Plant Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Dual-Purpose Cover Crop And Occasional Tillage On Dryland Crop Productivity, Profitability, And Soil Properties, Logan M. Simon, Augustine K. Obour, John D. Holman, Sandra K. Johnson, Kraig L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grazing or haying dual-purpose cover crops (CCs) could provide an economic benefit to offset potential lost revenue when grain crop yields are decreased after CCs in dry years. However, there is concern that removing CC biomass could limit the beneficial effects of CCs for soil health and that root-limiting soil compaction may occur with grazing on no-till (NT) fields. Occasional tillage (OT) can be used to mitigate soil compaction caused from grazing CCs. The objectives of this study were to determine dual-purpose CC management and occasional tillage (OT) effects on plant-available water (PAW), crop yields, net returns, and soil properties …

Corn Irrigation With Reduced Well Capacity, Rocio Reyes Esteves

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

One major challenge for western Kansas irrigated corn producers is sustaining or enhancing yields under declining well capacities or limited water supplies. Irriga­tion systems in the Central Great Plains can no longer supply peak irrigation needs throughout the summer months. Producers should rely on soil water reserves to keep the crop from water stress. Irrigated crop production is essential for agriculture in Western Kansas. Corn is the most popular commodity crop grown under irrigation (around 50% of the irrigated acres). Nevertheless, with declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer, optimal application of limited irrigation water and sustainability practices are necessary. …

Depth Of Moist Soil At Planting Affected Grain Sorghum Response To Nitrogen Fertilizer, Augustine K. Obour, John D. Holman, Yared Assefa Mulisa

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The depth of moist soil before planting is a critical factor for grain crop production in dryland cropping systems. We investigated depth of moist soil at planting and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application effects on continuous grain sorghum yields on a Crete silt loam soil over 32 years in western Kansas. Treatments were four N rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 lb/a) in a randomized complete block design with four replications and depth of moist soil at planting determined with a Paul Brown moisture probe. Grain sorghum yield response to N fertilizer application was -0.10, 14.4, 29.3, and 36.5 lb of …

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.

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.

Spring And Summer Cover Crop Effects On Dryland Wheat And Grain Sorghum Yields In Western Kansas, L. M. Simon, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, S. K. Johnson, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Incorporating cover crops (CC) to replace fallow in traditional dryland cropping systems in the semi-arid conditions of western Kansas has the potential to enhance soil health, suppress weeds, and increase precipitation use efficiency. The returns from haying or grazing can help cover costs of CC establishment and any reduction in yield from the subsequent grain crop. Two studies were initiated in 2015 and 2016 near Brownell, KS, to investigate dual-purpose spring and summer CC management effects on subsequent grain yields in a three-year no-till (NT) dryland winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow cropping system. Cover crops were planted in early spring between grain …

Yield Response To Nitrogen Management In A Corn-Soybean Sequence In North Central Kansas – 2021 Season, A. A. Correndo, O. Lanza Lopez, L. F. A. Almeida, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of corn (Zea maysL.) grain yield to nitrogen (N) fertilizer application and its residual effect on soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] seed yield. During the 2021 growing season, a corn-soybean rotation study was continued at Scandia, KS (USA), evaluating the effect of five N fertilizer rates (0, 53, 107, 161, and 214 lb N/a) applied in corn under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Average corn grain yields ranged from 124 to 147 bu/a for dryland, and from 159 to 203 bu/a for irrigated conditions. However, no significant …

Kansas Field Research 2022

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A summary of research conducted in 2020-2022 on field production 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/

Dual-Purpose Cover Crop Effects On Soil Health In Western Kansas No-Till Dryland Cropping, L. M. Simon, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, S. K. Johnson, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Increasing interest in soil health has led producers in western Kansas to consider cover crops (CCs) for increased soil cover and improved soil properties. However, grain yield reductions following CCs in dryland cropping systems necessitate dual-purpose forage harvest to balance goals of environmental and economic sustainability. This study was initiated in 2015 near Brownell, KS, to investigate the effects of dual-purpose CC management in place of fallow on selected soil chemical and physical properties in a no-till winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow cropping system. Mixed oat and triticale cover crops were either mechanically harvested as hayed forage to a height of 6 …

Forage Accumulation Of Spring And Summer Cover Crops In Western Kansas, L. M. Simon, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, S. K. Johnson, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Intensification of no-till dryland cropping systems in western Kansas with cover crops (CCs) may provide important ecosystem services while also supplying annual forage for livestock. Two experiments were initiated in 2015 and 2016 near Brownell, KS, to determine the forage production potential of spring and summer CCs in a winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow crop rotation. Cover crops were mechanically harvested as hayed forage to a height of 6 inches or mob-grazed with yearling heifers (weighing approximately 1000 lb each) stocked at 3 head/acre/day. Forage accumulation was determined for the hayed treatment using a small plot forage harvester, and samples of the …

Kansas Field Research 2021

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A summary of research conducted in 2019-2020 on field production and management practices for crops in Kansas. Published in 2021 from the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service https://www.ag.k-state.edu/

Long-Term Cover Crop Management Effects On Soil Health In Semiarid Dryland Cropping Systems, L. M. Simon, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, K. L. Roozeboom

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Growing cover crops (CC) in semiarid drylands may provide benefits to soil health. This study examined long-term CC management effects in a no-till winter wheat-grain sorghum-fallow cropping system in southwest Kansas. Objectives were to assess the impacts of CCs on 1) soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) stocks, 2) soil susceptibility to erosion, as well as to 3) quantify the effects of haying cover crops as annual forages. Treatments were spring-planted and included peas for grain as well as one-, three-, and six-species CC mixtures of oats, triticale, peas, buckwheat, turnips, and radishes compared with conventional chemical-fallow. Half of …

Dual Use Of Cover Crops For Forage Production And Soil Health In Dryland Crop Production, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, L. M. Simon, S. K. Johnson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Integrating a cover crop (CC) 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 CCs for forage on subsequent crop …

Dryland Sorghum Nitrogen Management: Implications For Utilization As Ethanol Feedstock, K. A. Gehl, L. Haag, J. Warren, S. Sharma, P. J. Tomlinson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study was initiated in 2018 to collect preliminary data to quantify nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from dryland grain sorghum in western Kansas. Results indicate that the greatest flux of N₂O occurred within the first 14 days after fertilization when plant uptake was minimal and soil moisture was elevated. During this time period, the timing and amount of rainfall was critical with respect to N₂O flux. Nitrous oxide flux during the fallow phase was negligible. The cumulative emissions factor for fertilizer-derived N₂O estimated for Colby (~0.3%) is well below the Intergovernmental Panel …

Water Use And Productivity Of Corn And Grain Sorghum In Long-Term Crop Sequences, R. M. Aiken

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Dryland corn and grain sorghum showed similar water productivity of grain and above-ground biomass, relative to respective growing periods, at the apparent yield frontier. The yield frontier indicates the maximum productivity for a given amount of water use. This similarity in productive response to water supply provides a foundation for improved precipitation use. Yield gaps relative to the yield frontier appear substan­tial. Water supply during the grain filling period was the primary driver of feed grain crop productivity, and was affected more by available soil water at pollen shed than by precipitation during grain-fill or available water at maturity. Grain …

Strategic Tillage In Dryland No-Tillage Crop Production Systems, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, A. J. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Emerging challenges in continuous no-till (NT) systems require developing flexible management strategies that will minimize the impacts of herbicide resistant (HR) weeds and nutrient stratification on soil and crop productivity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of strategic tillage (ST) operations as an option to redistribute soil nutrients and acidity, control perennial grass and HR weeds, and improve crop yields following tillage of an otherwise long-term NT soil. Treatments were five crop rotations: 1) continuous winter wheat (WW); 2) wheat-fallow (WF); 3) wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF); 4) continuous sorghum (SS); and 5) sorghum-fallow (SF) as main plots. Sub-plots were reduced tilled (RT), continuous …

Effects Of Spring-Planted Cover Crops On Weed Suppression And Winter Wheat Grain Yield In Western Kansas, A. K. Obour, J. D. Holman, J. A. Dille, V. Kumar

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Herbicide resistant (HR) weeds pose a major challenge to continuous no-tillage (NT) dryland crop management systems. Integrating cover crop (CCs) in dryland crop rota­tions could suppress weeds and provide a weed management option for HR weeds in NT systems. Field experiments were conducted to investigate weed suppression poten­tial of spring-planted CCs and their impacts on subsequent winter wheat grain yields. The CCs were oat/triticale, oat/triticale/pea, spring pea, and chem-fallow (standard) over 3 years and 2 locations in western Kansas. A weedy-fallow check was added to compare weed suppression of CCs in 2 out of the 3 years. Results showed CC …

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, …

Grain Sorghum Yield Response To Water Availability—North Central Kansas Experiment Field, J. P. Broeckelman, G. J. Kluitenberg, K. Roozeboom, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Yield effects of irrigation on sorghum and corn were compared, focusing only on the grain sorghum phase. Average water use for irrigation was 22 in., and dryland sorghum used 17 in. Average yields based on 12.5% grain moisture for dryland and irrigated sorghum were similar, with 138 bu/a for the irrigated and 142 bu/a for the dryland environment. Irrigated sorghum yields were similar, but in dryland, the Pioneer 84G62 hybrid yielded 149 bu/a, a 10 bu/a increase over Pioneer 84Y50 and DKS 53-67 hybrids, which yielded 139 bu/a and 138 bu/a, respectively. Although there was a difference in the yield …

Grain Sorghum Yield Response To Water Availability—Kansas River Valley Experiment Field, J. P. Broeckelman, E. A. Adee, G. J. Kluitenberg, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Yield effects of irrigation on sorghum and corn were compared, but this report is merely focused on the sorghum phase of the crop rotation. Mean yield for irrigated sorghum was 168 bu/a, whereas dryland yield was 145 bu/a. The latter represents a yield improvement of 24 bu/a, an increase of approximately 2 bu/a per unit (in.) of water applied (considering a total of 11 in. of water applied in the irrigation block).

The irrigated sorghum used a mean of 7.8 in. more water than the dryland, which suggests that the dryland sorghum consumed 3.4 in. more water from the soil …