Plant Sciences Commons^™

Crop Adaptation And Improvement For Drought-Prone Environments, Ndjido A. Kane, Ed., Daniel Foncéka, Ed., Timothy J. Dalton, Ed.

NPP eBooks

This book focuses on three important elements in the development of cereal and legume crops in semi-arid West Africa. The first section illustrates the socioeconomic factors that affect the food system for these crops and contains an overview of crop production and consumption in the region. Then, important inputs that affect system productivity are presented: preferences for new seed varieties, yield response to fertilizer, counterfeit herbicides, climate information, and the way farmers develop expectations about the weather events that shape cropping outcomes. The final chapter of section one is dedicated to understanding urban consumer preferences for processed food products derived …

Southeast Research And Extension Center Agricultural Research 2022

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Report of agricultural research from Southeast Research and Extension Center, Kansas State University.

2022 Kansas Fertilizer Research Report

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A summary of research conducted in 2018-2021 on fertilizer use and management practices for crops in Kansas. Published in 2022 from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
https://www.ag.k-state.edu/.

Forage Crop Water Use And Production Under Dryland Conditions, R. Aiken, F. Lamm

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Forage crops contribute diversity and buffer agronomic risk in water-limited cropping systems. Knowledge of growth responses to uncertain water supply can help guide crop selection and management—including timing of harvest. Our research objective was to determine water use and growth responses of forage winter triticale and forage sorghum under rainfed conditions.

Imiflex Rates For Efficacy In Imidazolinone-Tolerant Grain Sorghum, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to compare ImiFlex rates and timings for efficacy and crop response in imidazolinone-tolerant grain sorghum. Volunteer corn and Johnsongrass control was generally best when ImiFlex (imazamox) was applied postemergence (POST), except when tank mixed with Huskie (bromoxynil/pyrasulfotole). Likewise, Palmer amaranth control was most consistent when ImiFlex was applied POST. Though all herbicides increased grain yields relative to the weedy controls, yields increased the most when Moccasin II Plus (metolachlor) plus Motif (mesotrione) preemergence (PRE) was followed by ImiFlex POST or Moccasin II Plus and Sharpen (saflufenacil) PRE was followed by ImiFlex plus atrazine POST.

Single And Split Herbicide Applications For Efficacy In Corn, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to compare season-long weed control from single and sequential herbicide applications in corn. Control of all weed species was generally good (90% or more) early in the season regardless of preemergence (PRE) herbicide. However, Russian thistle and Palmer amaranth control was best later in the season when a PRE herbicide was followed by a postemergence (POST) treatment. While all herbicide treatments increased yields compared to the untreated control, yields were greatest when Lumax EZ PRE (atrazine/mesotrione/metolachlor) was followed by Acuron (atrazine/bicyclopyrone/mesotrione/metolachlor) and glyphosate POST.

2022 Western Kansas Agricultural Research Report

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summary of research conducted at western Kansas research stations, including Hays, Garden City, Tribune, and Colby. Topics include corn, cropping and tillage systems, insect control, irrigation, management practices, weather, weed science, and wheat.

Nitrogen Fertilization And Wheat Variety Interact With Environment Independently To Determine Wheat Yield In Kansas, N. Giordano, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Both nitrogen (N) management and variety selection are crucial elements that influence wheat yield; however, there is limited research exploring whether wheat varieties differ in their response to N rate. Thus, our objectives were to determine potential variety by N rate interactions among modern winter wheat varieties. Factorial field experiments were established in four Kansas locations during the 2020–2021 growing season, including two fields near Ashland Bottoms, one field near Hutchinson, and one near Manhattan. Whole plot treatments were four N rates (0, 40, 80, and 120 lb N/a) applied in the spring and subplots were 14 commercially available winter …

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A crabgrass variety trial comparing Quick-N-Big and Mojo crabgrasses was conducted in 2021 at the K-State Experiment Station outside of Columbus, KS. The trial evaluated forage quantity and quality under different fertilization and harvest management practices.

Evaluation Of Grazing Options During Summer For Growing Heifers – Year 2, J. K. Farney

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 473 ± 60 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 grazed pastures from April to September (153 d). Heifers on FES were …

Deficit Irrigation Strategies For Subsurface Drip-Irrigated Alfalfa, F. R. Lamm, R. Reyes-Esteves, K. R. Harmoney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This subsurface drip-irrigated study was conducted from 2020 to 2021 at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center near Colby, KS, to evaluate five deficit irrigation strategies for alfalfa. All strategies were irrigated similarly (100% of Evapotranspiration (ET) minus Rain) through the first seasonal cutting. Following the first cutting, treatments were 1) Irrigate to replace 85% ET minus Rain; 2) Irrigate to replace 50% ET minus Rain between Cutting 2 and 3, then 85% ET-Rain; 3) Irrigate to replace 50% ET minus Rain between Cutting 2 and 4, then 85% ET-Rain; 4) Irrigate to replace 70% ET minus Rain between …

Intensification Of Sprinkler-Irrigated Corn Production, F. R. Lamm

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This corn intensification study was conducted under sprinkler irrigation from 2020 to 2021 at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center near Colby, KS. Two corn hybrids (Pioneer 1197 and Pioneer 1089) were grown with advanced fertilization at three plant densities (42,000, 38,000, and 34,000 plants/a) using three irrigation levels (115, 100, or 85% of calculated well-watered ET minus rain). As anticipated, there was no additional need for irrigation above normal amounts (100% of ET - Rain), giving further evidence that crop intensification is possible without negatively affecting water resource use. Yields were excellent in both years, averaging 227 bu/a …

Evaluation Of Soil Test Phosphorus Extractants And Tissue Analysis For Corn, G. A. Roa-Acosta, D. A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship of four different soil test phosphorus methods (Mehlich 3, Bray 1, Bray 2, and Haney H3A) for corn production, and determine critical P tissue concentration at different growing stages. The experiment was conducted at 12 locations, and the fertilizer treatments consisted of five phosphorus fertilizer rates applied by broadcast pre-plant. Soil samples were collected at 0- to 6-in. depth, then samples were collected before treatment application by block. Tissue samples were collected at the V6 and R1 growth stages. The relationship between the different soil test phosphorus methods and the …

High Yielding Corn Production With Subsurface Drip Irrigation, F. R. Lamm

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This corn intensification study was conducted under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) from 2017 to 2021 at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center near Colby, KS. Two corn hybrids (Pioneer 1151 and Pioneer 11197) were grown with advanced fertilization at three plant densities (42,000, 38,000, and 34,000 plants/a) using three irrigation levels (115, 100, or 85% of calculated well-watered ET minus rain). Average yields were 259, 257, and 254 bu/a for the 115, 100, and 85% ET - Rain irrigation levels respectively, indicating that irrigation does not have to increase with crop intensification when using SDI. Both corn hybrids yielded …

Industrial Weed Control With Plainview, Esplanade, And Method Application Timings, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this trial was to compare Plainview, Esplanade, and Method at three applications for season-long weed control in noncropland. Glyphosate alone provided no residual weed control. Plainview (indaziflam/aminocyclopyrachlor/imazapyr) at 64 oz/a applied in the early or late fall controlled kochia similarly to Krovar (bromacil/ diuron) late in the season. Either rate of Plainview, as well as the tank mixture of Esplanade (aminocyclopyrachlor) plus Method (indaziflam), provided complete woollyleaf bursage control regardless of application timing. No treatment of Krovar controlled woollyleaf bursage more than 60%.

Environment And Nitrogen Rate Play Significant Roles In Winter Wheat Response To Nitrogen Management Intensification, L. M. Simão, D. A. Ruiz Diaz, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Poor nitrogen (N) management is among the leading causes of winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) yield gaps in Kansas, and sowing date—which is impacted by crop rotation—is among the most important variables determining winter wheat’s attainable yields in the U.S. central Great Plains. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between N management strategies and various cropping systems in Kansas. The treatments consisted of nine combinations of three N management practices (standard, progressive, and green N) and five crop sequences (WtWt = continuous winter wheat; SyWt = winter wheat after soybean; TrSyWt = triticale (hay) – soybean – winter …

Katagon At Two Timings Compared To Standards In Corn, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this trial was to compare Katagon (tolpyralate/nicosulfuron) to standard treatments for weed control in corn. Katagon plus atrazine applied early postemergence was as effective as any herbicide tested on the weeds present. When application timing was delayed to late postemergence, most herbicides were less effective. Early season corn injury was minor and did not persist. Although most herbicide treatments increased yields relative to the non-treated control, yields were generally best when any treatment was applied early postemergence.

Efficient Irrigation Technologies For Corn—A Comparison, F. R. Lamm, D. M. O'Brien

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was conducted from 2016–2021 at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center near Colby, KS. Two irrigation systems, subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and mobile drip irrigation (MDI) were compared for two irrigation capacities equivalent to 0.25 in./day and 0.167 in./day. Irrigation amounts were similar for the two systems when comparing the equivalent capacities, averaging 13.3 and 11.4 inches per acre. When averaged over the six-year period, SDI and MDI corn grain yields were 242.5 and 239.2 bu/a, respectively. Although irrigation amounts for the two systems at an equivalent irrigation capacity were similar, total crop water use was less …

Comparison Of Sensitivity To Fusarium Head Blight In Soft Red And Hard Red Winter Wheat Varieties, G. Sassenrath, K. Andersen Onofre, J. Lingenfelser, X. Lin

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Fusarium head blight (scab) is a problem for wheat production in high rainfall areas. This is a report of research examining the response of wheat varieties on disease susceptibility and wheat yield and quality. Hard red wheat varieties had more disease than the soft red wheat varieties in 2021. Wheat yield was correlated with disease severity.

Stocker Steer Gains And Fly Numbers As Impacted By Burn Date And Type Of Mineral On Tallgrass Native Range – Year 3, J. K. Farney, M. Frahm

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 572 ± 75 lb) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment structure. Steers were weighed individually, randomly assigned to treatment, and grazed for 87 days. Weekly, 33% of steers were photographed to count flies and evaluated for hair coat score. Neither the date of pasture …

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 3 Of 4, M. P. Ramirez, A. J. Tajchman, Z. M. Duncan, J. Lemmon, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective was to document the effects of late-summer prescribed fire on soil cover, botanical composition, and forage production in the Kansas Smoky Hills and associated effects on dense Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii) stands therein.

Study Description:The study took place on a private ranch in Ellsworth County, in the Kansas Smoky Hills. Eighteen one-acre plots were assigned randomly to one of two prescribed-fire treatments: no burn (control) and burn (burned August 14, 2019). Soil cover, plant composition, and forage production were evaluated annually. These data represent plant community effects prior to treatment and one and two …

Crop Assurance Strategies For Irrigated Grain Sorghum Production, F. R. Lamm

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This sprinkler-irrigated study was conducted from 2018 to 2021 at the Kansas State University Northwest Research-Extension Center near Colby, KS, to evaluate four different water management strategies that could provide assurance of adequateyielding grain sorghum. The grain sorghum was grown on sites with good initial soil water at planting (>70% of field capacity within the 8-ft deep silt loam profile). Strategies were 1) No seasonal irrigation; 2) Irrigation of 100% of ET minus Rain after the boot stage through remainder of season; 3) Irrigation of 100% of ET minus Rain up to a limit of 6 inches; and 4) …

Crop Production Summary - 2021, G. Sassenrath, L. Mengarelli, J. Lingenfelser, M. Knapp, X. 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, 26 corn varieties and 28 soybean varieties were tested. Weather during 2021 was near average for both rainfall and temperature, though there were periods of high rainfall and high temperatures. Corn and soybean production was also near average, both across the state and in the cultivar trials at Parsons.

Wheat Variety Test Results For South Central Kansas - 2021, J. Seiler, R. Hein, R. Flaming, J. Carr, K. Nordyke, R. Lollato, B. C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

South central Kansas is an important winter wheat production area in the state. This report summarizes the results of winter wheat variety tests for 2020-2021 in five locations.

Effects Of Prescribed Fire Timing On Stocker Cattle Performance And Native Plant Composition: Year 3 Of 6, Z. M. Duncan, A. J. Tajchman, M. P. Ramirez, J. Lemmon, K. J. Suhr, 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, soil cover, and plant species composition over a six-year period.

Study Description: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). Calves were grazed from May to August for 90 days. Individual body weights (BW) were recorded at the beginning and end of the grazing season to determine total BW gains and average daily gains. Native plant composition and soil cover …

Using Cover Crops To Control Weeds And Improve Soil Health, J. Dille, A. Hewitt, G. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Herbicide-resistant weeds are challenging for producers to control in crop fields. This study explores the potential of cover crops to reduce weed pressure and improve soil health. Cover crops that had good canopy development, including grasses such as ryegrass and wheat, had the best weed control. Soybean yields were similar for all cover crops, though there was a trend towards lower yields for the brassica cover crops, Graza radish and forage collards. Soybeans grown after ryegrass had the highest yields.

Do Late Season Soybean Management Practices Impact Seed Yields In East Kansas?, A. A. Correndo, L. F. A. Almeida, E. Adee, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In soybean (Glycine max[L.] Merr.), maintaining favorable growth conditions (e.g., water, solar radiation, and nutrients) during the seed filling period is crucial to avoid limitations that could reduce seed weight and ultimately constrain seed yield. The objective of this study was to explore potential effects and identify if “late-season” management practices can contribute to increasing seed weight and seed yield in soybeans.

Wheat Grain Yield Response To Seed Cleaning And Seed Treatment As Affected By Seeding Rate During The 2020–2021 Growing Season In Kansas, R. P. Lollato, L. O. Pradella, L. Ryan, L. M. Simão, N. Giordano, J. R. Soler, L. A. Haag

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate the winter wheat stand count and grain yield responses to seeding rate and its interaction with seed cleaning and seed treatment in Kansas during the 2020–2021 growing season. Experiments evaluating the response of the wheat variety SY Monument to three seeding rates (600,000, 900,000, and 1,200,000 seeds per acre), three seed cleaning intensities (none, air screen, and gravity table), and two seed treatments (none and insecticide + fungicide) were established in a split-split plot design conducted in a complete factorial experiment in ten Kansas locations. In-season measurements included stand count and grain …

Interseeding Sorghum-Sudangrass Into Perennial Cool-Season Western Wheatgrass Pasture, Keith Harmoney, John Guretzky

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Conversion of pastureland into cropland has occurred at a rapid rate on the Great Plains. A reduction in total acreage of pastureland from this conversion has resulted in a decline of total numbers of beef cows in the same region. One method to mitigate the decline in cow numbers is to increase the carrying capacity of the remaining pastureland acres. To achieve this goal, a study was conducted to introduce warm-season annual grass species into perennial cool-season grass pastures to increase dry matter production during the mid-summer time period that perennial cool-season grasses would be most dormant. An increase in …

Herbicide Activity On Old World Bluestems, Keith Harmoney

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two main species of old world bluestems (OWB), yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum) and Caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa bladhii), have encroached on rangelands, pastures, and road right-of-ways in Kansas. Patches of these OWB have been shown to reduce species diversity and abundance at multiple trophic levels, and pose a long-term threat to native plant, insect, rodent, and grassland bird populations. These OWB species are utilized by cattle early in the growing season, directly following prescribed burns, and during droughts when other forages lack water uptake and may go dormant. However, these OWB species mature more quickly than native …