ARS | Publication request: Zero-Till Crop Sequence Economics

Submitted to: Manitoba North Dakota Zero Till Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: February 6, 2008
Publication Date: February 6, 2008
Citation: Archer, D.W., Tanaka, D.L., Krupinsky, J.M., Merrill, S.D., Liebig, M.A., Hanson, J.D. 2008. Zero-Till Crop Sequence Economics. Manitoba North Dakota Zero Till Conference Proceedings.

Technical Abstract: No-till production systems allow more intensified and diversified production in the northern Great Plains; however, this has increased the need for information on improving economic returns through crop sequence selection. Field research was conducted near Mandan ND to determine the influences of previous crops and crop residues on seed production of buckwheat, canola, chickpea, corn, dry pea, grain sorghum, lentil, proso millet, sunflower, and spring wheat in a no-till system. Precipitation was lower than average during the study, and under these dry conditions, crop sequence had a substantial effect on net returns. Lentil was the most sensitive to crop sequence with net returns varying by as much as $57/acre depending on previous crop. Net returns were least sensitive to crop sequence for canola, spring wheat and dry pea. Average net returns across all crops were highest following dry pea and lowest following grain sorghum. Dry pea had a positive effect on net returns for every subsequent crop allowing greater flexibility in choosing subsequent crops in response to changing prices. Results show the importance of accounting for crop sequence effects in addition to short-term returns when making cropping decisions.