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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #141305
Title: CROP SEQUENCES FOR DIRECT SEEDING

Author
item Krupinsky, Joseph
item Tanaka, Donald
item Merrill, Stephen
item Liebig, Mark
item Hendrickson, John
item Hanson, Jonathan
item RIES, RONALD - RETIRED-USDA-ARS

Submitted to: Proceedings of Alberta Reduced Tillage Linkages
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2002
Publication Date: 11/19/2002
Citation: KRUPINSKY, J.M., TANAKA, D.L., MERRILL, S.D., LIEBIG, M.A., HENDRICKSON, J.R., HANSON, J.D., RIES, R.E. CROP SEQUENCES FOR DIRECT SEEDING. p. 68-78. Proceedings of Alberta Reduced Tillage Linkages. 2002.

Interpretive Summary: A crop sequence research project was conducted near Mandan, North Dakota. During the first year, ten crops (barley, canola, crambe, dry bean, dry pea, flax, safflower, soybean, sunflower, and hard red spring wheat were no-till seeded in strips. During the second year, the same crops were no-till seeded perpendicular over the residue of the previous year¿s crops. Thus, all ten crops were seeded into the crop residue of the same ten crops, resulting in 100 treatment combinations. Data from this crop sequence project was used to develop an interactive computer information product, the Crop Sequence Calculator (CSC), which helps producers assess crop options and sequencing in their own short-term cropping systems. The program provides an introduction to the crop sequence research project, as well as information on crop production, economics, plant diseases, weeds, insects, water use, and surface soil properties to aid producers in an evaluation of management risks associated with different crop sequences. Once the previous crop (residue producing crop) and the expected crop are entered with a click of the mouse, summary statements appear for each of the categories listed above. The program can show the yield effect of the ten crops (listed above) grown in any two-year combination. Overall, the advantages and disadvantages of various crop sequences will be demonstrated with the CSC and discussed.

Technical Abstract: A crop sequence research project was conducted near Mandan, North Dakota. During the first year, ten crops (barley [Hordeum vulgare], canola [Brassica napus], crambe [Crambe abyssinica], dry bean [Phaseolus vulgaris], dry pea [Pisum sativum], flax [Linum usitatissimum], safflower [Carthamus tinctorius], soybean [Glycine max], sunflower [Helianthus annuus], and hard red spring wheat [Triticum aestivum]) were no-till seeded in strips. During the second year, the same crops were no-till seeded perpendicular over the residue of the previous year¿s crops. Thus, all ten crops were seeded into the crop residue of the same ten crops, resulting in 100 treatment combinations. The crop by crop residue matrix was established twice, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000. A uniform spring wheat crop was grown over the crop by crop residue matrix in 2000 and 2001. Data from this crop sequence project was used to develop an interactive computer information product, the Crop Sequence Calculator (CSC), which helps producers assess crop options and sequencing in their own short-term cropping systems. The program provides an introduction to the dynamic agricultural systems concept, the crop sequence research project, as well as information on crop production, economics, plant diseases, weeds, insects, water use, and surface soil properties to aid producers in an evaluation of management risks associated with different crop sequences. Once the previous crop (residue producing crop) and the expected crop are entered with a click of the mouse, summary statements appear for each of the categories listed above. The program can show the yield effect of the ten crops (listed above) grown in any two-year combination. Overall, the advantages and disadvantages of various crop sequences will be demonstrated with the CSC and discussed.