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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #46990
Title: ECONOMICS OF TILLAGE PRACTICES AND SPRING WHEAT AND BARLEY CROP SEQUENCE IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Author
item AASE J KRISTIAN - 5436-05-00
item SCHAEFER G M - SCS

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A soil scientist at Sidney, Montana in cooperation with an SCS economist, evaluated the economics of annual spring wheat cropping as compared with a conventional fallow-spring wheat sequence. The study was conducted on a sandy loam near Culbertson, Montana. Taxes, land values, and government programs were not included in the analysis. Spring wheat yields ranged from a low of 1.1 bushels/acre to a high of 51.5 bushels/acre during the 10-year study. The 10-year average net return was highest for no-till annually cropped spring wheat at $8.77 per acre; the conventional fallow-spring wheat rotation returned $2.23 per acre. Under the conditions of this 10-year study, in a 14 inch precipitation zone, the conclusion is that annually cropped no-till wheat production was the most profitable cropping practice.

Technical Abstract: Economics of annual cropping in relation to no-till seeding and tillage practices as compared with conventional fallow- crop sequence have not been seriously considered. Our objective was to analyze economics of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cropping and tillage practices after 10 years of evaluation. The study was on sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed Typic Argiboroll) 11 km (7 mi) north of Culbertson, MT, and was designed as a randomized complete block with four replications. Tillage on annually cropped treatments included: Fall sweep tillage with spring disking; spring sweep tillage; and no-till. A conventional fallow-crop rotation was included. No tax or government farm programs were considered. Spring wheat yields ranged from 74 kg/ha (1.1 bu/acre) to 3,465 kg/ha (51.5 bu/acre). The 10-year average net return was highest for no-till annual cropping at $21.67/ha ($8.77/acre) and lowest for barley-spring wheat rotation at 27.90/ha ( $11.29/acre). Under conditions of this 10-year study, in a 356 mm (14 in.) precipitation zone, the conclusion is that annually cropped no-till wheat was the most profitable.