1. No-Till Wheat and Grain Sorghum Rotations
Presented by Gary Strickland
Extension Educator, Agriculture
Jackson County

2. Why Residue Management is Important in Dryland Crop Production - Agronomically
Soil Erosion Prevention
Increased Soil Water Storage Capacity
Increased Water Infiltration Rates
Decreased Soil Evaporation Rates
Increase of In-Season Precipitation Use Efficiency
Increased Organic Matter Pool
Increased Cation Exchange Complex (CEC)
Increased Anion Exchange Complex (AEC)
Decrease in Soil Compaction in the Long Term

3. Some Previous Research Thoughts on Grain Sorghum and Wheat
Crop residues increased in season precipitation use efficiency
Over a 58 year time period, yield increases were related 46% to improved hybrids and 93% to improved soil water at planting
This study showed that Grain Sorghum and Wheat Yields were greater in rotation sequences than in mono-crop situations

4. Research Thoughts Continued
However, another study: “Deep Tillage and Crop Rotation Effects on Cotton, Soybean, and Grain Sorghum on Clayey Soils”, (Wesley, et al., 2001), showed yields were increased but not net returns due to the low value of the grain sorghum component
With wheat, soil water at planting was increased with corn and grain sorghum rotations but not with sunflower or soybean.
Wheat grain fill and number of heads were better with corn and grain sorghum rotations.
Study showed that high mineral N in the one inch seed zone area indicated that starter-band or side-dress applications were not necessary for optimum economic return to N fertilization.

5. Research Thoughts Continued
Soil organic matter increased by 35% in the 0-5 cm range in the NT system when compared to the CT system
Potentially mineralizable N increased in this same soil depth range by 54% in the NT system
However when looking at the 0-15 cm soil depth range there were no tillage differences

6. Current Work in Jackson County
Tillage and Cropping Systems Study to Increase Dryland Crop Production
Tillage Systems: (NT) No Tillage; (CT) Conventional Tillage
Cropping Systems: (C-W-GS) Cotton-Wheat-Grain Sorghum; (C-W) Cotton-Wheat; (C-GS) Cotton-Grain Sorghum; (W-DCGS-C) Wheat-Double Crop Grain Sorghum-Cotton; (C) Cotton; (W) Wheat; (GS) Grain Sorghum

7. Soil Organic Matter Results

8. Tillage by Rotations System OM Comparisons (2002-2006)TS
C-W-GS
C-W
C-GS
W-DCGS-C C W GS NT
1.92(2)
1.53(6)
2.02(2)
1.51(6)
1.67(2)
1.84(6)
2.15(2)
1.67(6)
1.89(2)
1.74(6)
1.94(2)
1.62(6)
2.09(2)
1.80(6) CT
1.69(2)
1.70(6)
1.66(2)
1.78(6)
1.61(2)
1.68(6)
1.78(2)
1.92(6)
1.63(2)
1.91(2)
1.72(6)
1.71(6)

9. Crop by Cropping System Comparisons

10. 2003 Grain Sorghum Production Economics
Treatments
Yield – Lbs./A
Returns - $/A
W-DCGS-C(NT)
1023
$1.05
GS(NT)
Lost Crop
$-32.03
W-DCGS-C(CT)
1092
$3.73
GS(CT)
$-39.63

11. 2004 Grain Sorghum Production Economics
Treatments
Yield – Lbs./A
Returns - $/A
C-GS(NT)
3108
$37.76
GS(NT)
2955
$31.84
C-GS(CT)
3774
$46.78
GS(CT)
2627
$5.46

12. 2005 Grain Sorghum Production Economics
Treatments
Yield – Lbs./A
Returns - $/A
GS(NT)
4963
$60.10
GS(CT)
4827
$51.82

13. 2006 Grain Sorghum Production Economics
Treatments
Yield – Lbs./A
Returns - $/A
C-W-GS
2274(NT)
Lost Crop (CT)
$20.38(NT)
$ (CT)
C-GS
3709(NT)
$76.32 $
W-DCGS-C
Lost Crop (NT)
$-49.69 GS
2864 (NT)
$43.39

14. 2007 Grain Sorghum Production Economics
Treatments
Yield – Lbs./A
Returns - $/A
GS(NT)
4441
$182.00
GS(CT)
2415
$14.82

15. 2002/2003 Wheat Production Economics
Trts.
Gr. Yield-Bu./A
Returns - $/A
For. Yield – Lbs./A
Beef Gain - $/A
W-DCGS-C(NT) 15
$-4.97
N/A
W(NT) 23
$19.00
W-DCGS-C(CT_ 20
$-9.76
1060
$90.60
W(CT) 22
$-4.32
1221
$103.79

16. 2003/2004 Wheat Production Economics
Treatments
Grain Yield – Bu./A
Returns - $/A
W(NT) 68
$164.00
W(CT) 57
$115.00

17. 2004/2005 Wheat Production Economics
Trts.
Gr. Yield-Bu./A
Returns-$/A
For.Yield-Lbs./A
Beef Gain $/A
CWGS (NT)
73.6
$159.20
1553
$155.30
CW (NT)
61.3
$119.40
1979
$197.90
W (NT)
51.1
$86.30
1265
$126.50
CWGS (CT)
64.2
$124.60
2073
$207.30
CW (CT)
68.2
$137.60
1624
$162.40
W (CT)
55.5
$96.15
849
$84.86

18. 2005/2006 Wheat Production Economics
Trts.
Gr. Yield-Bu./A
Returns - $/A
W-DCGS-C(NT)
Lost Crop
$-21.86
W(NT)
W-DCGS-C(CT) 53
$106.54
W(CT) 21
$6.75

19. 2006/2007 Wheat Production Economics
Trts.
Gr. Yield-Bu./A
Returns - $/A
For. Yield – Lbs./A
Beef Gain - $/A
W(NT) 49
$287.00
1055
$105.00
W(CT)
$266.00
1047

20. Rotation System Comparisons

21. CS
Average Crop-Year Returns above Production Inputs ($/A)
Potential Beef Gain Returns ($/A)
C-W-GS
111.67(NT) (CT)
117.98(NT) (CT)
C-W
133.87(NT) (CT)
197.86(NT) (CT)
C-GS
136.80(NT) (CT)
---(NT) (CT)
W-DCGS-C
81.92(NT) (CT)
32.61(NT) (CT) C
134.69(NT) (CT)
27.64(NT) (CT) W
110.24(NT) (CT)
116.04(NT) (CT) GS
79.29(NT) (CT)
(35.04)
--- (NT) (CT)

22. No Till Grain Sorghum Production - Some Practical Points
Plant Management – Plant Populations, Soil Temperatures, Planting Dates and Times, Varieties, Soil to Seed Contact
Fertilizer – Economics, Product Characteristics, Application Method
Herbicides – Know Your Weeds, Application Timing, Coverage, Crop Rotation Concerns, Economics

23. Some Grain Sorghum Herbicide Options
Roundup (preplant or preemergence)
Dual Magnum (pre-emergence app., safened seed only)
Lasso (pre-emergence, safened seed only)
Atrazine (post-emergence app., crop rotation concerns with cotton and wheat)
Bicep (Dual + Atrazine, pre, heavier soils only)
Aim (postemergence)
Phenoxy Herb. (2,4-D or Banvel)
Buctril (postemergence)
Peak (postemergence)
Basagran

24. No-Till Wheat – Some Practical Points
Plant Management – Wheat after Wheat or Rotation System, Planting Rates, Variety Selection, Seed Treatment
Fertilizer - Economics, Product Characteristics, Application Method
Herbicides – Know Your Weeds, Application Timing, Coverage, Crop Rotation Concerns, Economics

25. Grass Herbicides (In Season)
Wild Oat Control
Puma
Osprey
Olympus Flex
Hoelon
Finesse G&B
Axial
Beyond (Clearfield Wheat Only)
Bromegrass Control
Maverick
Olympus
Olympus Flex
Finesse G&B

26. Broadleaf Weed Herb. (In Season)
Glean
Finesse
Maverick
Peak
Ally
Amber
Harmony Extra
MCPA and 2,4-D
Banvel
Beyond (Clearfield Wheat Only)
Area Broadleaf Weeds
Henbit
Pepperweed
Cutleaf Evening Primrose
Field Pennycress
Sheperdspurse
Tansey Mustard
Flixweed
Prickley Lettuce

27. Conclusions – To Present
Study, in general, showing a trend of higher yields with the NT System treatments. In terms of returns above production inputs the NT systems are showing clear advantage.
The wheat only NT treatments are still performing as good as the CT treatments with a slight advantage in returns.
Finally, with only a few exceptions the crop rotations have indicated a trend for higher yields and returns in the year comparisons. However, when averaged across years the C and W only systems (especially in the CT system) are currently doing as good if not better than some of the crop rotations in terms of return dollars.