Plant Sciences Commons^™

Forage Sorghum And Corn Silage Response To Full And Deficit Irrigation, I. Kisekka, J. D. Holman, J. W. Waggoner, J. Aguilar, R. Currie

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

There is limited information on forage sorghum and corn silage yield response to full and deficit irrigation in Kansas. The objective of this study was to generate information on forage sorghum (brown mid-rib hybrids (BMR and non-BMR)) and corn silage yield response to different levels of irrigation as influenced by irrigation capacity in southwest Kansas. Preliminary results indicate the effect of irrigation capacity on forage yield was significant (P = 0.0009) in 2014 but not 2015, probably due to high growing season rainfall received in 2015. Corn silage produced significantly (p<0.05) higher biomass at all irrigation capacities compared to forage sorghum hybrids in 2015. BMR forage sorghum produced significantly lower biomass compared to non-BMR hybrid in both 2014 and 2015 (P<0.05). The highest amounts of forage produced for corn silage, BMR, and non-BMR forage sorghum were 24.6, 17.4, and 21.1 tons/a adjusted to 65%, moisture respectively. Water productivity ranged from 1.0 to 1.4 dry matter tons/a/in. More research is needed under normal and dry years to quantify forage sorghum and corn silage yield and forage quality response to full and deficit irrigation.

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 2015, N applied alone increased yields 70 bu/a, whereas P applied alone increased yields only 12 bu/a. Nitrogen and P applied together increased yields up to 129 bu/a. This is below the 10- year average, where N and P fertilization increased corn yields up to 144 bu/a. Applica­tion of 120 lb/a N (with P) produced about 98% of maximum yield in 2015, which is 5% more than the 10-year average. Application of 80 instead of 40 lb …

Alternative Cropping Systems With Limited Irrigation, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A limited irrigation study involving six cropping systems 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 four 2-year systems (corn-sorghum [C-GS]), corn-sunflower [C-SF], corn-winter wheat [C-W], and corn-wheat/double sunflower [C-W/SF]). In 2015, corn yields were lower following corn than other crops while wheat and grain sorghum yields were similar for all rotations. This tended to agree with the 3-year average yields except for average sorghum yields being higher following corn than sorghum. Sunflowers were destroyed by rodents and no yields …

Alion, Sencor, And Sharpen For Preemergence Kochia Control In An Abandoned Alfalfa Field, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Alion (indaziflam) combined with Sencor (metribuzin) were the most effective herbi­cides for kochia control. Sharpen (saflufenacil) alone or with Prowl H2O (pendimeth­alin), Sencor, or Alion was less effective at controlling kochia compared to Alion plus Sencor. By 91 days after treatment (DAT), Alion at rates above 3 oz/a plus Sencor were more effective than lower rates for kochia control. However, all Alion plus Sencor treat­ments were better than Sharpen-containing tank mixes 91 DAT.

Weed Control And Crop Injury With Single Or Sequential Herbicide Applications In Grain Sorghum, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The preemergence application of Dual II Magnum (S-metolachlor) improved the over­all weed control compared to single postemergence treatments. Excessive rainfall after preemergence application compromised all treatments, producing abnormally low weed control.

Southwest Research-Extension Center, Kansas State University, Staff, Acknowledgments, R. Gillen

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Cover page, staff, and acknowledgments for Southwest Research-Extension Center's Field Day Report 2016.

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Use of legumes in bermudagrass pastures has often increased summer cow gains. Forage production was greater where ladino clover was used in the Legume system than where Nitrogen (N) alone was used in the first sampling, but the reverse was true in midsummer. Estimated forage crude protein during 2015 was greater for the Legume than the Nitrogen system in the first and last samplings, but similar in mid-summer pasture. Cow performance over the season was increased 68% where legumes were used.

Response Of Soybean Grown On A Claypan Soil In Southeastern Kansas To The Residual Of Different Plant Nutrient Sources And Tillage, D. W. Sweeney, Philip Barnes, Gary Pierzynski

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The residual from previous high rate turkey litter applications, which were based on N requirements of the previous grain sorghum crop, increased soybean yield above that obtained from the residual of P-based turkey litter applications (low rate), commercial fertilizer, or the control. Even though early soybean growth was not significantly affected by residual treatments, the greatest dry matter production at the R6 growth stage was where the N-based litter had been applied and incorporated.

Use Of A Fungicide To Reduce Stomatal Conductance In Sweet Corn Planted At Different Populations With Limited Irrigation, D. W. Sweeney, M. B. Kirkham

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2015, increasing seeding rates increased the number of harvested sweet corn ears; however, total fresh weight did not increase above 22,500 seeds/acre. Sweet corn was little affected by limited irrigation or a fungicide applied for stomatal control.

Improving Corn Production In Southeast Kansas, Gretchen Sassenrath, D. E. Shoup, X. Lin, J. Coltrain, J. Geren, D. Helwig

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn performance and yield varies as a function of the growing environment and soil properties. Components contributing to yield in corn were examined through on-farm measurements of soil properties in southeast Kansas. Environmental variability between the 2013, 2014, and 2015 growing seasons contributed to changes in yield. Management can also impact the amount of harvested yield.

Soil Microbial Activity With Depth In Claypan Soils Of Southeast Kansas, C. J. Hsiao, Gretchen Sassenrath, Charles Rice, L. Zeglin, G. Hettiarachchi

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Enzyme activities in soil indicate the relative activities of microbes, which include bacteria, fungi, algae, and other organisms. Changes in soil management alter the composition and activity of soil microbes. Plants rely on soil microbes to break down soil nutrients, and make those nutrients available for plant growth. Symbiotic relationships between soil microbes and plants enhance plant growth and productivity. Alternatively, antagonistic relationships between the soil microbial community and plants limit plant production. Soil dwellers such as nematodes or disease-causing fungi such asMacrophomina phaseolina(the fungus responsible for charcoal rot) can be particularly deleterious to crop growth and yield. …

Effects Of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum On Crop Yield And Soil Properties In Kansas, Deann Presley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum was recently approved for use in Kansas as a sulfur (S) fertilizer and as a soil amendment. Gypsum has been known as an effective product used in remediation of sodic soils, as the calcium (Ca) can exchange with sodium (Na) on the cations on clay particles. Marketing efforts have promoted the use of FGD gypsum on non-sodic soils as a means of improving soil health. Two 3-year study sites were established in Kansas in 2013, and no yield effects were observed for any of the site years. Treatment differences for grain quality and soil chemical …

Corn Yield Response To Plant Populations, D. E. Shoup, Eric Adee, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Corn hybrid development with a focus on drought tolerance has emerged in recent years, and producers have questions about their yield performance across a range of plant populations. A three-year study was conducted to determine the yield of corn hybrids across several plant populations. Corn hybrids responded differently across three different yield environments in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2013, a lower yield environment occurred. The hybrid with drought tolerance had the greatest yield of 95 bu/a at a plant population of 21,500 plants/a, whereas the non-drought tolerant hybrid’s greatest yield was 90 bu/a at a plant population of 13,500 …

Kansas River Valley Experiment Field, Eric Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The Kansas River Valley Experiment Field was established to study management and effective use of irrigation resources for crop production in the Kansas River Valley (KRV). The Paramore Unit consists of 80 acres located 3.5 miles east of Silver Lake on U.S. Highway 24, then 1 mile south of Kiro, and 1.5 miles east on 17th street. The Rossville Unit consists of 80 acres located 1 mile east of Rossville or 4 miles west of Silver Lake on U.S. Highway 24.

Interaction Between Seed Treatment And Variety On Sudden Death Syndrome Symptoms And Soybean Yield, Eric Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is a soybean disease that perennially limits yields in the Kansas River Valley (KRV). The presence of soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and saturated soils has been implicated in contributing to the severity of the disease. Selecting varieties with some degree of tolerance to SDS has been the primary cultural practice to reduce yield loss to SDS. Another tool to reduce yield loss to SDS has been made available to growers with the release of ILeVO seed treatment from Bayer CropScience (Research Triangle Park, NC). The potential benefit of ILeVO on varieties with different levels of tolerance …

Soybean: Evaluation Of Inoculation, I. A. Ciampitti, Eric Adee, J. Kimball, G. I. Carmona

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A soybean crop can obtain up to 50 to 75% of its nitrogen (N) requirements from the air when the biological fixation is effectively established (Pedersen, 2007). The overall objective of this project was to quantify the response to inoculation for soybean in a field without previous history of this crop. Following this rationale, a field study was conducted during the 2015 growing season at Ottawa (east central Kansas). The treatments consisted in five different N management approaches: non-inoculated, inoculated × 1, inoculated × 2, inoculated × 3 and non-inoculated but fertilized with 300 lb N per acre as the …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Iron Chelates In Managing Iron Deficiency Chlorosis In Grain Sorghum, A. Obour, A. Schlegel, R. Perumal, D. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grain sorghum production in alkaline or calcareous soils is frequently affected by iron (Fe) chlorosis. Soil conditions such as high pH, high free calcium carbonate (lime), and low organic matter favor development of Fe deficiency chlorosis (IDC), which can delay crop maturity and reduce yields. Field experiments were conducted in the summer of 2014 and 2015 to determine the effectiveness of Fe chelate application in alleviating IDC in grain sorghum. Treatments were four Fe chelate application rates (0, 3, 6, and 9 lb product/a) applied either in-furrow with the seed at the time of planting or 2 weeks after planting …

2015 Kansas Winter Annual Forage Variety Trial, J. D. Holman, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A total of 16 winter annual forage varieties were tested for performance near Garden City, KS, at the Southwest Research-Extension Center in 2014-2015. Winter crops evaluated included wheat, triticale, and cereal rye.

Tillage Intensity In A Long-Term Wheat- Sorghum-Fallow Rotation, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum increased with decreased tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. In 2015, available soil water at wheat planting was greater for no-till (NT) and reduced till (RT) than for conventional till (CT). Simi­larly, for grain sorghum in 2015, available soil water at planting was increased with NT or RT and least with CT. Averaged across the 15-yr study, available soil water at wheat and sorghum planting was similar for RT and NT and about 1 inch greater than CT. Averaged across the past 15 years, NT wheat yields were 5 bu/a greater than …

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 at Colby, Garden City, and Tribune, KS. The objective of the study is 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. The wheat variety T158 was the highest yielding (or in the highest group) at all locations. Other varieties may have been affected by differential response …

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 2015, N applied alone increased yields 66 bu/a, whereas N and P applied together increased yields up to 92 bu/a. Averaged across the past 10 years, N and P fertilization increased sorghum yields up to 76 bu/a. Application of 40 lb/a N (with P) was sufficient to pro­duce 88% of maximum yield in 2015 which is slightly above the 10-yr average. Applica­tion of potassium (K) has had no effect on sorghum yield throughout the study period. …

Weed Control With Single Or Sequential Herbicide Applications In Acetolactase Synthase-Tolerant Grain Sorghum, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Palmer amaranth control was best when Resolve (rimsulfuron) plus Harmony GT (thifensulfuron) and Abundit Extra (glyphosate) were applied 15 days preplant fol­lowed by Zest (nicosulfuron) and atrazine postemergence, or by Zest plus atrazine alone postemergence. Palmer amaranth control was less than 80% with all other herbicide treatments. Preemergence herbicides alone provided less than 60% green foxtail control at 53 days after postemergence applications, and Zest plus atrazine alone postemergence controlled green foxtail 70%. Sequential applications of preemergence and postemer­gence herbicides were needed to provide the best green foxtail control. The relatively low weed control provided by these treatments may be …

Weed Control With Accent, Callisto, Isoxadifen, Impact, Cinch, Dicamba, And Atrazine In Irrigated Corn, R. Currie, P. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Some timings and combinations of the herbicides tested in this study controlled Palmer amaranth, kochia, quinoa, Russian thistle, and green foxtail from 95 to 100% 51 days after postemergence application (DA-B). Accent (nicosulfuron) plus Callisto (mesotri­one) and isoxadifen alone postemergence provided 88% Palmer amaranth control at 51 DA-B. Kochia control was 92 and 90% when Accent plus Callisto and isoxadifen alone or with atrazine and Dicamba XP (dicamba) was applied postemergence following Cinch (S-metolachlor) preemergence application. Crabgrass control with preemergence followed by postemergence treatments exceeded 89%. Crabgrass control was 83 and 88% when no preemergence herbicide was applied …

Evaluation Of Tall Fescue Cultivars, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Spring 2015 yield was higher for ‘Ky 31 EF’ than for nine of the 19 other entries. Summer production of ‘PBU-B7’ was greater than for five lower-yielding entries. Total 2015 production was greater for ‘PBU-B1’ and Ky 31 EF than for seven other cultivars.

Adaptability Of Miscanthus Cultivars For Biomass Production, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2015, miscanthus dry matter (DM) did not differ between cultivars, averaging 10,250 lb DM/a. Total three-year production for the cultivars was also similar, averaging 26,170 lb/a.

Hydrologic And Nutrient Modeling Within An Agricultural Watershed In Southeast Kansas, V. J. Alarcon, Gretchen Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Access to safe, clean water is important to support society. Agricultural watersheds are often contaminated due to agricultural activities. Identification of specific factors contributing to impairment of water bodies is important to target remediation efforts. This research is designed to explore water quality within the Middle Neosho Watershed in southeastern Kansas to make more informed decisions in potential corrective actions.

Grain Sorghum Response To Band Applied Zinc Fertilizer, A. Tonon Rosa, N. O. Nelson, D. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Zinc (Zn) is one of the micronutrients found to be deficient in Kansas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of grain sorghum to Zn fertilization using strip trials. The experiment was set up in Manhattan, KS, in 2015. The experimental design consisted of two strips, one with Zn fertilizer and the other without, with five replications. Zn fertilizer was applied as starter in combination with ammonium polyphosphate at the rate of 0.5 lb Zn/a. Plant tissue samples were collected to determine Zn content. Grain yield was recorded by combine equipped with yield monitor. No significant differences …

Precipitation Data, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Precipitation data for agricultural experiment stations in Kansas, 2014-2015.

Integrated Grain And Forage Rotations, J. D. Holman, T. Roberts, S. Maxwell

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Producers are interested in growing forages in rotation with grain crops. Many produc­ers are interested in diversifying their operations to include livestock or grow feed for the livestock industry. By integrating forages into the cropping system, producers can take advantage of more markets and reduce market risk. Forages require less water to make a crop than grain crops, so the potential may exist to reduce fallow by including forages in the crop rotation. Reducing fallow through intensified grain/forage rotations may increase the profitability and sustainability compared to existing crop rotations.

This study was started in 2013, with crops grown in-phase …

Response Of Drought Tolerant And Conventional Corn To Limited Irrigation, I. Kisekka, F. Lamm

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the response of two commercial hybrids (DKC 62-27 DGVT2PRO [drought tolerant trait (DT)] and DKC 62-98 VT2PRO [conventional]) to limited irrigation. Preliminary results from the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons at Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, Kansas, indicate the effect of irrigation capacity on corn yield was significant (P<0.001)for both hybrids. The effect of the drought tolerance trait on yield was not significant (P>0.05)in both years. The effect of the interaction between irrigation capacity and corn hybrid on yield was also not significant (P>0.05) …