Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Getting To The Root Cause: The Genetic Underpinnings Of Root System Architecture And Rhizodeposition In Sorghum, Farren Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Plants are some of the most diverse organisms on earth, consisting of more than 350,000 different species. To understand the underlying processes that contributed to plant diversification, it is fundamental to identify the genetic and genomic components that facilitated various adaptations over evolutionary history. Most studies to date have focused on the underlying controls of above-ground traits such as grain and vegetation; however, little is known about the “hidden half” of plants. Root systems comprise half of the total plant structure and provide vital functions such as anchorage, resource acquisition, and storage of energy reserves. The execution of these key …

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) …

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 …

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.

Pyraflufen Tank Mixtures For Efficacy In Fallow, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this study was to compare Vida (pyraflufen) tank mixtures for glyphosate- resistant kochia control in fallow. Early-season kochia control was best with tank mixtures that included Sharpen (saflufenacil), but tank mixtures including dicamba provided the best control later in the season. No herbicide controlled kochia more than 80% late in the season. All herbicides controlled downy brome more than 90% within 14 days after treatment, and 100% by 21 days after application.

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.

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 …

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 …

Comparison Of Mehlich-3 And Dtpa Soil Tests For Analysis Of Micronutrients In Kansas Soils, B. Rutter, D. A. Ruiz Diaz, L. Hargrave

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Mehlich-3 (M3) was designed as a multi-nutrient soil test procedure and has become common at soil testing labs across the U.S. In Kansas, Mehlich-3 is predominately used as a soil test for phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but recent studies have also investigated the use of M3 for the extraction of base cations and cation exchange capacity estimation. However, data relating M3 to traditional methods for soil micronutrient extraction remain scarce. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between M3 and diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) extractable copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) across a wide …

2021 Fertilizer Weather Station Report, M. Sittel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation and temperatures from 2021 at the research locations represented in the 2022 fertilizer report.

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 …

Evaluation Of Implants, Clover, And Fescue Variety On Stocker Steers – Year 2, J. K. Farney, M. Frahm, S. Strnad, T. Bottorff

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, hair coat scores, hair length, rectal temperature (every 28 days), and ultrasound carcass characteristics when steers were coming off grass. Steers on High Endophyte had the lowest average daily …

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.

Field Station Weather Reports, E. Adee, M. Sittel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation from 2021 at the research locations represented in the 2022 field report and further details about the Kansas River Valley locations and the east central Kansas locations.

Effect Of Late Planting Dates On Corn Yield, E. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Planting date studies have been conducted for corn over many years. Often the focus has been to determine optimum planting date for maximizing yield. In some areas, planting early-maturing corn hybrids as early as possible has been a successful strategy for avoiding hot, dry conditions at the critical pollination and early grain fill stages. Planting later can be an alternative strategy that attempts to avoid the most intense heat by moving the critical growth stages for corn centered around pollination to later in the growing season. This strategy has been adopted by some growers in areas that often encounter heat …

Effect Of Early Planting On Soybean Yield, E. Adee, S. Dooley

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In an effort to increase soybean yield potential, early planting dates have been promoted as a management practice that can increase soybean yields. Early planting of soybeans can be a relative term, meaning late April/early May for some soybean producers in Kansas. For the purpose of this study, the definition of early planted soybeans is late March/early April. Theoretically, the earlier planting date could allow for more vegetative growth and absorption of more light before blooming, increasing the yield potential. With the improvement of soybean seed treatments to protect seed when emergence is slowed due to cool and wet conditions, …

Response Of Conventional Sorghum To Imiflex, Zest Wdg, And Firstact, R. Liu, V. Kumar, M. Marrs, T. L. Lambert

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grass weed control in sorghum has been a serious challenge for sorghum growers. The newly developed herbicide-tolerant (HT) sorghum technologies such as igrowth, Inzen, and Double Team sorghum will allow growers to use IMIFLEX, ZestWDG, and FirstAct respectively, for in-season weed control. However, the adoption of these HT sorghum technologies may increase the use of these labeled herbicides and increase the likelihood of herbicide drift or tank contamination to conventional sorghum. Three separate field studies were conducted at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center (KSU-ARCH) near Hays, KS, to understand the response of conventional sorghum to various rates of IMIFLEX, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Fertilization Management To Improve Stockpiled Tall Fescue In The Fall, B. C. Pedreira, D. Helwig, M. Haywood, J. K. Farney, G. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In 2019 and 2021, a tall fescue fertility study was conducted at the K-State Experiment Station near Columbus, KS. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of summer fertilization on forage quality and quantity in stockpiled fescue. If a producer can stockpile high-quality forage for late fall and early winter grazing, protein supplementation may not be necessary for fall calving cows.

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.