cropping

Tillage Intensity in a Long-Term Wheat- Sorghum-Fallow Rotation

Author

• • A. Schlegel
  • Kansas State University

Abstract

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 RT and 7 bu/a greater than CT. Grain sorghum yields in 2015 were 42 bu/a greater with long-term NT than short-term NT. Averaged across the past 15 years, sorghum yields with long-term NT have been nearly twice as great as short-term NT (64 vs. 35 bu/a).

Keywords: tillage intensity, wheat-sorghum-fallow rotation, reduced till, conventional till, no till

How to Cite: Schlegel, A. (2016) “Tillage Intensity in a Long-Term Wheat- Sorghum-Fallow Rotation”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports. 2(7). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1256