1. Cropping Systems In Northeast Oklahoma
Bob Woods
Area Extension Agronomy Specialist

2. NE Ag Statistics (2002 Census) 21 Northeast OK Counties
61% of the State’s Cow Calf Inventory
34 % of broilers in 7 counties (78,968,554 birds)
88,921 tons of litter
4.9 M $ of fertilizer nutrients
Enough to fertilize 44,460 Wheat A for 40 Bu yield goal
Farm size approximately ½ of State Average (200 vs. 400 Acres)

3. NE Ag Statistics (2006) 21 Northeast OK Counties
State
Acres
380,000
270,000
310,000
5,700,000
District
Acres
30,300
38,300
7,700
148,000
185,000
% of state
Acres 8 14 3 48
% of state
Production 7 11 5 55 3
Crop
Alfalfa
Corn
Grain Sorghum
Soybean
Wheat

4. Major Crops of Northeast OK
Forages Bermudagrass Fescue Native Range
Crops Wheat Soybeans Corn
Major Factors Climate Soil

5. 36”
42”
45”

6. Rainfall Comparisons 5 Counties

7. 67% > 12 inches
Average 13.65
84% > 10 inches

8. Rainfall Expectations
Fall - 6 inches (87%)
Winter – 4 inches (86%)
Spring – 10 inches (84%)
Summer – 8 inches (77%)
Total – 28 inches

10. Water Holding Capacity of Various Soils
Soil Type
Soil Depth (feet)
Total Water Holding Capacity (inches)
Water Holding Capacity (per foot)
Perc Rate Surface only (in/hr)
Taloka 5 10 2
0.6-2
Dennis 9
1.8
Bates
2.5
Parsons 4
8.2
1.4
Port
6.7 12
Verdigris 11
2.2
Osage
>5
9.9
2.0
0.2-.6
Choska
5.5
8.3
1.5
(Summarized from information found in NRCS Soil Surveys).

11. Soil Consideration 20 to 25 inches of water used by a corn crop
Transpiration April 1 to July 20, 2006 – (mesonet)
Approximately 1.8 inches of moisture retention capability per foot in a silt loam soil.

12. Soil Consideration Mason Soil - 9 in. H2O Retention
Taloka Soil in. H2O in the topsoil
Average Rainfall Mar. - July (Muskogee) inches
Transpiration 22 inches
Less Taloka 4 inches
Rainfall Needed 18 inches
Mason water retention estimate used in this example is to a depth of 60 inches.
Taloka is a good upland soil typical of the cherokee prairies. It has a topsoil depth of approximately 24 inches with an nderlying clay layer that has a very slow water infiltration rate and consequently this estimate is based only on the water retained in the top 24 inches.
With the water holding capacity of soil and a typical rainfall pattern reasonable corn yields can be expected.
Spring – 10 inches (84%)
Summer – 8 inches (77%)

13. In Eastern Oklahoma you are always 2 weeks away from a drought.
Notes from Dr. McMurphy’s Agron 3213 “Pasture Management and Forage Production”

14. Inherently low pH, phosphorus, and potassium
Soil Fertility
Inherently low pH, phosphorus, and potassium

15. Muskogee County pH 2006
362 samples
Range 4.2 – 7.7

16. Muskogee County P index 2006
362 samples
Range

17. Muskogee County K Index 2006
362 samples
Range 56 – 2301

18. No P and K

19. K Deficiencies

20. Bermudagrass/Fertilizer Demo. Mayes Co
Bermudagrass/Fertilizer Demo. Mayes Co. Fertilized May 12, Harvested August 5, 1997
Yield
lb./a
Nitrogen Rate

21. 61% of the State’s Cow/Calf Inventory
Bermudagrass/Fescue
Native Range
Legumes
Cool Season Annuals

22. Growth Distribution by Month

23. Nitrogen Fertilizer needed by different Management Schemes Using Introduced Forages
A/Cow Unit
10 – 14 5 4 3 2
1.5
Forage needed
Tons/A .6
1.2 – 1.6
1.5 – 2
2 – 2.7
3 – 4
4 – 5.3
N req.
Lbs/A
30 – 50
50 – 70
70 – 105
120 – 170
N req.
Lbs/cow
150 – 250
200 – 280
210 – 315
240 – 340
Reasonably Safe

24. Most Fescue
KY 31 E+

26. Cool Season Perennial Grass Trial
ERS
Planted 1996
Picture Taken Spring 2000

27. Rainfall for McIntosh County (1971-2000)
Fertilize Warm Season Grasses
Fertilize Introduced Pastures
Fertilize Cool
Season Grasses
Topdress Warm Season

28. Range Site Productivity McIntosh County Soil Survey - 1981
Range Site Normal Year
Claypan Prairie ,000 Deep Sand Savannah ,800 Loamy Prairie , Loamy Savannah , Sandy Savannah ,500 Shallow Claypan ,600 Shallow Prairie , Shallow Savannah ,000

29. Other Introduced Forages
Legumes (Attention to Management)
Ryegrass (We have fescue)
Wheat Pasture (We have mud issues due to perched water table in winter and spring)

30. Soybeans Early Planted April 1 to April 15 Maturity Groups III and IV
Harvest in August
Full Season
Planted in June
Maturity Groups IV, V, VI
Harvest in October
Double Crop after Wheat
Planted June 15 to July 5
Maturity Group V
Harvest in late October

31. Rainfall and Crop Management Early Planted Soybeans
Harvest

32. Rainfall and Crop Management Full Season and Double Cropped Soybeans
Plant
Harvest

33. Corn Plant near frost free date March 20 to April 5
105 to 120 day Hybrids
Mature August 1
Harvest in August

34. Rainfall and Crop Management Corn
Plant
Harvest
105 to 120 day corn

35. Crops don’t always follow the book

36. Why 105 to 120 days to maturity?
agweather.mesonet.org

37. GDD’s
April 1 – August 1, 2007

38. Wheat Less grazing (waterlogged soils)
Less ryegrass problem (rotation)
Higher yields (higher rainfall)
A good fit in the rotation

39. Cropping System in Northeast Oklahoma
Typical 3 crop 2 year Rotation
Plant Corn April 1, Harvest in Aug
Plant Wheat in Sept./Oct., Harvest in June
Plant Soybeans in June, Harvest in Oct./Nov

40. Cropping System in Northeast Oklahoma
Weed Control
Most Soybeans and Corn are RR
SU’s in wheat (?’s)
Rotation helps!!

41. No-Till in NE OK Motivation is not erosion or moisture conservation
Driving forces are labor, equipment, and timing
Continues to increase but slow because of problems caused by planting summer crops in cold wet soil

42. Other Crops
Vegetables – Greens, Cantaloupes, Watermelon, Squash, Green Beans, Purple Hull Peas
Grain Sorghum (if corn fails)
Alfalfa
Turf
Pecans
Canola

43. Cropping Systems in NE OK
Its all about fitting the crop to the climate and the soil!
With added factors such as, market, labor, tradition, etc.