Winter wheat after summer full season crops

In central Oklahoma continuous wheat is the predominant cropping system. However, nowadays it is not rare to find fields with summer crops. Full season summer crops such as corn, soybean and sorghum are usually planted from late March to early May and harvested in late August to September. Afterwards, winter wheat is usually planted. At this moment we usually have the dilemma whether this following winter wheat will have lower yields compared to wheat after fallow, due to starting with drier soil profile.

In a study that compares the adoption of several crop species in 2-yr cropping systems, we have observed that the soil profile after full season crops is considerably drier than a soil profile coming from a fallow period (about 4 months in the typical continuous wheat systems of central Oklahoma). Nonetheless, at this point wheat does not require much water. Wheat water needs may be satisfied by few fall precipitation events that recharge the first 30-40 cm, even when the rest of the soil profile remains dry.

Later measurements of plant available water at the beginning of April did not show significant differences between these cropping systems. Winter wheat grain yield after grain sorghum and corn was similar than wheat after a follow period. This shows that initial water content may not play an important role as it does precipitation distribution according to crop needs.

Field Day at Stillwater Agronomy Farm – Oct. 1st

The field day will give kids and their parents a better idea about plant and soil sciences and the different subjects involved. There will be booths set up where college students within Plant and Soil Sciences will teach various subjects such as; learning how new varieties of wheat or soybeans are made, why herbicides are effective tools when used properly, or how plants and soils work together to produce seed. Feel free to visit anytime between 10am - 2pm on Saturday October 1, 2011. We will have food and drinks available throughout the day.

Planted First Trial of 2011

Planted the first corn plots last Friday (3/18) of the year in NC Oklahoma under ideal conditions. The trial is designed to evaluate starter fertilizer rates and placement methods. Placement option included: in-furrow, 2x2, 2x4 and rate from 10 lb N/ac to 150 lb N/ac. We felt the need to collect some data in Oklahoma for the use of starter fertilizer. From others states, data often shows a response to starter being applied when planting summer crops early, especially corn into cool soils. Even though we have warmer temperatures in the southern US, our no-till soils still remain cool during early planting of corn and even grain sorghum. The trial is located near Covington, so we have been lucky to catch some timely rains.