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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253982
Title: Comparison of Sorghum and Wheat Tillage Systems in the Texas Blackland Prairie using Fuzzy Multi Attributive Analysis

Author
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item KRUEGER, E - Russian Academy Of Sciences
item KURTENER, D - Russian Academy Of Sciences

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2010
Publication Date: 7/9/2010
Citation: Torbert III, H.A., Krueger, E., Kurtener, D. 2010. Comparison of sorghum and wheat tillage systems in the Texas Blackland Prairie using fuzzy multi attributive analysis. In: Kurtener, D., Yakushev, V.P., Torbert, H.A., Prior, S.A., and Krueger, E., editors. Applications of Soft Computing in Agricultural Field Experimentations. St. Petersburg, Russia: Agrophysical Research Institute. p. 29-37.

Interpretive Summary: Recently, there has been an increased interest in cropping systems such as conservation-tillage, however, determining the best alternative between cropping system options is often complicated by disparities in research results due to seasonal variability. The economic cost of the systems further complicates the determination of the best alternative for sustainable crop production. To evaluate tillage systems using experimental data, a computer simulation approach called fuzzy multi attributive comparison can be applied. In this study, this tool was applied to research the impact of conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems with and without raised wide beds on yield and N uptake in grain sorghum and wheat for soils of the Texas Blackland Prairie. Results of yield and N uptake data for 4 years (1994-1997) indicated that the various tillage systems had merits and demerits across the different years of thestudy. The economic conditions of the cropping systems were also utilized in the evaluation. Utilization of this technique indicated that the no-tillage cropping system with wide beds was the best tillage system of the ones evaluated.

Technical Abstract: Recently, there has been an increased interest in cropping systems such as conservation-tillage, however, determining the best alternative between cropping system options is often complicated by disparities in research results due to seasonal variability. The economic cost of the systems further complicates the determination of the best alternative for sustainable crop production. To evaluate tillage systems using experimental data, a computer simulation approach called fuzzy multi attributive comparison of alternatives can be applied. In this study, this tool was applied to research the impact of conservation tillage and conventional tillage systems with and without raised wide beds on yield and N uptake in grain sorghum and wheat for soils of the Texas Blackland Prairie. Results of yield and N uptake data for 4 years (1994-1997) indicated that the various tillage systems had merits and demerits across the different years of study. The economic conditions of the cropping systems were also utilized in the evaluation. Utilization of this technique indicated that the no-tillage cropping system with wide beds was the best tillage system of the ones evaluated.