Plant Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Seasonal Prescribed Burning On Flint Hills Dung Beetle (Scarabaeinae) Populations, Herman Griese, Andrea Salazar, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:This study aimed to determine if the season of prescribed burning impacted dung beetle communities on pastures grazed by cattle in the Flint Hills.

Study Description:Dung beetle populations at the Kansas State University Beef Stocker unit were sampled biweekly for three months over the summer grazing period to determine if beetle populations varied between spring, summer, or fall burned pastures.

Results:At least eight species of dung beetles were identified with a total of 8,646 dung beetles collected. Dung beetle populations were not different (P>0.05) between spring, summer, and fall burned pastures although peak beetle populations …

Reducing Tick Populations Through Prescribed Burning, Andrea Salazar, Herman Griese, Victoria Pickens, Cassandra Olds

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:Explore the effect of prescribed fire on tick population dynamics in the Kansas Flint Hills.

Study Description:Ticks were collected from spring (April), summer (August), or fall (September) burned pastures as well as control, unburned areas. Burning had been carried out for four consecutive years prior to this study. Tick populations were sampled every other week from March to August using material dragging and dry ice bait sampling methods. Tick species, sex, and life stage were identified morphologically and the total numbers for each burn treatment were calculated.

The Bottom Line:Consecutive burning of grazing pasture could be considered …

Evaluation Of Grazing Options During Summer For Growing Heifers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Kloey Rash, Noelle Collins, Emily Black, Hailey Gillespie

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. Three grass pasture treatments (8 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 32; initial weight 559 ± 20 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Novel fescue is fescue variety that has endophyte organism but does not produce toxin. Heifers were weighed and grazed …

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 Kansas, with particular emphasis on the variety trial results from southeast Kansas in 2023. After the dry conditions of 2022, adequate rain for wheat establishment and growth in the fall in southeast Kansas was received, although drought conditions were observed in central and western Kansas. The growing season had slightly below average rainfall, with adequate soil moisture in the fall for good stand establishment. Overall yields of hard and soft red wheat varieties were above multi-year averages, but slightly below the yields from 2022. As in previous years, soft …

Southeast Kansas Climate Summary For 2023, Matthew Sittel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Temperature and rainfall are important factors influencing agricultural performance. This report summarizes weather conditions in southeast Kansas. Comparisons to long-term records are used to indicate deviations from historical averages. Overall, in 2023 the southeast region had below average precipitation and above normal temperatures.

Variety Trial And Fertility Of Fescue Cultivars In Southeast Kansas, Dale Helwig, Bruno Pedreira, Junior Yasuoka

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In fall 2021, five varieties of fescue were planted at the K-State Research station outside of Columbus, Kansas. The varieties included two endophyte free (E-) varieties, two novel endophyte (NE) varieties, and one endophyte (E+) variety. The varieties were Atlas (E-), Cajun (E-), Bar Optima (NE), Estancia (NE), and K-31 (E+). Three rates of nitrogen were applied in the spring to each variety; 0, 50, and 100 units and each treatment was replicated three times. Due to the drought, measurements were not taken in 2022 but samples were obtained in 2023. The only stress the plots received was lack of …

Southeast Research And Extension Center Agricultural Research 2024

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The 2024 Southeast Research and Extension Center Agricultural Research report includes research conducted in the areas of beef cattle management, cropping systems, and forage crops.

Role Of Soil Management In Control Of Soil-Borne Diseases, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Christopher R. Little, Xiaomao Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil-borne diseases are a significant cause of crop yield reduction. Alternative soilmanagement methods can enhance the soil’s natural disease-controlling organisms. This study explores the effect of alternative production methods on a primary soybean disease, charcoal rot, caused by the fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. Treatments that could potentially enhance or reduce the disease pressure were implemented, and soil tests were conducted for nutrients, soil properties, and disease presence. Manure increased the nutrient levels in the soil, as expected, but did not influence disease control. Solarization increased the temperature within the plots and increased the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) of M. …

Corn And Soybean Production – 2023 Summary, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Jane Lingenfelser, Xiaomao Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soybean and corn varieties were tested in replicated field trials at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons through the Kansas State University variety testing program. In total, 21 corn varieties and full-, mid-, and short-season maturity checks were tested. Fifteen full-season and nine double-cropped soybean varieties were tested, with three maturity checks ranging in maturity from 3.1 to 5.2. Fourteen sunflower varieties were also tested. The 2023 summer crop growing season was nearly average for both temperature and rainfall. Yields from the variety tests were slightly lower than the 13-year average.

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 …

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 …

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 …

2021-2022 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Cannabidiol (Cbd) Research Report, Jason Griffin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hemp is a broad term used to describe the many varieties of Cannabis sativa L. 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 …

Weaning Method Evaluation For Beef Cattle, Jaymelynn K. Farney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weaning is a stressful event for calves. Various management practices have been suggested to reduce weaning stress. The purpose of this study was to evaluate three different weaning management practices on calf gains at weaning. Eighty-eight bull and heifer calves were assigned to one of three weaning treatments at two research locations. The weaning management options were abrupt weaning, fence-line weaning, and use of a nose-flap weaning device. Calves were weighed at the start of the measurement period and then two weeks later after weaning was completed. Calves that were weaned using the nose-flap method had significantly lower gains than …

Algorithm To Estimate Sorghum Grain Number From Panicles Using Images Collected With A Smartphone At Field-Scale, G. N. Santiago, A. J. P. Carcedo, L. Marziotte, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

An estimation of on-farm yield before harvest is important to help farmers make decisions about additional input use, time to harvest, and options for end uses of the harvestable product. However, obtaining a rapid assessment of on-farm yield can be challenging, especially for a sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL.) crop due to the complexity of counting the total number of grains in a panicle at field-scale. One alternative to reduce labor is to develop a rapid assessment method employing computer vision algorithms. Computer vision has already been utilized to account for the number of grains within a panicle, yet it …

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 …

Tillage Study For Corn And Soybeans: Comparing Vertical, Deep, And No-Tillage / Year 10, E. 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 year out of eight 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. Averaged across all years of the study, the treatments with deep tillage either every or every-other year had about 4.5% higher corn yields, and soybeans had up to a 3.2% yield increase with some form of tillage.

Effect Of Corn Row Spacing On Herbicide Effectiveness For Weed Control In 2022, S. H. Lancaster, E. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Cultural weed control practices such as narrow row spacing can be a key component of successful weed management. Experiments were conducted in the Kansas River Valley to evaluate interactions of herbicide programs and corn row spacings on weed control and grain yield. There were no differences in weed control at a site with low weed density. However, at a site with high Palmer amaranth density, Resicore applied to 15- and 30-inch rows and Bicep + Acuron applied to 15-inch rows resulted in the greatest weed control. Corn yield was similar across all treatments at both locations.

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 …

Allelopathic Potential Of Winter Wheat Varieties For Weed Suppression, C. Bott, A. Dille, A. Mohammad, L. Simão, L. O. Pradella, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summer weeds are an expensive economic and environmental problem during the fallow period following the harvest of a wheat crop. Anecdotal evidence suggests that different wheat varieties impact the need for weed control in the subsequent fallow period differently, with reasons ranging from residue amount and quality to the allelopathic potential of such residue. Thus, our objectives were to compare the allelopathic effects of different winter wheat varieties on weed and crop germination suppression. We collected the residue left after harvest of 25 varieties grown in a randomized complete block design in two Kansas locations (Hays and Great Bend) during …

Wheat Variety-Specific Response To Seeding Rate Under Intensive Management Conditions In Western Kansas In 2021–2022, R. P. Lollato, N. Giordano, L. Ryan, L. M. Simão, J. A. Romero Soler, L. O. Pradella

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Wheat response to seeding rate is variable and depends on resource availability during the growing season (e.g., fertility, moisture, and temperature). Our objective was to evaluate winter wheat population and grain yield responses to seeding rate and its interaction with variety in a highly-managed production system where manageable stresses were limited. This study was established to evaluate the response of the wheat varieties Joe, WB-Grainfield, Langin, and LCS Revere to five seeding rates ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 seeds per acre. The site was managed by growers who consistently win state and national wheat yield contests near Leoti, KS. The …

Evaluating The Impact Of Long-Term Phosphorus Placement On Corn And Soybean Rotation Under Minimum Tillage System, Gustavo A. Roa, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Phosphorus (P) management is typically done with a focus on the long term, given its impact on soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term P placement on corn and soybean yields under a minimum tillage system in Kansas. Long-term research trials were established in Scandia (irrigated field) and Ottawa (rainfed) in 2006. Fertilizer treatments were applied annually to corn, including broadcast, deep-band, and starter/deep-band at 40 lb/a of P₂O₅, with a control having no phosphorus fertilizer. Corn and soybean responded significantly to P fertilizer at both locations (compared …

Evaluation Of Plant Tissue Analysis To Assess Phosphorus Nutritional Status For Corn And Soybean, Gustavo A. Roa, Edmond B. Rutter, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Plant tissue samples can be used to assess nutrient concentrations and the response to phosphorus fertilization. This study aimed to identify critical phosphorus tissue concentrations for corn and soybean at different growing stages. The experiment was conducted at 23 locations for corn in 2021–2022 and 12 locations for soybean in 2017–2020 across Kansas. Tissue samples were collected from whole corn plants at the V6 stage, corn ear leaves at the R1 stage, and whole soybean plants at the V4 stage, and upper trifoliate leaves at the R2 soybean stage. Data from plots that received no phosphorus fertilization were used to …

Biomass And Nutrient Accumulation By Dual-Purpose Hemp And Concurrent Soil Profile Water Depletion At Manhattan, Ks, In 2021, Kraig Roozeboom, Jason Griffin, Lucas Haag, Gerard Kluitenberg, Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, Michael Shelton, Tami Myers, Clint Wilson, Andrew Euler, Ike Bahr, Brian Owuoche

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hemp has garnered interest as a potential crop that is not constrained by the typical food, feed, and fuel market channels. Although hemp varieties are available for the production of either grain, fiber, or both (dual-purpose: both grain and fiber) markets, little research-based information is available on hemp growth and water use in Kansas environments. In 2019, Kansas State University researchers began conducting experi­ments to characterize hemp growth, nutrient uptake, and soil water depletion at three locations representing the precipitation gradient across Kansas. In 2021, one fiber and one grain variety were evaluated with and without fertilizer nitrogen. Soil water …

Field Evaluations Of Nitrogen-Fixing Products In Grain Sorghum, Kraig L. Roozeboom, Lucas A. Haag, Will Davis, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz, Charles W. Rice

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrogen fertilizer is one of the largest input expenses for grain crops. Biological prod­ucts are currently available that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria to supply nitrogen to a crop throughout the growing season. Pivot Bio PROVEN (developed for corn), RETURN (developed for sorghum) and experimental product versions were evaluated in grain sorghum at Manhattan, KS, in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Products were compared with an untreated check at five rates of nitrogen fertilizer. Products were applied at planting in-furrow in a volume of five gallons of water solution per acre. Crop response was characterized by several in-season parameters plus grain parameters and …

Evaluation Of Implants, Clover, And Fescue Variety On Stocker Steers – Year 3, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Larissa Muniz, Harley Allen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sixty-four growing steers were used in a split-plot experiment, where the whole plot was pasture, and the split-plot was the implant level. Whole plot treatment was a 4 × 2 factorial with four levels of fescue (High Endophyte, Low Endophyte, Novel, or Endophyte Free) and two levels of legume (Legumes or No Legumes). The split-plot included four implant levels (No Implant, Synovex One Grass, Revalor-G, or Ralgro). Data collected were weights and ultrasound carcass characteristics when steers were coming off grass. Steers on High Endophyte had a lower average daily gain (ADG) and final weight than steers on novel endophyte, …

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.

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.

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 …

Early Soybean Planting In A Water-Limited Growing Season, Sylvia R.G. Moraes, Bruno C. Pedreira, Vaishalai Sharda, Rodrigo B. Onofre, Gretchen F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Appropriate management, with a longer growing season during reproductive growth stages, can increase biomass and yield in soybean. Our objective was to determine the impact of three planting dates, two seed populations, and three maturity groups on grain yield in southeast Kansas. However, due to the severe drought in 2022, with a total rainfall of 18.84 inches during the soybean growing season (55% lower than the 10-yr average), the growing conditions were very limited, resulting in an average yield of 1.7 bu/a.