MF2908 Rotations and Cultural Practices

Rotations and Cultural Practices

o-till farming has gained wide- Increased cropping intensity can be adequate surface or internal drainage, spread acceptance with the devel- accomplished by double cropping or most producers should see improved Nopment of improved equipment and increasing the use of summer crops in weed control, soil health, and nutrition; broad-spectrum herbicides. The benefits rotation with wheat or other small grains fewer soilborne insect and soilborne of no-till include: by eliminating or shortening fallow disease problems; and more production periods. Intensified cultural practices per acre per year. Some advantages of • Reduced soil erosion (e.g. higher populations, narrower row no-till are apparent immediately, but • Improved soil quality spacings, and higher fertility rates) or changes in soil structure and organic • Greater yields where inadequate soil intensified management of other inputs matter take time. The full advantage of moisture is a limiting factor (e.g. micronutrients, herbicides, insec- no-till may not be realized for several • Time savings ticides, and fungicides) can be coupled years. Long-term comparisons of with increasing cropping intensity or conventional and no-tillage systems • Less labor requirement applied to an existing cropping intensity in a wheat/sorghum/fallow rotation at • Possibility for increased cropping to increase overall production. Tribune, Kansas showed greater yields intensity in no-till after several years of consecu- No-till often increases the amount of • Possibility for reduced equipment tive no-till production than during the available soil moisture throughout the costs first few years after transitioning from growing season. If crops do not use the a conventional to a no-tillage system A crop rotation system with optimal extra water, it can cause problems, such (Table 1). intensity and diversity is important for as increased weed growth, delayed plant- success with no-till. Without a suffi- ing, poor germination conditions, side- Producers will need to tailor their crop ciently intense cropping system, no-till wall compaction, an increase in disease rotation to soil types and productivity may not be profitable. Likewise, cropping potential, or saline seep formation. potentials. No-till may involve more systems that are too intensive can fail advanced planning than other tillage With an appropriately intense and without no-till or some other high-res- systems in order to reap the full benefits. idue production system in regions such diverse crop rotation system on soils with as central and western Kansas that are Table 1. Sorghum and wheat yields over time in conventional-till, reduced-till, prone to moisture stress. and no-till. What is cropping intensity? It is the Wheat/Sorghum/Fallow Rotation: Western Kansas amount of production per acre farmed Southwest Research-Extension Center, Tribune over an extended period. Examples Grain Sorghum Yield (bushels/acre) include: Tillage System 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2006 Average 1. Wheat, summer crop, fallow rota- Conventional-till 33 58 15 34 tion (two crops in 3 years) Reduced-till 51 88 26 53 2. Wheat fallow rotation (one crop in No-till 50 103 52 67 2 years) Wheat Yield (bushels/acre) 3. Double cropping a row crop fol- Tillage System 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2006 Average lowing winter wheat (two crops in Conventional-till 36 40 12 28 1 year) Reduced-till 36 49 15 32 No-till 39 54 20 36 Source: Schlegel, A.J., L. Stone, T.J. Dumler, and C.R. Thompson. 2007. K-State Report of Progress 980

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service Important Factors When high-rainfall areas, it may be necessary establishment. Occasionally convention- Planning Crop Rotations to cultivate during the growing season ally tilled soil will have greater stand to dry out the soil and improve water establishment than no-till because seed Potential profitability and infiltration rates where wet soils may can be placed deeper. availability of markets otherwise seal over. Winter cover crops may remove excess soil moisture to allow Crop types, rotations, It is difficult to predict market prices 2 to timely planting. and sequences 3 years in advance, but experience can be used as a guide to the potential profit- Keeping the soil surface covered with a Several long-term studies in Kansas have ability of various crop options in a given crop as often as possible in a no-till crop- demonstrated the importance of crop area. If new crops are being considered, ping system will help use soil moisture rotation for successful no-till. More than factors such as market availability, the for income-producing plants rather 30 years of yield results from a rotation need for on-farm storage, and transpor- than weeds. Soil residue cover reduces and tillage study at Manhattan showed tation cost must be considered. soil water evaporation and can increase consistently greater yields for soybeans, the amount of moisture available near sorghum, and wheat in rotation com- Cropping intensity the soil surface. Under dry conditions pared to growing the same crop every year in no-till (Figure 1). A 10-year study Cropping intensity refers to the amount and high winds, the upper soil surface at Hesston revealed the importance of of production per acre farmed per year. of no-till fields can dry out and reduce crop sequence and rotation for no-till Double cropping and shortening or germination and stand establishment wheat. Wheat rotated with corn or eliminating fallow periods are two of the of crops, a problem that can occur in soybeans yielded more than continuous primary means of intensifying rotations. western Kansas. Under very dry soil conditions, planting with a hoe opener wheat, but rotating with sorghum was no In western Kansas, no-till might allow or using a coulter can improve seedling better than continuous wheat (Figure 2). rotations to be intensified consider- ably compared to tillage-based, wheat/ Figure 1. Crop yield response to rotation in no-till, 31-year averages, Manhattan, Kansas. fallow systems. In many years, it may be 120 possible to shorten or eliminate fallow periods with a no-till system because 100 of improved moisture conditions. High No Rotation residue, no-till cropping systems that SB/WT 80 include proper weed control, plant- SB/GS ing rates, and planting methods have facilitated the resurgence of dryland corn 60 production in western Kansas, providing another warm-season crop option. In 40 regions prone to moisture stress, includ-

ing a forage crop or short season grain (bushels/acre) Yield crop in the rotation might provide the 20 correct balance for increasing cropping intensity yet maintaining a fallow period 0 to replenish soil moisture capture. Figure 2. Wheat yieldSoybean in no-till, 10-year averages,Wheat Hesston, Kansas. Sorghum In central Kansas, greater soil moisture 70 will allow more double cropping of row crops following wheat and wheat planted 60 behind row crops. In eastern Kansas, rotation systems for 50 no-till, minimum-till, and conventional- 40 till may be similar, but cultural practices might need to be modified in no-till. 30 For example, producers might need to use higher seeding rates or narrower row 20 spacing to effectively use the higher soil (bushels/acre) Yield moisture levels in no-till. On soils with 10 poor surface and internal drainage in 0 Wheat/Wheat Wheat/Corn Wheat/Sorghum Wheat/Soybean

2 No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices Another study at Hesston that exam- Figure 3. Crop yield response to previous crop in no-till, 3-year averages, Hesston, Kansas. ined a greater number of crops and 120 crop sequences in no-till indicated that sorghum following wheat or soybeans 100 was superior to following sorghum. Corn After Wheat following wheat or double-crop soybeans 80 After DC-Soybean was better than following soybeans or After Soybean sorghum. Wheat planted immediately 60 After DC-Sorghum after soybean harvest yielded more than After Sorghum wheat after corn, which was better than 40 After Corn after sunflowers (Figure 3). Soybean Yield (bushels/acre) Yield After Sun ower yields were relatively insensitive to the 20 previous crop in this study. Similar trends were observed for western Kansas with 0 wheat and sorghum in a 10-year study at Sorghum Soybean Wheat Corn Tribune (Figure 4). Cover crops planted during the fallow period following wheat Figure 4. Crop yield response to previous crop in no-till, 3-year averages, Hesston, Kansas. harvest or over the winter following 80 summer-crop harvest may help increase diversity as well as provide additional 70 After Wheat residue, capture nutrients for cycling to a 60 following crop, and accumulate nitrogen After Sorghum for a following crop if a legume is used. 50 After Fallow 40 Although the no-till system might more readily allow for the establishment of 30 Yield (bushels/acre) Yield perennial weeds compared to conven- 20 tional-tillage, increasing the diversity of crop types and length of rotations 10 will help with weed control. Rotating 0 between winter annual and summer Wheat Sorghum annual crops and between grass and broadleaf crops will disrupt seed produc- grass weeds because of additional herbi- Chemical Weed Control for Field Crops, tion and survival of both annual and cide options. Using crop diversity along Pastures, Rangeland, and Noncropland perennial weeds. with other cultural practices designed to and K-State Research and Extension Research has shown that a 2-year minimize weed production has allowed publication MF-2339, Weed Control in rotation consisting of a warm-season some producers to reduce herbicide Dryland Cropping Systems. followed by a cool-season crop decreases usage by 50 percent compared to their weed density compared to planting the initial no-till rotations. Water use requirements same crop every year. However, a 4-year Some crops require much more water rotation involving two different cool- Herbicide requirements, modes than others. Use a crop rotation that season crops followed by two different of action, and potential carryover matches crop water use with available warm-season crops had a 13-fold greater considerations soil moisture. It is best to use crops decline in weed density over time com- Crop rotations provide an excellent with a high water requirement where pared to the 2-year rotation in no-till. opportunity to rotate herbicides with it is anticipated that soil water will be adequate or excessive much of the time. Diversity within a crop type provides different modes of action. As rota- Corn is an example of a high water use additional opportunities to disrupt weed tions become more complex, however, crop and barley is an example of a low life cycles. For example, both corn and producers will have to pay closer atten- water use crop (Table 2). grain sorghum are summer annual grass tion to herbicide carryover restric- crops, but the later planting date for tions. Environmental factors that affect Residue characteristics and herbicide carryover include soil mois- sorghum provides an additional opportu- management nity for controlling late-emerging weeds ture, soil type, pH, organic matter, and before planting. Canola is being used tillage system. For more information on Certain crops, such as corn and winter successfully in wheat-dominated crop- herbicides and carryover concerns, see wheat, typically produce abundant ping systems for better control of cheat, the most current edition of the K-State residue that persists for long periods. downy brome, and other winter annual Research and Extension publication Other crops, such as soybeans, offer

No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices 3 relatively little long-lasting residue. Table 2. Crop types and characteristics. Rotate low-residue and high-residue Residue levels/ crops to maintain moderate soil cover. Water Snow catch The greater the residue level, the cooler Crop Type Season requirement potential the surface soil temperatures will be in Alfalfa Broadleaf Warm-season High Variable (depends spring. on stubble height) In areas with significant snowfall, it is Barley Grass Cool-season Low Intermediate best to leave residue standing to catch Canola Broadleaf Cool-season Intermediate Intermediate snow. Standing residue is also important Corn Grass Warm-season High High for control of wind erosion. Stripper headers are designed to maximize the Cotton Broadleaf Warm-season High Low amount of standing stubble and stubble Grain sorghum Grass Warm-season Intermediate High height. Both of these factors increase Hairy vetch Broadleaf Cool-season Intermediate High snow catch and the effectiveness of Oats Grass Cool-season Low Intermediate stubble for controlling wind erosion. Studies at Tribune, Kansas have shown Pearl millet Grass Warm-season Intermediate High greater row crop yields following wheat Proso millet Grass Warm-season Low Intermediate cut with a stripper header compared to Smooth brome Grass Cool-season Intermediate High following wheat cut with a conventional Soybean Broadleaf Warm-season High Low header. However, no yield advantage for row crops following wheat cut with a Sunflower Broadleaf Warm-season Intermediate Intermediate stripper header was detected in similar Wheat Grass Cool-season Intermediate High studies at Garden City, Kansas. Uniform distribution of crop residue tillage is reduced or eliminated, there is scab since the source of inoculum comes is critical for no-till success. Uneven greater reliance on herbicides and crop from corn residue on the soil surface. swaths of chaff or straw can interfere rotation for weed control. Because of with planter and herbicide performance. the need for timeliness and flexibility in Western Kansas herbicide application, many producers Variable residue distribution will cause In western Kansas, the standard dryland find it advantageous to own spraying non-uniform germination and emer- cropping system for many years has equipment. gence, leading to variability in plant size been wheat/fallow, using sweep tillage and development, a greater contributor Some weeds such as tumble windmill to maintain the fallow. Wheat/fallow to yield reductions than nonuniform grass or red threeawn are not susceptible is neither intensive enough nor diverse plant spacing. to glyphosate or ALS herbicides, and enough for no-till, for the following Uniform field operations no-till producers often require an under reasons: cutter to manage small patches of these • There are few inexpensive, long- Conduct all field operations (planting, weeds. An under cutter causes minimal residual herbicides available to spraying, harvesting, manure applica- soil disturbance and is an effective tool replace tillage and keep weeds con- tions, etc.) so that each pass is as uniform against these grass weeds since they are trolled during the 14-month fallow as possible. With no-till, the “leveling” shallow rooted. effect that tillage provides is not present. period between wheat crops. Some producers control traffic paths Disease and insect problems • Producing a crop every other year so that each field operation follows the In most cases, disease and insect prob- often cannot generate enough same wheel track, minimizing the area lems are less severe where crops are income to support the repeated use subject to possible compaction. This rotated than in continuous monocul- of nonresidual herbicides during is especially important if field opera- ture cropping systems. Rotations often the fallow period. Wheat often does tions must take place when soil mois- decrease the incidence of gray leaf spot not respond as much as summer ture content is greater than desired, for and corn rootworms in corn; sooty stripe row crops to increased soil mois- example to assure a timely herbicide in grain sorghum; Phytophthora root rot ture because of other limitations, application or to apply a fungicide within in soybeans; and take-all, tan spot, and such as hot weather in spring and a narrow window of crop development. Stagonospora and Septoria leaf blotch a relatively short period between flowering and grain fill. However, Equipment needs in wheat. There are some cases, though, where problems can occur in a no-till long-term research at Tribune has When planning a crop rotation system, rotation. For example, wheat following found no-till wheat to yield more producers should determine if special- corn may have an increased risk for head on average than conventional-till ized equipment will be needed. As wheat.

4 No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices • The 14-month fallow period ineffi- Crops that follow sunflowers may suffer It may be necessary to have both winter ciently stores soil moisture. In a no- more drought stress than following other and summer crops in a rotation. In many till system, soil moisture in wheat crops, especially in dry years. cases, double cropping sorghum, various stubble is often replenished within summer annual forages, soybeans, or No-till generally shows a significant 6 months, provided the weeds sunflowers after wheat can be successful if yield advantage for corn in a wheat/corn/ have been controlled and rainfall is done under no-till conditions and there is fallow rotation (Norwood and Currie, average. enough plant-available moisture at plant- 1998). A similar response has been seen ing with favorable growing season condi- Over the past 15 years, there has been in sorghum (Figure 4). No-till improves tions. Standing wheat stubble that is not an increase in ecofallow systems such as water use efficiency by 23 percent for double cropped often produces a good wheat/sorghum/fallow or wheat/corn/ corn and 8 percent for grain sorghum crop of weeds that must be controlled. If fallow. This allows the use of long-resid- (Table 3). Tillage systems generally there is enough moisture for weeds, there ual, atrazine-based herbicides during the have shown little or no effect on wheat is enough to produce a crop that could be fallow period ahead of sorghum or corn. yields in wheat/row crop/fallow, but a sold or used as animal feed. Producing a This rotation system has several advan- modest increase in wheat yields has been short-season forage crop can take advantages over a wheat/fallow system: observed in a wheat/row crop/fallow tage of extra soil water in the system with rotation after the initial 5 to 6 years of • Better moisture storage less risk of the crop having moisture stress using no-till in a long-term rotation • More surface residue to protect compared to producing a grain crop. study at Tribune. against wind and water erosion Planting wheat directly after a row crop • Better overall water use efficiency by Central Kansas is also possible. Normally, most of the decreasing evaporation and increas- rainfall in central Kansas occurs in early Continuous wheat, using various tillage- ing plant transpiration summer. In a conventional- or minimum- based systems, has been practiced for • Improved profit potential till system, more of this rainfall is lost many years throughout central Kansas. as runoff compared to a no-till system. • Improved winter annual weed Tillage is not free — it costs time and Reducing soil water runoff increases the control fuel and loses moisture to evaporation. amount of moisture stored for establish- With no-till, rotations that are even With no-till, it is essential to increase ing wheat. No-till saves time and mois- more intensive are possible for western rotation intensity compared to tillage- ture when planting wheat soon after the Kansas (O’Brien, 1998). Examples based systems to utilize the additional harvest of a row crop. There are seldom include: stored moisture. Continuous no-till any important weeds in row crop stubble wheat has generally been less successful • Wheat/Corn/Sorghum/Fallow that would be a problem for wheat, due to problems with winter annual grass so there is little reason to till for weed • Wheat/Sorghum/Sunflower/Fallow weeds (rye, bromes, cheat) and diseases. control purposes. Sometimes soybean The increased soil moisture associated • Wheat/Wheat/Corn/Sorghum/ stubble contains henbit or mustards, with no-till production does not provide Fallow which should be controlled with appro- enough benefit to wheat to overcome priate herbicides. In western Kansas, dryland soybean the problems associated with continuous yields are erratic, even under no-till con- wheat in a no-till system. Producers should be cautioned, however, ditions. Long-term research in Garden that planting wheat soon after a row City, Hays, and western Nebraska show that soybean yields typically range from Table 3. Soil water content and water use efficiency in conventional-till and no-till. 20 to 25 bushels per acre (Wicks, 1991). Wheat/Row Crop/Fallow Rotations: Western Kansas Late August rains have a major influ- Southwest Research-Extension Center, Garden City 1991-1995 ence on soybean yields. Regardless of Soil water content (inches in 6-ft. profile) at: the observed erratic yields, some farmers Corn Sorghum Sorghum have incorporated soybeans into their Tillage System planting planting Corn harvest harvest crop rotation due to the rotational benefits for the next crop and the ease of Conventional-till 7.9 9.1 3.4 2.6 planting into soybean residue. No-till 9.2 10.5 3.8 2.9 Sunflowers are a good option for many Water use efficiency (bu/inch) in western Kansas. They extract water Grain from greater depths in the soil profile Tillage System Corn sorghum than other crops. If sunflower popula- Conventional-till 4.0 4.0 tions are high enough and the stalks No-till 4.9 4.3 remain standing over the winter, sun- Source: Norwood, C.A. and R..S. Currie, J. Prod. Agric. 10: 152-157 (1997) flower stalks can effectively catch snow.

No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices 5 crop carries a risk of crop failure. Soil Long-term research at the Harvey drainage. Being located in the highest types and capability classes are important County Experiment Field in Hesston, on annual rainfall region of Kansas, these considerations. In an unusually dry fall, silty clay loam soils, has compared several soils stay wet and remain cool longer it may be better to leave the field fallow different tillage systems on yields in a in the spring than soils in most other over winter and plant a row crop the fol- wheat/grain sorghum rotation (Claassen, regions of Kansas. Where both internal lowing spring. 1996). Sorghum and wheat yields were and surface drainage are poor, an occa- similar in all tillage systems. sional tillage operation allows moisture Some rotations for use in no-till systems to evaporate from the claypan soils and in central Kansas include: Eastern Kansas promote soil warming. • Corn/Soybeans On well-drained soils in eastern Kansas, In full-season row crops, a single cultiva- • Sorghum/Soybeans yields are usually about the same for all tion 3 to 4 weeks after planting on these • Sorghum/Cotton tillage systems with good management problem soils will generally improve • Wheat/Double-cropped Sorghum/ practices and appropriate rotations. yields by breaking the surface and allow- ing air to get into the soil and stimulate Soybeans/Sorghum/Soybeans/ On soils with poor internal and surface root development. Cultivation also can Wheat drainage, yields have been about the increase water infiltration and reduce • Wheat/Double-cropped Soybeans/ same or lower with no-till. Research at runoff during the growing season on Corn/Wheat the East Central Experiment Field in soils that have sealed over from earlier Ottawa, on somewhat poorly drained • Wheat/Corn/Soybeans/Wheat rainfall events. Cultivation, however, clay loam soils, has compared yields of • Wheat/Sorghum/Soybeans/Wheat can reduce the effectiveness of surface- corn and soybeans under no-till and applied residual herbicide. • Wheat/Double-cropped Sorghum/ chisel-till conditions. Corn yields were Corn/Soybeans-Wheat slightly lower with no-till. Soybean Soils in this region typically have low • Wheat/Double-cropped Soybeans/ yields were not affected by tillage. pH and are often low in phosphorus and Sorghum/Wheat occasionally potassium. Correct soil pH by Rotations improve yields compared to incorporating lime before the initiation of • Wheat/Double-cropped Sunflower/ continuous cropping. Grain sorghum no-till. For best results, knife all fertilizer Corn/Soybeans/Wheat in a sorghum/soybean rotation has had into the soil under no-till conditions. Place • Wheat/Sorghum/Fallow higher yields than continuous sorghum phosphorus in the root zone to maximize (Gordon, 1996; Kelley, 1998). There • Wheat/Canola/Sorghum plant uptake. Applying phosphorus with is about a 10 percent yield advantage • Wheat/Wheat/Canola/Corn the planter to the side and below the seed to corn in a corn/soybean rotation as • Wheat/Wheat/Corn/Corn (or other is an efficient way to accomplish this. opposed to continuous corn. stacked combinations); are being Liquid nitrogen (UAN) broadcast on used, but would be more effec- Southeast Kansas no-till fields in southeastern Kansas has tive with greater crop diversity, e.g. resulted in lower yields than other nitrogen Wheat/Canola/Corn/Sorghum Long-term research at the Southeast sources or placement methods. How often should wheat be included in Agricultural Research Center in Parsons a nonirrigated, no-till rotation in central on a thin claypan soil has shown that Cultural Practices yield response to tillage system depends Kansas? Under normal moisture condi- Seeding rates tions, it may be more profitable to remain on crop and crop sequence. No-till in a corn/soybean or sorghum/soybean results in lower grain sorghum yields In general, there is no need to increase rotation as long as possible, using (Sweeney, 1998). However, full-season seeding rates beyond the normal recom- fuller-season varieties and managing for soybean and wheat yields have not been mended range with no-till. At times, ger- maximum row-crop yields. Under good affected by tillage system (Sweeney, mination and emergence can be greater moisture conditions, however, producers 1999; Kelley and Sweeney, 2007). No-till in no-till due to the greater amount of may want to plant a wheat crop between double-crop soybean yields have been moisture near the soil surface compared row crops. Planting a mixture of fall equal to or greater than with disking. to tilled seedbeds. However, an exception and summer crops also will help control Double-crop soybean yields have been may be warranted when farmers are using weeds, diseases, and insects, and provides greater when corn or sorghum was a new drill in no-till. Farmers may want crops to sell during different times of the planted before the preceding wheat to use slightly higher seeding rates the year, reducing marketing risk. Wheat has crop rather than soybeans (Kelley and first couple of years until they are sure the been shown to perform better following Sweeney, 2007). new drill is providing adequate seed-soil contact for optimum stand establishment. soybeans or corn than following grain Upland soils in the area south of the Regardless of equipment, it is a good sorghum (Claassen, 2006). Kansas River and east of the Flint Hills idea to use the high end of the range of are primarily claypan, with poor internal recommended seeding rates in no-till.

6 No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices Planting dates herbicide programs will result in better Kelley, K.W. 1998. Comparison of soybean There is no need to change planting weed control and less risk of developing and grain sorghum cropping sequences. dates because of the tillage system used. herbicide-resistant weed populations. 1998 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center, K-State However, adequate canola growth and Report of Progress 809. development is critical for successful over Cultivation Kelley, K.W. and D.W. Sweeney. 1998. wintering, so planting at the early end On well-drained soils, inter-row cultiva- Effects of previous crop and tillage on soy- of the recommended range is advised tion is not generally recommended for bean yield. 1998 Agricultural Research, for no-till. For spring crops, soils may no-till. On soils with poor surface and Southeast Agricultural Research remain wetter and cooler later in the internal drainage (i.e. high clay content), Center, K-State Report of Progress 809. spring, which can delay planting and a single cultivation 3 to 4 weeks after Kelley, K.W. and D.W. Sweeney. 2007. seedling emergence. It is critical not to planting will generally improve yields. In Effects of cropping systems on winter plant in no-till when soils are too wet to these cases, cultivation breaks the surface wheat and double-crop soybean yield. avoid sidewall compaction, poor stands, and allows better infiltration and it 2007. Agricultural Research, Southeast and poor root development. allows air into the soil for root develop- Agricultural Research Center, K-State Report of Progress 979. ment. Cultivation also may be necessary Row spacing when perennial weeds such as windmill Logsdon, S.D., T.C. Kaspar, D.W. Meek, and J.H. Prueger. 2002. Nitrate leaching grass invade no-till fields. Current herbi- There may be some weed control advan- as influenced by cover crops in large soil tages to be gained from narrower row cides are typically ineffective in control- monoliths. Agron. J. 94:807–814. ling this weed once established. spacings later in the season. Otherwise, Nielsen, R.L. 2001. Stand establishment tillage systems should have no effect on variability in corn. Purdue University row spacing decisions. References Dept. of Agronomy publication and additional resources AGRY-91-01. Fertilization Norwood, C.A. 1998. Yield of no-till dry- Additional nitrogen will likely be Anderson, R.L. 2005. A multi-tactic land corn as affected by hybrid, planting approach to manage weed population date, and plant population. Southwest required for about the first few years of dynamics in crop rotations. Agron. J. transitioning from conventional till to Research-Extension Center Field Day 97:1579-1583. 1998, K-State Report of Progress 814. no-till or until enough residue is broken Claassen, M.M. 2006. Reduced tillage down and the nitrogen in the residue is Norwood, C.A. and R.S. Currie. 1998. and crop rotation systems with wheat, An agronomic and economic comparison mineralized or made available to suc- grain sorghum, corn, and soybeans. Field of the wheat-corn-fallow and wheat- ceeding crops. Placing starter fertilizer Research 2006, K-State Report of sorghum-fallow rotations. J. Prod. Agric. near the seed can improve yields in Progress 975. 11:67-73. no-till and reduce the nutrients available Claassen, M.M. and D.L. Regehr. 2006. Norwood, C.A. and R.S. Currie. 1997. for weed growth. However, if farmers No-till crop rotation effects on wheat, Dryland corn vs. grain sorghum in west- wish to increase the organic matter in the corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, and sun- ern Kansas. J. Prod. Agric. 10:152-157. soil over time, higher rates of nitrogen flowers. Field Research 2006, K-State Report of Progress 975. O’Brien, D., J. Sartwelle, C.R. Thompson, will need to be used. R. Brown, and A.J. Schlegel. 1998. Claassen, M.M. 1996. Effects of reduced Managing intensive nonirrigated crop- Hybrid/variety selection tillage and crop rotation on wheat and ping systems in western Kansas. Kansas grain sorghum. Field Research 1996, With no-till, “emergence” and “early State University Cooperative Extension K-State Report of Progress 762. Service, Publication MF-2317. season vigor” ratings become increasingly Dhuyvetter, K.C., C.R. Thompson, C.S. important traits in hybrid/variety selec- Peterson, G.A., D.G. Westfall, L. Sherrod, Norwood, and A.D. Halvorson. 1996. D. Poss, K. Larson, D.L. Thompson, tion. Some hybrids are more efficient in Economics of dryland cropping systems and L.R. Ahuja. 1998. Tech. Bull. using starter fertilizers than others and in the Great Plains. J. Prod. Agric. TB98-1, Colorado State University and may have an advantage in no-till systems. 9:216-222. Agric. Exp. Stn., Ft. Collins. Herbicide resistance traits provide cost- Gordon, W.B., D.A. Whitney, D.L. Fjell, Schlegel, A.J., T.J. Dumler, and C.R. effective, post-emergence weed control and K.C. Dhuyvetter. 1996. Effects of Thompson. 2007. Four-year crop rota- options for no-till production systems, cropping system and nitrogen fertilization tions with wheat and grain sorghum. but do not use herbicides as a replace- on no-tillage production of grain sorghum. Southwest Research-Extension Center Field Research 1996, K-State ROP Field Day 2007, K-State Report of ment for crop rotation. These traits 787. and their associated herbicides must Progress 980. Janssen, K.A. 1998. Effects of subsoiling on Schlegel, A.J., L. Stone, T.J. Dumler, be managed carefully to slow or avoid performance of corn and soybean. Field development of herbicide-resistant weed and C.R. Thompson. 2007. Effect of Research 1998, K-State Report of tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghum- populations. Relying too heavily on one Progress 810. fallow rotation. Southwest Research- herbicide or class of herbicides usually Extension Center Field Day 2007, results in development of herbicide resis- K-State Report of Progress 980. tance. Diversified weed management and

No-Till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices 7 Strock, J.S., P.M. Porter, and M.P. Summary period before soil health and yield Russelle. 2004. Cover cropping to reduce n improvements are seen, and if no-till Benefits of no-till include: nitrate loss through subsurface drainage in wheat is not managed properly, it will the northern U.S. Corn Belt. J. Environ. • Reduced soil erosion likely not yield greater than conven- Qual. 33:1010–1016. • Greater yields where soil moisture is tional-till wheat. No-till increases the Sweeney, D.W. 1998. Effect of previous limiting success of increasing cropping inten- residue management systems on subse- quent grain sorghum production. 1998 • Time savings sity from a wheat/fallow rotation to a Agricultural Research, Southeast wheat/row crop/fallow rotation. • Possibilities for increased cropping n Agricultural Research Center, K-State intensity, resulting in more produc- In K-State research from central Report of Progress 809. tion per year Kansas, tillage has not affected yields Sweeney, D.W. 1999. Tillage and nitro- n of any crop. If cropping intensity In general, producers using no-till gen fertilization effects on yields in a increases with no-till, the result should be able to use a crop rotation grain sorghum-soybean rotation. 1999 would be an increase in production Agricultural Research, Southeast system at least as intensive as those per acre farmed. Agricultural Research Center, K-State used on similar soil types in conven- n Report of Progress 834. tional-till systems that receive 1 to 2 In K-State research from southeast Wicks, G.A. and R.N. Klein. 1991. inches of additional precipitation. Kansas on claypan soils, no-till has n resulted in lower yields for grain Feasibility of non-irrigated soybean Appropriate crop rotations and production in the semi-arid central Great sorghum. Tillage has not affected sequences tailored to fit precipitation Plains. Weed Technology 5:369-375. full-season soybean or wheat yields. and soil resources are critical for the n success of no-till. Cultural practices, such as fertility n rates, seeding rates, planting dates, In K-State research from western and variety selection, may need Kansas, no-till has often increased to be adjusted in a no-till system. yields of row crops. In some studies, Fertilization may need to be increased wheat yields have been greater with in the first few years after converting no-till and in others wheat yields have from conventional tillage. Canola is been unaffected by tillage. The benefit particularly sensitive to the interaction of no-till on wheat yields required of planting date and tillage. Wheat 5 years of consecutive no-till produc- varieties and corn hybrids with supe- tion before no-till out yielded conven- rior disease resistance should be used tional till. No-till requires a transition in high-residue situations.

Kraig Roozeboom Johnathon Holman Curtis Thompson Extension Specialist Cropping Systems Agronomist Extension Specialist Crop Production/Cropping Systems Southwest Research-Extension Center Weed Management

Doug Shoup Dallas Peterson Stewart Duncan SE Area Extension Specialist Weed Science Specialist NE Area Extension Specialist Crops and Soils Crops and Soils Brian Olson NW Area Extension Specialist Crops and Soils Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. Publications from Kansas State University are available at: www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Rozeboom et al., No-till in Kansas: Rotations and Cultural Practices, Kansas State University, October 2009. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service MF2908 October 2009 K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, John D. Floros, Director.