C] and continuous grain sorghum [GS-GS]) and two 2-year systems (corn-grain sorghum [CGS]) and corn-winter wheat [C-W]). In 2016, corn yields were similar in all rotations, as were grain sorghum yields. This tended to agree with the 4-yr average yields, except for average grain sorghum yields being higher following corn than grain sorghum.

Forage Report 2016, J. D. Holman, G. Cramer, A. Esser, Jane Lingenfelser, S. Maxwell, J. L. Moyer, A. Obour, T. Roberts

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2016 summer annual forage variety trials were conducted across Kansas near Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson, Mound Valley, 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 99 hay varieties and 99 silage varieties were evaluated.

Atrazine, Clarity, Verdict, And Armezon Pro Application Timings For Weed Control In Fallow, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study was initiated near Garden City, KS, in 2016, comparing the weed control of several herbicide treatments and their time of application in fallow. A single application of Clarity (dicamba) and atrazine applied on March 3, 2016, did not provide more than 93% control of kochia, Russian thistle, and Palmer amaranth on June 9. All other treatments provided 95% or greater control at the evaluation conducted June 9. Three applications were needed to provide 90% or greater control of all three species through July 6.

Armezon Pro, Status, Verdict, Glyphosate, Zidua, And Atrazine For Sequential Weed Control In Glyphosate-Resistant Corn, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study was initiated near Garden City, KS, in 2016, comparing the weed control of several herbicide treatments applied sequentially in irrigated corn. Kochia control was 95% or more with all treatments at 1 day after late postemergence application (1 DALP) and 100% regardless of treatment at 63 days after late postemergence application (63 DALP). Palmer amaranth and green foxtail control was 98 to 100% and 83 to 93%, respectively, with all preemergence treatments at 1 DALP. A second late postemergence application was needed to achieve 100% control of Palmer amaranth and green foxtail 63 DALP. The single early postemergence …

Effect Of Residue Management, Row Spacing, And Seeding Rate On Winter Canola Establishment, Winter Survival, And Yield, B. M. Showalter, K. Roozeboom, M. J. Stamm, R. Figger

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Winter survival of canola (Brassica napus L.) is a challenge for producers using high-residue, no-tillage, or reduced-tillage systems. An innovative residue management system being developed by AGCO Corporation was compared to cooperating canola producers’ residue management and planting methods in wheat stubble. This series of on-farm experiments was conducted in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 at ten locations in central and south-central Kansas. The AGCO treatments were 20- or 30-in. row spacing and three seeding rates (100,000, 150,000, and 200,000 seeds/a) for a total of six treatments. The producer treatment at each location included row spacing, seeding rate, and residue management …

Timing Of Strobilurin Fungicide For Control Of Top Dieback In Corn, Eric Adee, Stu Duncan

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Significant yield losses can result from top dieback (TDB) in dent corn, which is caused by infection by the fungus, Colletotrichum graminicola, causing anthracnose. Research is limited on the effectiveness of fungicide application because of the unpredictable nature of the disease. Three field studies were established to assess the timing of fungicide application on foliar diseases that developed TDB, one in Illinois (2010) and the other two in Kansas (2015 and 2016). Fungicide applications at tasseling and later were effective in reducing the incidence of TDB by greater than 20% and increasing yield greater than 14 bu/a, or greater …

Closing Corn Yield Gaps Via Improved Management: A Systems Approach, G. R. Balboa, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three corn research trials were conducted during the 2016 growing season. Two studies were conducted at Scandia, KS, (dryland and irrigated) and one at Topeka, KS (dryland). The objective of these trials was to investigate the contribution of different farming systems for closing corn yield gaps. Each experiment consisted of five treatments: common practices (CP), comprehensive fertilization (CF), production intensity (PI), ecological intensification (CF + PI), and advanced plus (AD). Across all three experiments and under dryland and irrigation scenarios, CP presented the lowest yield. In environments with yield response, intensifying production without a balanced nutrition program did not increase …