Effect of Rotations, Tillage Methods, and N Fertilization on Winter Wheat Production

Tucker, Billy B.; Cox, M. B.; Eck, H. V.

Effect of Rotations, Tillage Methods, and N Fertilization on Winter Wheat Production

1971

Tucker, Billy B. | Cox, M. B. | Eck, H. V.

Winter wheat (Triticum aestlvum L.) was grown continuously and in rotation with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or grass on Pond Creek and Grant silt loams in the 64-cm rainfall area of north central Oklahoma. Studies were conducted from 1956 through 1967. Stubble mulch and clean tillage were compared in continuous wheat and alfalfa-wheat systems. The principal effect of alfalfa on wheat yield was to supply N. Wheat in rotation with alfalfa (3 years alfalfa, 3 years wheat) yielded 2,020 kg/ha, while continuous wheat fertilized annually with 45 kg N/ha yielded 2,180 kg/ha. Yields of wheat in a grass-wheat rotation were inferior to those of continuous wheat plus N because of N deficiency. Without N fertilizer, clean-tilled continuous wheat outyielded stubble-mulched continuous wheat by 23% (clean tilled: 1,790 kg/ha; stubble-mulched: 1,460 kg/ha). With 45 kg N/ha, the advantage for clean tillage was reduced to about 8% (clean tilled: 2,160 kg/ha; stubble-mulched: 2,000 kg/ha). The 45 kg/ha N fertilizer rate was sufficient for near maximum wheat yields under both clean and stubble-mulch tillage.

Afficher plus [+]