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SOIL AND CROP MANAGEMENT

Alternative and Opportunity Dryland Crops and Related Soil Conditions in the Southern Great Plains

USDA-ARS, Conservation and Production Research Lab., P.O. Drawer 10, Bushland, TX 79012

Corresponding author (pwunger{at}tcac.net)

Dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] yield favorably when rotated or grown continually in the southern Great Plains, but improved water conservation practices make other systems possible for these crops. Also, farmers can now produce other crops without losing government payments. Winter wheat, grain sorghum, and opportunity crop performance; alternative crop adaptability; and system effects on soil properties were determined. Wheat yielded 1.82 Mg ha^-1 when rotated with grain sorghum or fall canola (Brassica napus L.) and 1.21 Mg ha^-1 when grown continually or rotated with spring canola. Soil water contents at planting resulted in the differences. Grain sorghum yielded 2.89 and 3.02 Mg ha^-1 when rotated with wheat or grown continually and 2.24 Mg ha^-1 when rotated with kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), although water contents at planting were similar. Kenaf produced only 2.3 Mg ha^-1 plant material, but contained 327 g kg^-1 protein at 32 d after planting and 195 g kg^-1 when killed by frost. Canola crops failed. Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) produced more forage, but less grain than wheat. Soil water contents at planting and precipitation strongly influenced opportunity crop yields. Mean soil C contents increased from 5.52 to 5.94 g kg^-1 during the study. Aggregate diameters and percentages <0.25 mm in diameter showed no definite trends. Few bulk density and no aggregate water stability results differed. Some alternative and opportunity crops produced favorably, but generally no better than wheat or grain sorghum.

Abbreviations: WSF, wheat–fallow–sorghum–fallow • GS–K, grain sorghum–kenaf • FC–W, fall canola–wheat • SC–W, spring canola–wheat • CGS, continual grain sorghum • CW, continual wheat • CT, continual triticale • OC-1, OC-2, and OC-3, opportunity cropping Series 1, 2, and 3 • SOCC, soil organic carbon concentration • MWD, mean weight diameter • WF, wheat–fallow • LSD, least significant difference • WUE, water use efficiency

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