North Dakota State University * Dickinson Research Extension Center
1133 State Avenue, Dickinson, ND 58601 Voice: (701) 483-2348 FAX: (701)
483-2005
CONTINUOUS CROPPING TRIALS WITH WHEAT, OATS, BARLEY, AND CORN
This trial was begun in 1908 as part of the work with crop rotation and tillage on what was then the newly established Dickinson Experiment Station. It was designed to determine yields of the four crops, wheat, oats, barley, and corn when grown year after year on the same land. This trial also included a comparison of spring plowing and fall plowing as well as a comparison of continuous cropping with alternate cropping and summerfallow.
The 1965 yields, and the average yield for the first 55 years of the trial are summarized in the following table.
| Table 32. Crop Yields in the Continuous Cropping Trial. | ||||||
| Crop | Spring Plowed | Fall Plowed | Summerfallow | |||
| 1965 | 55 Yr. Av. | 1965 | 55 Yr. Av. | 1965 | 55 Yr. Av. | |
Grain Yields in Bushels Per Acre |
||||||
| Wheat | 22.4 | 11.2 | 25.1 | 10.2 | 35.3 | 18.5 |
| Oats | 71.8 | 25.7 | 85.9 | 23.4 | 94.4 | 43.1 |
| Barley | 21.3 | 16.7 | 49.1 | 15.3 | 54.0 | 23.7 |
Silage yields in Tons Per Acre @ 70% Moisture |
||||||
| Corn | 3.6 | 3.14 | 4.6 | 3.05 | 5.8 | 3.63 |