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Keywords

forages, triticale, oat, forage sorghum, profit, soil water

Abstract

Producers are interested in growing annual forages, yet western Kansas lacks proven recommended crop rotations such as those for grain crops. Forage production is important to the region’s livestock and dairy industries and is becoming increasingly important as irrigation-well capacity declines. Forages require less water than grain crops and may allow for increased cropping intensity and opportunistic cropping. A study was initiated in 2012 at the Southwest Research-Extension Center in Garden City, KS, comparing several 1-, 3-, and 4-year forage rotations with no-tillage and minimum-tillage (min-tillage). Data presented are from 2013 through 2016. Winter triticale yields were increased by tillage. Double-crop forage sorghum yielded 19% less than full-season forage sorghum across years. Oats failed to make a crop in 2013 and do not appear to be as drought tolerant as forage sorghum. Subsequent years will be used to compare forage rotations and profitability.

COinS
 

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