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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59431
Title: LEAVE SANDY SOILS IN GRASS OR BREAK UP AND SEED TO WHEAT?

Author
item Aase, J
item SCHAEFER, G - NRCS-BOZEMAN, MONTANA
item Pikul Jr, Joseph

Submitted to: Convert Conservation Reserve Program Land to Cropland & Grazing Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/11/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Conservation Reserve Programs (CRP) contracts soon begin to expire. Our objective was to compare economics of returning land that had been in crested wheatgrass for about 15 years (simulated CRP) to wheat production versus leaving the land in hay production. The study was conducted 4 miles south of Froid, Montana. The grass was either mechanically broken up or killed with herbicides and then followed for a year prior to being seeded to wheat for four years in a row. Comparison grass plots were either fertilized or not fertilized. Experimental wheat yields averaged 38.5 bu/acre. Fertilized grass averaged 1.4 tons/acre versus 0.8 tons per acre for unfertilized grass. Wheat production averaged $64.69 per acre to pay for land, labor and management. Fertilized hay averaged $39.64, and unfertilized hay $27.39 per acre. The results must be tempered with the fact that experimental wheat yields were 11 to 14 bu/acre higher than county average yields. A 30 bu/acre yield would have equalled the return from fertilized grass. It is questionable whether a county average yield can be sustained high enough to compete economically with managed grass hay production. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to management practices, market conditions, total precipitation and its temporal distribution, soil conditions, growth environment and government programs, before breaking CRP land for small grain production.

Technical Abstract: Conservation Reserve Program contracts soon begin to expire. Objective was to compare economics of returning land that had been in crested wheatgrass for about 15 years to wheat production versus leaving in hay production. We initiated a study in April 1990 on a sandy loam 4 miles south of Froid, Montana. Plots were 40 by 100 feet. Three methods were used to break the sod: 1) moldboard plow, 2) toolbar with sweeps, 3) no- till, using Roundup and 2,4-D to kill the sod. Plots were fallowed until spring of 1991, then seeded to spring wheat for next four years. Grass was either fertilized or not. Wheat yields averaged 38.5 bu/acre. Fertilized grass hay consistently out-yielded unfertilized hay and averaged 1.4 tons/acre versus 0.8 tons/acre. Treatment 2 had highest economic return of $68.59/acre to pay for land, labor and management. Treatment 1 had $65.58. Because of high costs of herbicides, no-till only had $59.30. Unfertilized grass hay had $27.39 and fertilized grass hay, a return of $39.64. Results must be tempered with the fact that our wheat yields were 11 to 14 bu/acre higher than the county average during years of study, and that a 30 bu/acre wheat yield would have had same return as fertilized grass. It is questionable whether a county average wheat yield can be sustained high enough to compete economically with managed grass hay production. Therefore, before putting CRP land back to small grains, careful consideration must be given to such variables as management practices, market conditions, total precipitation and its temporal distribution, soil conditions, growth environment, and government programs.