Plant Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Supplementation With Corn Or Dried Distillers Grains On Gains Of Heifer Calves Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, L. W. Lomas, J. L. Moyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Distillers grains, a by-product of the ethanol industry, have tremendous potential as an economical and nutritious supplement for grazing cattle. Distillers grains contain a high concentration of protein (25 to 30%), with more than two-thirds escaping degradation in the rumen, which makes it an excellent supplement for younger cattle. Recent advancements in the ethanol manufacturing process have resulted in extraction of a greater amount of fat; therefore, creating distillers grains that may contain less energy than corn. This research was conducted to compare performance of stocker cattle supplemented with corn or DDG at 0.5% body weight per head daily while …

Searc Agricultural Research 2018, L. W. Lomas

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Agricultural Research 2018, Southeast Agricultural Research Center, Kansas State University, April 2018

Seeding Rate And Nitrogen Application Effects On Spring Oat And Triticale Forage, A. Obour, J. D. Holman, A. Schlegel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Spring oat and triticale are important forage crops in dryland and limited irrigated crop production systems in western Kansas. Previous research in western Kansas showed that growing spring forages in place of fallow reduced soil erosion and increased fallow precipitation use efficiency compared to summer fallow, and increased profitability compared to fallow in years with average to above average rainfall. Despite the great potential of spring forages, information on seeding rate and nitrogen fertilizer recommendations are limited. These management practices can affect forage productivity and nutritive value.

Current N fertilizer recommendations for oat and triticale are based on a very …

Comprehensive Control Of Sericea Lespedeza With Four Consecutive Years Of Prescribed Fire During Summer, J. A. Alexander, W. H. Fick, J. Lemmon, G. A. Gatson, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of annual prescribed burning applied during the growing season on vigor of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) infesting native tallgrass range.

Study Description:We burned nine fire-management units (14 ± 6 acres) at one of three prescribed-burning times: early spring (April 1), mid-summer (August 1), or late summer (September 1). Effects on sericea lespedeza were evaluated annually on July 10, October 10, and November 1.

The Bottom Line:Compared to traditional spring, dormant-season burning, burning during the summer months over four consecutive years resulted in …

Plant Population And Fungicide Treatment Reduce Winter Wheat Yield Gap In Kansas, B. R. Jaenisch, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Despite the large winter wheat yield gap in Kansas, limited research is available on integrated agronomic practices to increase grain yield. Our objective was to quantify the contribution of individual and combined management practices to reduce wheat yield gap. An incomplete factorial treatment structure established in a randomized complete block design was conducted in three locations in Kansas during 2016–2017 to evaluate the impacts of 14 treatments on yield and grain protein concentration of the modern wheat variety ‘Everest.’ We individually added six treatments to a low-input standard control or removed from a high-input intensive control, which received all treatments. …

Vida Alone And In Tank Mixtures For Spring Kochia Control In Fallow, R. S. Currie, P. W. Geier, G. W. Boyer, P. W. Stahlman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

No herbicide treatment provided more than 50% kochia control at Garden City, KS, or 80% kochia control at Hays after the first week of application. At Garden City, KS, treatments of Vida (pyraflufen) plus glyphosate and 2,4-D or dicamba, glyphosate alone, or glyphosate plus 2,4-D or dicamba provided greater than 89% kochia control. At Hays, glyphosate alone or with 2,4-D, and Vida plus dicamba alone or with glyphosate had greater than 85% control of kochia.

Evaluating Small Unmanned Aerial Systems For Detecting Drought Stress On Turfgrass, Mu Hong, Dale Bremer, Deon Van Der Merwe

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This study was conducted to evaluate early detection ability of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) technology for drought stress on turfgrass. Certain reflectances collected by sUAS and a handheld device declined more in less irrigated treatments before drought stress was evident in visual quality rating (VQ) and percentage green cover (PGC). The near infrared (NIR) band and GreenBlue vegetation index performed the best consistently for drought stress prediction among the other vegetation indices (VI) or bands from sUAS. Results indicate using ultra-high resolution remote sensing with sUAS can detect drought stress as well as, if not better than, a handheld …

Kansas Field Research 2018

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The research program at the Kansas State University East Central Kansas Experiment Field is designed to keep area crop producers abreast of technological advances in agronomic agriculture.

The Kansas State University 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).

Occasional Tillage In A Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Beginning in 2012, research was conducted in Garden City and Tribune, KS, to de­termine the effect of a single tillage operation every 3 years on grain yields in a wheat-sorghum-fallow (WSF) rotation. Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum were not affected by a single tillage operation every 3 years in a WSF rotation. Grain yield varied greatly by year from 2014 to 2017. Wheat yields ranged across years from mid-20s to 80 bu/a at Tribune and about 10 (hail damage) to near 60 bu/a at Garden City. Grain sorghum yields ranged from less than 60 to greater than 140 …

Naive Yearling Steers Consume Little Sericea Lespedeza In The Kansas Flint Hills, C. A. Sowers, J. D. Wolf, W. H. Fick, K C. Olson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Objective:The objective of this study was to characterize diets selected by steers grazing sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)-infested native tallgrass pastures.

Study Description:The experiment was conducted on eight native tallgrass pastures located in Woodson County, KS, at the Kansas State University Bessner Range Research Unit during the 2015 and 2016 growing season. Pastures were burned annually in April and stocked with yearling steers (n = 281/year; initial body weight = 582 ± 75 lb) at a relatively high stocking rate (2.7 acres/steer) from April 15 to July 15. Basal frequency of sericea lespedeza was 2.9 …

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

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Bermudagrass is a productive forage species when intensively managed. However, it has periods of dormancy and requires proper management to maintain forage quality. Legumes in the bermudagrass sward could improve forage quality and reduce fertilizer usage; however, legumes are difficult to establish and maintain with the competitive grass. Clovers can maintain survival once established in bermudagrass sod and may be productive enough to substitute for some N fertilization. This study was designed to compare dry cow performance on a bermudagrass pasture system that included ladino and crimson clovers (Legume) vs. bermudagrass alone (Nitrogen).

Nitrogen Application Effects On Forage Sorghum Biomass Production And Nitrates, A. Obour, J. D. Holman, D. B. Mengel

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench) is a highly productive annual summer forage that can be grazed, hayed or ensiled for winter feed, confined feeding, or grazed to supplement native pasture. Recently, there has been interest in growing forage sorghum for hay or grazing in place of fallow to increase residue cover as part of an integrated forage or cover crop system. The high water use efficiency and heat and drought tolerance of sorghum makes it an ideal forage crop choice for growers in the water-limited Great Plains environment. Furthermore, due to the declining saturated thickness of the Ogallala …

Herbicide And Application Timing Effects On Windmillgrass Control, Nicholas Mitchell, Jared Hoyle

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Windmillgrass (Chloris verticillataNutt.) populations commonly infest turfgrass systems in the midwest, which result in aesthetically unacceptable turfgrass stands. Research trials were initiated in 2017 in Onaga and Junction City, KS, to determine windmillgrass control with various single herbicide applications at multiple application timings (spring, summer, and fall). Data collection for research trials consisted of visual percent windmillgrass cover (0–100%), line intersect analysis on four-inch spacing, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (0 to 1 scale), and windmillgrass seedhead counts. Initial observations resulted in greater windmillgrass control with summer applications compared to fall applications. Pylex (topramezome) resulted in 80% windmillgrass …

Wheat And Grain Sorghum In Four-Year Rotations, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman, C. Thompson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In recent years, cropping intensity has increased in dryland systems in western Kansas. The traditional wheat-fallow system is being replaced by wheat-summer crop-fallow rotations. Is more intensive cropping feasible with concurrent increases in no-till? Objectives of this research were to quantify soil water storage, crop water use, and crop productivity of 4-year and continuous cropping systems.

High Yielding Soybean: Genetic Gain And Nitrogen Limitation, O. A. Ortez, F. Salvagiotti, J. M. Enrico, E. A. Adee, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The United States and Argentina account for more than 50% of the global soybean production. Closing yield gaps (actual on-farm yield vs. genetic yield potential) would require an improvement in the use of the available resources. Overall, 50-60% of soybean nitrogen (N) demand is usually met by the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) process. A scientific knowledge gap still exists related to the ability of the BNF process to satisfy soybean N demand at varying yield levels. The overall objective of this project is to study the contribution of N via utilization of varying N strategies under historical and modern soybean …

Effects Of Nitrogen In Soybean Seed Quality Definition During Seed-Filling Period, S. Tamagno, E. A. Adee, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

During the seed filling period (SFP), parallel to the seed changes, translocation of assimilates and nutrients takes place from different plant organs to the seed in order to provide sufficient supply for the seed storage components (i.e., starch, oil, and protein) that ultimately will determine the seed quality. There are two processes that define the final seed weight in any crop: 1) the amount of dry mass deposited per unit of time (rate) and 2) the duration of this process from beginning of seed formation to physiological maturity. As seed number is defined, any source limitation during the SFP can …

Effect Of Management Practices On Double-Crop Soybean Yields, D. S. S. Hansel, J. Kimball, D. E. Shoup, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Double-crop soybean has great potential to increase profits and the use of agricultural land. However, there is a gap between double-crop versus full-season soybean yields. To address this yield difference, a study evaluating different management practices on double-crop soybean was conducted. A four-site-year experiment was conducted at Ottawa, KS, during the 2016 and 2017 growing season. In both years, the soybean variety planted was Asgrow 4232 (MG 4.2). The soybean was planted right after two different wheat harvest timings (Study 1, early-wheat harvest 18–20%; and Study 2, conventional-harvest 13–14%). Seven treatments were evaluated in each of the soybean planting dates: …

Soybean Evaluation Of Inoculation: A Three-Year Summary, M. A. Secchi, T. M. Albuquerque, O. A. Ortez, G. I. Carmona, J. Kimball, E. A. Adee, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The relationships between soybean (Glycine max) seed yield and response to nitrogen (N) fertilization have received considerable coverage in scientific literature. This project aims to quantify the response to inoculation for soybean in a field without previous history of this crop (20 years). To address this objective, field studies were conducted during the 2015, 2016, and 2017 growing seasons at the East Central Experiment Field, Ottawa, KS. The treatments consisted of five different N-management approaches: non-inoculated (NI), inoculation at the recommended commercial rate (I1), a double rate of inoculation (I2), a triple rate of inoculation (I3), and non-inoculated …

Best Management Systems To Intensify Soybean Production, G. R. Balboa, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The aim of this study was to evaluate different management systems to close the yield gap in soybean production. A soybean experiment was established in Scandia, KS, evaluating five management systems under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. For the 2017 season, dryland and irrigated average yields were similar (63–65 bu/a) due to herbicide injury on the irrigated phase. In both water scenarios, intensification (high input) increased yields compared with common practice (low input) systems. Under irrigation, a consistent response to a balanced nutrition program was documented.

Impact On Soybean Yield From Sudden Death Syndrome And Soybean Planting Date, E. A. Adee, C. Little, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is a disease caused by the soilborne fungusFusarium virguliforme. This fungus prefers wet conditions and thus is usually most severe in irrigated fields. SDS tends to be most severe on well-managed soybeans with a high yield potential. It also tends to be more prevalent on fields that are infested with soybean cyst nematode (SCN) or planted early when soils are wet and cool. Historical yield losses from this disease are generally in the range of 1–25%.

Soybean planting dates have been moving increasingly earlier in much of the soybean growing region, including Kansas. Yield …

Reducing The Wheat Yield Gap Through Variety-Specific Management, A. De Oliveira Silva, A. K. Fritz, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In Kansas, wheat yields have been nearly stagnant at approximately 40 bu/a for the past 30 years, which corresponds to a yield gap (the difference between average producer yield and yield potential) of approximately 35 bu/a relative to the state average yield potential of ~75 bu/a. Our objective was to continue investigation on the influence of varieties with different genetic and agronomic characteristics and management practices on grain yield to demonstrate that appropriate variety-specific management can help producers to achieve long-term profitability in a sustainable manner. The Kansas State University wheat variety performance tests (VPT) evaluate 35–50 varieties in more …

Evaluating Teff Grass As A Summer Forage, J. M. Davidson, D. Min, R. M. Aiken, G. J. Kluitenberg

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objectives of this study were to determine the forage yield, nutritive value, and water use efficiency of teff grass (Eragrostis tef) under field conditions as compared to sorghum sudangrass and forage pearl millet. Water use efficiency was determined by regressing above-ground biomass on crop water use between sampling periods. Yield was determined by quadrat area clippings of above-ground biomass. Nutritive value was determined using wet chemical analysis. Cultivars showed significant differences in biomass production at all sampling dates in both years. Teff grass demonstrated potential to provide producers with a fast-growing and competitive forage crop by reaching …

Tillage Study For Corn And Soybeans: Comparing Vertical, Deep, And No-Tillage, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Trends from a tillage study conducted since 2011 are beginning to show that corn yields are greater when there is an occasional deep tillage. The yield of soybeans have not been affected significantly by tillage systems ranging from no-till to conventional tillage every year.

Palmer Amaranth Populations From Kansas With Multiple Resistance To Glyphosate, Chlorsulfuron, Mesotrione, And Atrazine, V. Kumar, P. W. Stahlman, G. Boyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) Palmer amaranth poses a serious management concern for growers across the United States. Since 2014, several Palmer amaranth populations with suspected resistance to most commonly used herbicides were collected in random field surveys across Kansas. This study aimed to characterize the resistance levels to glyphosate (EPSPS inhibitor), mesotrione (HPPD inhibitor), chlorsulfuron (ALS inhibitor), and atrazine (PS II inhibitor) in three suspected MHR Palmer amaranth populations (KW2, PR8, and BT12) compared to a known herbicide-susceptible (SUS) population. Dose-response studies revealed that PR8 and BT12 populations had 7- to 14-fold level resistance to glyphosate, and up to 12-fold level …

Variable Response Of Kochia Accessions To Dicamba And Fluroxypyr In Western Kansas, V. Kumar, P. W. Stahlman, R. Currie, R. Engel, G. Boyer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The rapid development of glyphosate resistance in kochia has increased the use of auxinic herbicides (dicamba and fluroxypyr) in the US Great Plains, including Kansas. Increasing reliance on auxinic herbicides for controlling glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia may also enhance the evolution of resistance to these herbicide chemistries. The main objectives of this research were to (1) investigate the variation in kochia response to dicamba and fluroxypyr, and (2) characterize the dicamba resistance levels among progeny of kochia accessions collected from western Kansas. Greenhouse experiments were conducted at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS. Discriminate-dose studies with field-use …

Timing And Positioning Of Simulated Hail Damage Effects On Wheat Yield In Kansas: 2015–2016 And 2016–2017 Growing Seasons, R. P. Lollato, A. De Oliveira Silva, R. E. Maeoka, G. P. Bavia, L. Bonassi, B. R. Jaenisch

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hail events often decrease wheat yields in Kansas; however, estimates of yield loss due to hail event timing and position relative to the flag leaf are only available for older varieties. Our objectives were to quantify wheat yield losses as affected by timing of hail event relative to the crop development and positioning of the damage relative to the flag leaf. A total of 14 hail damage treatments including seven different timings during the growing season (boot, anthesis, watery ripe, milk, soft dough, hard dough, and ripe) and two different positioning relative to the flag leaf (above or below) were …

Wheat Development And Yield As Affected By Era Of Variety Release And In-Furrow Fertilizer, R. E. Maeoka, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nutrients play a major role in wheat yield determination; however, limited informa­tion exists on the differential responses of historical and modern varieties to in-furrow fertilizer. Our objectives were to estimate grain yield and differences in agronomic traits of historical and modern winter wheat varieties as affected by different fertilization programs. Two field trials were established during the growing season 2016–2017 (i.e., Ashland Bottoms and Belleville, KS). Seven winter wheat varieties released between 1920 and 2016–Kharkof (1920), Scout 66 (1966), Karl 92 (1988), Jagalene (2001), Fuller (2006), KanMark (2014), and Larry (2016)–were sown using one of two different fertilizer practices: either …

Wheat Variety Response To Seeding Rate In Kansas During The 2015–2016 And 2016– 2017 Growing Seasons, R. P. Lollato, G. Zhang, B. R. Jaenisch, R. Maeoka, L. Bonassi, A. K. Fritz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Plant density is among the major factors determining a crop’s ability to capture resources such as water, nutrients, and solar radiation; therefore, different wheat varieties might require different seeding densities to maximize yield. The objective of this project was to better understand the response of different wheat varieties to seeding rate. Two field experiments were conducted during 2015–2016 and repeated during 2016–2017, evaluating seven wheat varieties subjected to five different seeding rates (0.6, 0.95, 1.3, 1.65, and 2.0 million seeds/a). Crop was managed for a 70 bu/a yield goal and pests were controlled using commercially available pesticides. Final stand and …

Weather Information For Tribune, H. D. Bond, J. Slattery

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summary of weather for research conducted at the Tribune field location.

Weather Information For Garden City, 2017, J. Elliott

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Summary of weather for research conducted at the Garden City field location.