ARS | Publication request: Crop Sequence Economics in Dynamic Cropping Systems

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 4, 2007
Publication Date: November 4, 2007
Citation: Archer, D.W., Tanaka, D.L., Krupinsky, J.M., Merrill, S.D., Liebig, M.A., Hanson, J.D. 2007. Crop Sequence Economics in Dynamic Cropping Systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts.

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 6 km southwest of Mandan ND to determine the influences of previous crops and crop residues on seed production of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), canola (Brassica napus), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), corn (Zea mays L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), lentil (Lens culinaris), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), sunflower (Helianthus annus L.), and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2003 and 2004, in a no-till system. Production costs ranged from $228 ha-1 for proso millet to $488 ha-1 for chickpea. Precipitation was lower than average in both 2003 and 2004. Under these dry conditions, and with long term average prices, net returns were most sensitive to crop sequence for chickpea, lentil, buckwheat, corn and sunflower. Chickpea net returns exhibited a range of $173 ha-1 depending on crop sequence, with lowest net returns observed following buckwheat, and highest net returns following spring wheat. 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.