Soil Water and Water Use in Long‐Term Dryland Crop Rotations

• DOI: 10.2134/agronj2018.09.0623
• Publication Date: 2019-06-13T21:50:18Z
• Authors: Alan J. Schlegel; Yared Assefa; Lucas A. Haag; Curtis R. Thompson; Loyd R. Stone
• Keywords: Crop Rotation; Helianthus annuus; Sorghum bicolor

Dryland crop rotation systems are sustainable only if there is sufficient water available for profitable production. The objective of our study was to identify potential the central Great Plains and similar semiarid areas that increase soil water, fallow accumulation, efficiency, productivity major crops. conducted from 2000 through 2017 near Tribune, KS. Four summer crops [corn ( Zea mays L.) (CR), grain sorghum Sorghum bicolor (GS), soybean Glycine max (SB), sunflower Helianthus annuus (SF)] along with winter wheat Triticum aestivum (W) were grown in 1‐, 2‐, 3‐, 4‐yr rotations, most rotations including a (F) phase. Rotations W–CR–SB–F, W–F, W–CR–SF–F, W–GS–F, W–SF–F, W–CR–GS–F 2006 W–CR–F, continuous GS, W–GS–CR–F, 2008 2017. Results showed (ASW) at corn planting order = W–CR–SB–F > W–CR–SF–F 2000–2006 period ASW W–CR–F W–GS–CR–F 2008–2017 period. 30–150 cm profile depth W–GS–F GS–GS greater W–F wheat‐based rotations. consistently following than another crop. Core Ideas Soil crop, prior off‐season use, longer between harvest yield compared corn, sunflower, justifies wide adoption wheat–grain sorghum–fallow semi‐arid regions planting, use wheat, wheat–fallow