Oakes Irrigation
Research Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O.
Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Phone: (701) 742-2744, FAX: (701) 742-2700,
E-mail: Walter.Albus@ndsu.edu
Hybrid and Variety
Trials
Hard
red spring wheat variety trial
Onion
hybrid performance trial
Weed Control Studies
Cover crops and desiccation methods to control weeds
in potato
Micro-rate system for weed control in onion
Crop Production Management Studies
Corn
row width and hybrid study
Strip-till,
corn on corn nitrogen rate study
Strip-till, corn on soybean nitrogen rate
study
The
response of three potato cultivars to N rate
Optimum
corn stover removal for bio-fuel and the environment
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Barley Variety Trial
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Irrigation allows
better nitrogen(N) utilization in malting barley which enhances grain
quality. Intensive crop fungicide
applications, split N applications, etc. facilitate the production of high
yielding, high quality barley.
The objective of this study
is to find barley varieties that are viable in irrigated cropping systems in
Southeastern, ND and to develop and demonstrate agronomic practices that
promote barley production.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Previous crop: |
2009 – soybean; 2008 – onion; 2007 – wheat. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
No-tilled with a Horsch Anderson Junior 260
plot drill. |
|
Planting: |
Planted on April 7 with a Horsch Anderson Junior 260 plot drill. Planting rate was 3 bu/acre (1,500,000
seeds/acre). |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 14.5 ft long by 5 ft wide. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and
21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8.
Stream bar applied 60 lbs N/acre May 3 and May 19 as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied Wolverine (1.7 pt/acre) May 14, Headline (6 oz/acre) May 19,
Tilt (4 oz/acre) June 2, Folicur (4 oz/acre) June 6, and Proline (5
oz/acre) June 14. |
|
Harvest: |
July 27 with a Hege plot combine. Harvest area was five feet wide and
14.5 feet in length. |
RESULTS
Four, six-row malting barley varieties: Drummond, Lacey, Stellar-ND, and Tradition have been tested for five years under irrigation at this site. Their medium-short stature and strong to very strong straw strength resist lodging. These four varieties have averaged 113.2 bu/ac and 12.0% protein. There was a negative correlation of r = -0.85 with days to head with yield in 2010. The varieties with the earliest heading date, ND22421, Lacy and Rasmusson were the highest yielding varieties. There was also a negative correlation r = -0.86 for lodging score. Varieties with lodging scores of 4.5 and higher yielded less than the trial average.
Barley variety trial Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Corn Hybrid Performance Trial
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Corn for grain commands the most irrigated acres of all crops in North Dakota. The fact that significant differences in the accumulation of growing degree units for corn and other weather related issues exist across the state, it is vital that corn hybrids be tested in specific locations and regions. It is the goal of this trial to provide yield and other agronomic parameters for corn growers in southeastern, North Dakota.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock
sandy loam; 2.2 % organic matter; soil-N 25 lbs/acre; soil-P and soil-K were
very high; soil-S was high. |
|
Previous
crops: |
2009 –
potato and soybean; 2008 – field corn; 2007 – soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Fall disk. Coulter chisel April
14 and multiweed (field cultivate) April 19.
|
|
Planting: |
Planted
April 23 in 30-inch rows. Thinned to
33,800 plants/acre. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and
21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8. Stream bar applied 60 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0
+ Instinct (35 oz/acre) May 3.
Sidedress 135 lbs of N/acre as 28-0-0 June 9. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead
sprinkler irrigation as needed |
|
Pest Control: |
Applied
Harness (2 pt/acre) April 27, Laudis (3 oz/acre) + Atrazine
(0.5 lb/acre ai) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) + MSO (1% v/v) June 3 and
limited hand weeding controlled weeds.
|
|
October
12 with a plot combine. Harvest area
was two rows 17 feet long |
Corn Hybrid Performance Trial Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Dry
Edible Bean
Variety Trials
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Dry edible beans play a
significant role in irrigated rotations in southeastern ND. As universities and private companies develop
new varieties it is important to test them upon their release. Many producers have gone to direct harvesting
of pinto beans. Pinto beans have
historically been knifed, windrowed, and harvested with a bean combine. Therefore it is important to test
determinate, upright, short vine pinto varieties that facilitate direct
harvesting and compare their yield to the upright vine and vine types.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Pinto bean - Maddock sandy
loam; 2.0 % organic matter, soil-N 14 lb/acre, soil-P was very high, soil-K
was high and soil-S was high. Navy and
miscellaneous bean - Embden loam and Gardena loam; 2.6 % organic matter,
soil-N 16 lb/acre, soil-P and soil-K were very high, soil-S was high. |
|
Previous crop: |
Pinto bean: 2009 – field corn;
2008 - soybean; 2007 – field corn. Navy
and misc bean: 2009 – wheat; 2008 – soybean; 2007 – onion and wheat. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Disk
May 10, Multiweed (field cultivate)
twice May 17 to incorporate herbicide and twice May 27. |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 28. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft
(2 rows) wide. There were 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April
6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre, 43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre
and 21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler
irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
All beans: Applied Trust (1˝ pt/acre) May 17. Navy and misc
bean: Applied Raptor (4 oz/acre)
+ NIS (0.25%v/v) June 24, Basagran (1˝ pt/acre) June 25, Section 2EC (12
oz/acre) + COC (1% v/v) July 9 and hand weed.
Pinto bean: hand
weed. All beans: Endura (11 oz/acre) July 6, Proline
(5 oz/acre) July 14, and July 21 for disease control. |
|
Harvest: |
Hand
harvested August 30 to September 13 when mature. Harvest
area for all bean varieties was: seventeen feet of two rows. Beans were threshed or bagged, dried, and
threshed with a stationary plot thresher dependent on moisture. |
Dry Edible Bean Tables
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Hard Red Spring Wheat Variety Trial
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Although wheat yields seem to have leveled off, researchers and
producers using intensive management are having different results. In intensive management, all areas of
production from plant population, seeding depth, fungicide applications,
nitrogen rate, time of application, weed control, etc., are closely
monitored. Healthy wheat plants that
lodge less result in higher yields and grain protein content.
The objective of
this trial is to test hard red spring wheat varieties for yield and other
agronomic parameters grown with intensive management in an irrigated
environment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Hecla sandy loam and Maddock loam; 2.1 % organic matter; soil-N
18 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K was very high; soil-S was low. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 - soybean; 2008 - onion; 2007 - wheat. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
No-till with a Horsch Anderson Junior 260 plot drill. |
|
Planting: |
Planted April 8 with a Horsch Anderson Junior 260 plot drill. Planting rate was 1.85 bu/acre (1,500,000
seeds/acre). |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 14.5 ft long by 5 ft wide.
There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and
21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8.
Stream bar applied 60 lbs N/acre May 3 and May 19 as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied Wolverine (1.7 pt/acre) May 14, Headline (6 oz/acre) May 19,
Tilt (4 oz/acre) June 2, Folicur (4 oz/acre) June 12, and Proline
(5 oz/acre) June 14. |
|
Harvest: |
July 27 with a Hege plot combine. Harvest area was five feet wide and 14.5
feet in length. |
RESULTS
Yield,
test weight, grain protein, plant height, and maturity were significantly
different among varieties. Yields were
64.1 bu/ac in 2010 compared to the five year average of 68.2 bu/ac. There was a tendency for short strong-strawed
varieties to yield more. Diseases in
more susceptible varieties were kept in check with fungicides.
Hard red spring wheat Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Onion
Hybrid Performance
Trial
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H.
Eslinger
Onions have done well
under irrigation in ND. Yellow sweet
Spanish is the predominate type grown.
Some red onions are also produced.
This study tested 25 sweet Spanish hybrids.
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam; 2.4 % organic matter; soil-N 27 lbs/acre;
soil-P was very high; soil-K and soil-S were high. |
|
Previous crops: |
2009 – soybean; 2008 – field corn; 2007 – edible bean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Fall
disk. Coulter chisel once and
multiweed (field cultivate) twice April 14. |
|
Planting: |
Direct seeded onions (285,000 seeds/acre) April 15 with a
Monosem precision planter. Onions were
planted: 2 lines per row with 2.5 inches between lines and rows on 16‑inch
centers. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 3 ft (two rows) wide by 17 ft long. The study had 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April
6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre, 43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre
and 21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8.
Stream-bar 30 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on June 4, June 11, June
25 and July 14. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied
Buctril (4 oz/acre and 16 oz/acre) May 27 and June 2 respectively; Section 2EC (8 oz/acre and 12 oz/acre) + COC (1 % v/v)
June 14 and July 7 respectively. Buctril
(1˝ pt/acre and 1 pt/acre) + Goal 2EC (0.6 oz/acre) June 14 and June 29
respectively, and hand weeding. |
RESULTS
Sedona, Delgado, and Crocket averaged 815, 741, and 705 cwt/ac respectively from 2007‑2010. Sedona, Delgado, and Crocket averaged 556, 552 and 467 cwt/ac in the greater than 3 inch size from 2007-2010
Onion hybrid performance trial Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Processing Potato Trial-Oakes, North Dakota 2010
Asunta (Susie) Thompson and Walt Albus
Potato Breeder and Research Agronomist
The potato, Solanum
tuberosum L., is the most important vegetable crop
grown in North Dakota and the Northern Plains.
In 2010, approximately 81,000 acres of potato were harvested. Total production was about 22.3million cwt.,
and the yield per acre averaged across irrigated and non-irrigated fields was 275 cwt/acre. Total farmgate value for 2009 was estimated at $181 million.
The North Dakota State University (NDSU)
potato breeding program was initiated in 1930 by the North Dakota Agricultural
Experiment Station (NDAES). Since 1930,
24 cultivars have been named and released by the NDAES, in cooperation with the
USDA-ARS, and others. The most recent is
Dakota Trailblazer, a beautiful dual-purpose russet and the first NDSU cultivar
release suitable for processing into French fries. About 60% of the potatoes grown in ND and MN
are used in the manufacture of frozen French fries. NDSU potato cultivar releases have
traditionally been widely adapted and accepted, and have significantly impacted
production in North Dakota, Minnesota, the Northern Plains, and throughout
North America. The primary objective of
the NDSU potato improvement team is to identify and release superior,
multi-purpose cultivars that are high yielding, possess multiple resistances to
diseases, insect pests, and environmental stresses, have excellent processing
and/or culinary quality, and that are adapted to production in North Dakota,
Minnesota, and the Northern Plains. Our research team emphasizes late blight, cold-sweetening,
Colorado potato beetle, pink rot and Pythium
leak, sugar end, and Verticillium wilt resistance breeding. We use germplasm enhancement to incorporate
important pest resistances and improved quality traits via exploitation of wild
species, wild species hybrids, named cultivars, and advanced germplasm from
around the globe as a means of developing durable, long-term, host-plant
resistance.
In 2010, yield and evaluation trials were grown at six locations in North
Dakota, four irrigated (Larimore, Oakes, Inkster and Williston) and two
non-irrigated locations (Hoople and Crystal). Twenty advancing dual-purpose russet
selections and commercially acceptable cultivars were grown in the Oakes
processing trial. One entry, ND8229-3, a
high yielding, dual-purpose russet, with moderate resistance to sugar ends and
Verticillium wilt was included in the North Central Regional Potato Variety
Trial (NCRPVT). The NCRPVT is grown at
seven sites in the north central US and Canada.
Agronomic and quality evaluations, yield and grade, and French fry
quality for the Oakes trial entries are summarized Tables 1, 2 and 3,
respectively. Percentage stand ranged
from 88 to 100%. ND8068-5Russ had the
smallest vine, while Dakota Trailblazer had the largest vine size. Due to the lateness of harvest notes, many
selections and cultivars were dead, thus vine maturity is skewed toward early
maturity when many are much later maturing than the scores would indicate. ND8068-5Russ is the earliest of all the
selections, about 5 to 7 days earlier than Russet Norkotah, while Alturas is
the latest maturing, exceeding 130 days to vine maturity. Stems per plant is indicative of seed quality
(physiological age), tuber eye number, and length of dormancy (genetic). Total yield ranged from 259 cwt./acre to 684 cwt./acre for ND049546‑1Russ and
ND049381C-2Russ, respectively. Dakota
Trailblazer produced 96% US No. 1 tubers, compared to only 69% for Russet
Burbank. Several advancing selections
and Dakota Trailblazer had outstanding French fry color when fried at harvest
or after storage at 45F for 8 weeks.
Many also demonstrated sugar end resistance.
Our research efforts continue to identify processing (both chip and
frozen) germplasm that will reliably and consistently process from long-term
cold storage. As we grade, a field (zero
time) sample is collected for immediate French fry processing. French fry/frozen processing selections are
also evaluated from 45F (7.2C) storage after eight weeks and again the
following June for fry color, stem end fry color, sugar ends, and other defects. All trial entries are evaluated for blackspot
and shatter bruise potential.
As part of our collaborative field, greenhouse and laboratory testing in
2010, Dr. Gary Secor’s program evaluated seedling
families for late blight resistance using a detached leaf assay in the
greenhouse. Resistant selections were
retained for field evaluation in 2011.
Field trials included late blight foliar and tuber evaluation trials
with Dr. Secor, in addition to evaluation for
resistance to tuber blemish diseases.
Bacterial ring rot expression and resistance to Verticillium wilt, pink
rot and Pythium leak are collaborative efforts with Dr. Neil Gudmestad’s program.
Dr. Deirdre Prischmann-Voldseth’s program
conducted Colorado potato beetle resistance screening. Sucrose rating, invertase/ugpase analysis, and serial chipping of chip and French
fry/frozen processing selections is conducted by Marty Glynn (USDA-ARS), and
Dr. Joseph Sowokinos (UMN) at the USDA-ARS Potato
Worksite in East Grand Forks, MN. We
also submitted entries in many cooperative trials with various producers,
industry, and research groups around North America.
The most promising advancing dual-purpose russet selections, ND8229-3,
ND8068-5Russ and several hybrids between Dakota Trailblazer and ND8229-3,
possess excellent appearance, yield and grade, and processing qualities. ND8068-5Russ has early maturity, about seven
days earlier than Russet Norkotah.
Unlike Russet Norkotah, it processes from the field and 45F
storage. Characteristics of Dakota Trailblazer
and superior advancing processing selections are summarized at the end of this
report.
A highlight for 2010 was
being the first project to move into the new NDSU greenhouse complex. In our first crop, several families of
seedlings were grown, in addition to several advancing selections for minituber
production. This crop was tremendous in
terms of size of tubers and number of tubers per pot. A subsequent crop in two separate pods
(chambers) was recently harvested and both pods will be replanted soon. This state-of-art facility is allowing the
potato breeding program to produce seedlings and minitubers with reduced fear
of insect pests that vector diseases such as tomato spotted wilt and impatiens
necrotic spot viruses, which are present in other greenhouse ranges on
campus. The precise environmental
controls allow us to define strict production parameters, which were evident in
the high yield and quality of our first two crops produced in less than 7 months
in this high tech facility.
We are grateful for the
opportunity to conduct cooperative and interdisciplinary research with members
of the NDSU potato improvement team, the USDA-ARS programs in Fargo and East
Grand Forks, the North Central group and other research programs across the
globe. Our sincere thanks, to our many
grower, industry, and research cooperators in North Dakota, Minnesota, and
beyond; your support of our research program is amazing, making our work
exciting and a joy. We wish to express
our gratitude to the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association and MN Area II
Potato Research and Promotion Council, KBO, R.D. Offutt Co. and Jorde Certified Seed LLC, for research funding, certified
seed potatoes, and fungicides in support of the processing trial at the Oakes
Research Extension Site. We are also
grateful for the assistance of Richard Nilles,
Leonard Besemann, Heidi Eslinger, Bryce Farnsworth, and student interns,
graduate students and hourly help, in maintaining and harvesting the research
plot at Oakes.
Location: Oakes
Irrigation Research Site, Oakes, ND
Dates:
Planting: April
16, 2010
Vine kill: Flailed
on October 5, 2010
Harvest: October
5, 2010
Days to vine kill: 172 days
Days to harvest: 172 days
Plot information:
Row width: 36 inches
Seed spacing: 12 inches
Hills per plot: 20
Replicates: 4
Method of planting: 2-row Harriston plot planter, Admire Pro (7 oz/acre)
applied in‑furrow. Seed piece
treatment (PST 6%) was applied at cutting on April 15.
Method of harvest: Machine
- single row digger and hand pick up
Irrigation: Linear – applied per ET
Fertilizer: May
25 - 50 lb N
June 21 - 40 lb N
June 28 - 20 lb N
July 6 - 20 lb N
July 12 - 20 lb N
July 20 - 20 lb N
July 26 - 20 lb N
August 2 - 10 lb N
Fungicide: June
16 - Quadris Opti 1.6 pt/A
June 24 – Curzate 32 oz/A + Bravo ZN
1.5 pts/A
June 29 - Revus Top 7 oz/A
July 5 - Quadris Opti 1.6 pt/A
July 10 - Revus Top 7 oz/A
July 15 - Bravo Zn 2.25 pt/A
July 20 - Dithane 2 lb/A
July 25 - Bravo Zn 2.25 pt/A
July 30 - Dithane 2 lb/A
August 4 - Bravo Zn 2.25 pt/A
August 9 - Dithane 2 lb/A
August 14 - Bravo Zn 2.25 pt/A
August 19 - Dithane 2 lb/A
August 25 - Bravo Weatherstik 1.75 pt/A
September 2 - Dithane 2 lb/A
September
13 - Bravo Zn 2.25 pt/A
Insecticides applied: Admire Pro @ 7 oz/A
applied in-furrow at planting
July 25 - Mustang Max 4 oz/A
August 20 - Mustang Max 4 oz/A
September
2 - Mustang Max 4 oz/A
Comments: Late blight was confirmed in area on June 24. Several very large rain events occurred
during summer and early fall 2010.
Processing Potato trial Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Soybean Variety Trial
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H.
Eslinger
Two soybean variety trials were conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site, a non‑GMO (conventional trial) and a roundup ready trial. Results for the conventional trial are listed in Table 1 and results for the roundup ready trial are listed in Table 2.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam; 1.7 % organic matter; soil-N
12 lbs/acre; soil-P was very high; soil-K and soil-S were high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 - field corn and onion; 2008 - barley, edible
bean, and potato; 2007 ‑ field corn and soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Fall
disk. Coulter chisel once April 14,
disk twice May 10 and multiweed (field cultivate) twice May 17. |
|
Planting: |
Planted conventional soybean May 18 and roundup
ready soybean May 19 in 30-inch rows. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft (2 rows) wide. There were 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and
21 lbs S/acre as 11-17-20-8. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead
sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Conventional soybean: Applied Trust (1.5 pt/acre) May 17, Raptor (4 oz/acre) + MSO (1.5 pt/acre) + AMS (2.5 lb/acre) June 16. Roundup ready soybean: Applied Roundup Power Max (22 oz/acre) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) June 14 and June 28. Conventional
and roundup soybean: Applied Endura
(11 oz/acre) July 6, Prothioconazole (5 oz/acre) July 14 and July 21 for
disease control. Mustang Max (4
oz/acre) for insect control. |
|
Harvest: |
October 11 with a plot combine. |
RESULTS
Grain yield, plant lodging, plant height, seed oil and protein %, and test weight were significantly affected by variety in both trials. Yields in the Roundup Ready trial averaged 63.6 bu/ac compared to the four year average of 62.8 bu/ac. A hard washing rain with resultant soil crusting significantly reduced plant stands in several varieties in the conventional trial resulting in reduced yields. Varieties with reduced stands have a notation on them in Table 1.
Soybean variety trial tables
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Soybean Breeding Nursery
Ted
Helms, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences
Four different breeding experiments were conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in 2010. These experiments are combined with testing at other sites to provide information regarding how experimental soybean lines perform in diverse environments. The best experimental lines are then advanced to the next stage of testing or perhaps released as named cultivars. The released cultivars are then distributed to farmers to grow on their farms. Oakes is an especially useful testing site because of the high yield and the tendency for the plants to grow tall and lodge, due to the application of irrigation. Those genotypes that are susceptible to lodging can then be identified and discarded. Farmers do not want cultivars that are susceptible to lodging and Oakes is the best location to identify lodging problems. The four experiments consisted of an experiment to evaluate natto types for the value-added specialty market, an experiment to evaluate tofu types for the value-added specialty market, an early experimental line test and a late experimental line test.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam; Early and late soybean: 1.8% organic matter; soil-N 14 lbs/acre;
soil-P was very high; soil-K and soil-S were high. Natto soybean: 2.2% organic matter; soil-N 25 lbs/acre,
soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was high. Tufo soybean: 1.7%organic matter; soil-N 13 lbs/acre,
soil P and soil-K were high; soil-S was very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
Conventional soybean early and
late: 2009 – onion and sugarbeet; 2008 - barley and wheat; 2007 –
soybean. Tufo soybean: 2009 ‑ sugarbeet; 2008 – barley; 2007 –
soybean. Natto soybean: 2009 – potato; 2008 ‑ field corn;
2007 – soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Fall disk.
Coulter chisel April 14, and multiweed (field cultivate) twice May 17. |
|
Planting: |
Planted all soybeans May 18, in 30-inch rows. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft (2 rows) wide. All studies had 3 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and 21 lbs
S/acre as 11-17-20-8. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead
sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
All studies: Applied Trust (1.5 pt/acre) May 17, Raptor (5 oz/acre) + MSO (1˝ pt/acre +
AMS (2.5 lb/acre) June 16. Endura
(11 oz/acre) July 6; Prothioconazole (5 oz/acre) July 14 and July
21. Mustang Max (4 oz/acre) August 4. |
|
Harvest: |
October 11 with a plot combine. |
Soybean breeding nursery tables
Conventional Specialty
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Cover crops and desiccation methods to control weeds
in potato
Mehring, Grant H., Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, Collin Auwarter, and Walter Albus
An experiment was conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site to evaluate alternative weed control methods for organic and low external input potato production. Cover crop, desiccation technique of the cover crop, and potato variety were the three factors investigated (Table 1). A randomized complete block with four replicates was the experimental design. The research commenced with the tilling of previous cereal and dry bean plots following harvest in 2009 and came to a close with potato harvest in 2010 (Table 2). Cover crops were planted with an International Harvester grain drill at the rates of 135 lbs/acre winter triticale, 120 lbs/acre winter rye, 5 lbs/acre turnip, 5 lbs/acre radish, and 5 lbs/acre canola. Cover crop desiccation was done with 32 fl oz/acre Roundup Weathermax, disk till, or rototill. Two ounce potato seed was planted with 36 inch row spacing and 12 inch plant spacing using an Iron Age potato planter. Treatments were evaluated for overall weed control using a visual scale from 0-100% three times throughout the season at 14, 29, and 51 days after planting. To further evaluate weed control, weed counts and biomass inside a one foot quadrat were taken. Plots were cultivated at 14 and 29 days after planting. Potatoes were harvested then graded in Fargo, ND.
Table 1. Table 2. Table 3. Table 4.
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Micro-rate system for weed control in onion
Loken, James R., Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, and Walt Albus
An experiment was conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site to compare micro-rate herbicide treatments (Table 1) with and without PRE herbicide applications for early-season broadleaf weed control in onion (Allium cepa L.). The soil was an Embden sandy loam with 2.4% organic matter and 6.7 pH. Onion variety ‘Sedona’ pelleted seed was planted at 285,000 seeds/A using a Monosem four, paired-row planter on April 15. Plots were 6 ft wide by 17 ft long and arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Early PRE herbicide applications were made on April 21 and PRE herbicide applications with glyphosate were made May 3. At time of weed cotyledon stage (May 8) herbicides were applied as micro-rates every 7 days, with four total applications. Herbicide micro-rates were applied with a CO2 pressurized backpack sprayer. Standard applications of bromoxynil and oxyfluorfen were made mid-season to maintain weed control. Standard applications were applied using a tractor mounted sprayer. Best management practices were used for fertility, disease, insect, and grass weed control. Treatments were evaluated for overall control of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) after all micro-rate treatments were completed using visual evaluations. On September 13, 7 ft of the middle two rows of each plot were harvested for grade and yield analysis. After harvest, onions were allowed to cure and then were graded. Split and diseased bulbs were graded as culls regardless of diameter.
Herbicide application dates, timings, and environmental conditions for Oakes REC, 2010.
Application Date: 5-8 5-18 5-26 6-2 6-16
Onion Stage: loop flag lf 1 lf 2 lf 3 lf
Air Temp., (F): 53 74 68 65 77
Wind speed, (MPH): 6 10 8 4 2
Operating Pressure: 40 psi 40 psi 40 psi 40 psi 40 psi
Nozzle Type: Flat Fan Flat Fan Flat Fan Flat Fan Flat Fan
Nozzle Size: 8002 8002 8002 8002 8002
Spray Volume, GPA: 20 20 20 20 20
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Corn Hybrid and Row Width Study
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
A three year study
on corn row width and population from 2006-2008 showed no significant yield
advantage to 15-inch or 30-inch paired rows over 30-inch rows. Increasing population increased yield up to
the highest population studied, 35,000 plants/ac. The lack of response to
narrower rows goes against research at this site in the 70’s and 80’s. Although the lack of response to narrow rows
was very consistent from 2006-2008, row width is such a major decision in
planter selection that the row width part of this study will be continued. Since 15-inch rows gives the most inter-row
plant spacing it was decided there is no reason to test other narrow row
configurations until we get a yield response to 15-inch rows.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam. 2.0% organic
matter; soil-N 20 lbs/acre; soil-P was high; soil-K was very high; soil-S was
high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 – soybean; 2008 – field corn; 2007 – soybean. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Fall
disk. Coulter chisel April 14 and
multiweed (field cultivate) April 17. |
|
Planting: |
Planted April 19 in 30-inch and 15-inch row spacing. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 34 ft long by 10 ft wide.
Plots with 30-inch row spacing had 4 rows; plots with 15-inch spacing
had 8 rows. Corn was planted and thinned
to 28,700 seeds per acre. There were
four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast 28 lbs N/acre,
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and 21 lbs
S/acre as 11-17-20-8. Stream bar 60 lbs N/acre May 3
and 90 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 June 7. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied Harness (2 pt/acre) April 27 and Laudis (3
oz/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre ai) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) + MSO (1% v/v) June
3. |
|
Harvest: |
Hand harvested R5 on August 16 and August 24; R6 on October 4 and
October 8. Harvest area was a 10 foot
by 5 foot section from each plot (two rows from the 30-inch row plots and
four rows from the 15-inch row plots).
|
RESULTS
Although
15-inch rows yielded more than 30-inch rows the difference was not
significant. Stand establishment was a
problem in this trial and resulted in the 15-inch rows having a final stand of
35,000 compared to 30,500 for the 30-inch rows.
Most of the higher yield in the 15‑inch rows can probably be
attributed to the higher population.
Corn hybrid and row width Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Strip-Till, Corn on Corn, Nitrogen Rate Study
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Corn grain production has made amazing increases in both yield and
number of acres planted ND in the past 14 years. Figure
1 shows the corn acres planted and total bushels harvested in ND from
1997-2010. We are currently planting
about 2.05 million acres of corn and producing about 254 million bushels
annually.
Current estimates show ND producing 348 million gallons of ethanol in
2010. At an efficiency of 2.8 gal/bu of corn this ethanol production requires
128 million bushels of corn annually, which is one half of the corn grown in
the state. Although corn for several of
these plants comes from out of State, corn acres must increase in ND to meet
future demand. This will require more
continuous corn in crop rotations.
It is the objectives of this study
to grow continuous corn in a strip-till system that eliminates full width
tillage and to find efficient nitrogen placement and rates. Treatments are
spring strip-tilled to an 8-inch depth.
Fertilizer N is applied in split applications of 65 lb N/ac at planting
and the remainder in a side-dress application in the 150 and 200 lb/ac N
rates. The low N treatment receives 20
lb N/ac at planting. Placement is
addressed by applying the planting time N application either with the
strip-till operation prior to planting or dribbling three inches to the side of
the seed furrow at planting.
Determining nitrogen sufficiency in time is important to achieve N
efficiency. Remote sensing utilizing
aerial photography (red light reflectance), a Holland Crop Circle ACS 430
active canopy sensor (normalized difference red edge – NDRE) and a Minolta Spad
502 chlorophyll meter were tested to determine ability to measure N
sufficiency.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam and Helca sandy loam; 2.5% organic matter; soil-N average
17 lbs/acre; soil-P and soil-K was high; soil-S was medium. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 - field corn; 2008 - field corn; 2007 - field corn. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Strip-tilled April 21 with an Orthman strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: |
Dekalb DCK42-72 |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 3 in 30-inch rows @ 34,800 seeds/acre. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 137 ft long by 20 ft (8 rows) wide. There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 21 all plots received 12 lbs N/acre and 40 lbs P2O5
as 10-34-0 via strip-till. Check
plots were banded after strip tillage with 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs S/acre as
12-0-0-26. All plots, except the check
plots, received 45 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0, 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs S/acre as
12-0-0-26 via strip till or dribble at planting (May 3). Sidedress N treatments June 9; the 200 lb
treatments received 135 lbs N/acre and 150 treatments received 85 lbs N/acre
as 28-0-0 (three inches deep). |
|
Irrigation: |
Hand move sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied Harness (2 pt/acre) May 3, Laudis (3
oz/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lbs ai/acre) + MSO (1% v/v) June 4 and Roundup Power Max (22 oz/acre)
+ AMS (1lb/10 gal) June 7.. |
|
Harvest: |
October 14 with a JD 4400 combine.
Harvest area was the middle four rows of each plot 137 feet long. |
RESULTS
Fertilizer
nitrogen(N) rate and placement at planting and side-dress method were changed
in 2010. This was done to resolve nitrogen deficiencies in the 150 and 200
treatments that occurred before the corn was able access side-dress in prior
years. Twelve lb N/ac was applied as
10-34-0 with the strip-till operation and 38 lb N/ac was broadcast as 28-0-0 in
the 50, 100, 150 and 200 lb N rates from 2007-2008 at planting. Applying the 38 lb N/ac in a 10-inch band
over the row in 2009 didn’t solve the problem.
The remaining N for treatments was applied as a side-dress application
in every other row from 2007-2009.
All plots were
spring strip-tilled at an eight-inch depth in 2010. Placement and N rate issues were addressed by increasing
the initial application (first N split) of fertilizer N to 65 lb /ac and
knifing between every row in the side-dress treatments. The first N split was applied in the spring
strip-till operation for the 150 and 200 lb treatments. The previous 50 and 100 lb N/ac treatments
were changed to 150(150 d) and 200(200d) lb N/ac treatments with 12 lb N/ac
applied with the strip-till operation and 53 lb N/ac applied in a dribble
treatment (first N split) three inches from the seed row at planting. Ten gal/ac of 10-34-0 applied was applied
to all plots with strip-till. The
placement of 10-34-0 was shallower than planned, about two inches deep and
caused concern about possible detrimental effects on germination. Evidently the seed never got in direct
contact with the fertilizer or it was diffused as there was no observed
damage. The remainder of the first N
split in the 150 and 200 lb N/ac treatments was applied at a six inch depth
with strip-till. The second N split in the 150, 200,
150d and 200d treatments was applied at side-dress in-between every row.
Determining
nitrogen sufficiency in time is important to achieve N efficiency. Remote sensing utilizing aerial photography
(red light reflectance), a Holland Crop Circle ACS 430 active canopy sensor
(normalized difference red edge – NDRE) and a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll
meter were tested to determine ability to measure N sufficiency.
Increasing nitrogen rates (N)
increased grain yield, chlorophyll meter readings, normalized difference red
edge (NDRE) and grain protein. Red
reflectance measurements decreased with increasing N because dark green plants
absorb more red light that light green plants.
Remote sensing by chlorophyll meter, Crop Circle Sensor or aerial
photography did well in predicting corn N status, Figure 2. The trend for the 100d and 200d treatments to
yield more than their 150 and 200 counter parts is due to their being planted
on previous 50 and 100 lb treatment plots which had significantly less
residue. This is verified in the red
reflectance data taken on July 1, in which there is more difference between the
placement, strip-till versus dribble, than there is between N rate.
Strip-till corn on corn Table Figure 1 Figure 2
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Strip-Till, Corn on Soybean, Nitrogen Rate Study
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Corn grain production has made amazing increases in both yield and number
of acres planted ND in the past 14 years.
Figure 1 shows the corn
acres planted and total bushels harvested in ND from 1997-2010. We are currently planting about 2.05 million
acres of corn and producing about 254 million bushels annually.
Current estimates show ND producing 348 million gallons of ethanol in
2010. At an efficiency of 2.8 gal/bu of corn this ethanol production requires 128
million bushels of corn annually, which is one half of the corn grown in the
state. Although corn for several of
these plants comes from out of State, corn acres must increase in ND to meet
future demand. This will require more
continuous corn in crop rotations. It is the objectives of this study to grow
continuous corn in a strip-till system that eliminates full width tillage and
to find efficient nitrogen placement and rates..
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam, Hecla sandy loam and Maddock
sandy loam; 2.1 % organic matter; soil-N average 10 lbs/acre; soil-P was very
high; soil-K was high; soil-S was very low. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 – soybean; 2008 – field
corn; 2007 – soybean. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Strip-tilled on April 23 with an Orthman
strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: |
Pioneer 38A57 |
|
Planting: |
Planted April 27 @ 33,125
plants per acre in 30 inch rows. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 37 ft long by 15 ft
(6 rows) wide. There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 21 all plots received 12 lbs N/acre and 40 lbs P2O5
as 10-34-0 via strip-till. Check
plots were banded after strip tillage with 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs S/acre as
12-0-0-26. All plots, except the check
plots, received 45 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0, 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs S/acre as
12-0-0-26 via strip till or dribble at planting (May 3). Sidedress N treatments June 15; the 200 lb
treatments received 135 lbs N/acre, 150 treatments received 85 lbs N/acre and
100 treatments received 35 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 (three inches deep). |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation
as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied
Harness (2 pt/acre) April 27, Laudis (3 oz/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lbs ai/acre)
+ MSO (1% v/v) June 4 and Roundup Power Max (28 oz/acre) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) June 7. |
|
Harvest: |
Hand harvested September
29. Harvest area was a ten-foot
section from the two center rows from each plot (twenty feet of total row). |
Placement
issues and fertilizer N rate issues noted in past years were resolved by
increasing the planting time application of fertilizer N to 65 lb/ac, all
applied in the spring strip-till operation for the 100, 150 and 200 lb
treatments. The previous 50 lb N/ac treatment
was changed to 100(100 d) with 12 lb N/ac applied with the strip-till operation
and 53 lb N/ac applied in a dribble treatment three inches from the seed row at
planting for a total of 65 lb N/ac at planting.
The remaining N in the 100, 150, 200 and 100d treatments was applied at
side-dress in-between every row.
Increasing nitrogen rates (N)
increased grain yield, chlorophyll meter readings, normalized difference red
edge (NDRE) and grain protein. Red
reflectance measurements decreased with increasing N. because dark green plants
absorb more red light that light green plants.
Remote sensing by chlorophyll meter, Crop Circle sensor or aerial
photography did well in predicting corn N status.
Strip-till corn on soybean Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
The Response of Three Potato Cultivars to Nitrogen Rate
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Three potato varieties, Russet Burbank, Bannock Russet and Dakota
Trailblazer were grown in separate trials each at 120, 180, 240 and 300 lb N
/ac. Leaf petiole analysis for
nitrate-N, chlorophyll meter readings with a Minolta SPAD 502 and canopy
vegetative index’s with a Crop Circle ACS 430 were taken periodically to
measure nitrogen sufficiency. The canopy
index used in these comparisons was the normalized difference red edge
index (NDRE).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Egeland loam and Maddock sandy loam; 2.0 %
organic matter; soil-N 14 lb/acre; soil-P was very high; soil-K and soil-S
were high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2009 - field corn; 2008 - soybean; 2007 -
field corn. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Fall disk.
Coulter chisel twice April 14. |
|
Planting: |
April 16.
Planting rate was one seed piece per foot. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 77 ft long by 18 ft wide (6
rows). There were two reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 6 broadcast
43 lbs P2O5/acre, 53 lbs K2O/acre and 21 lbs
S/acre as 11-17-20-8. See Table 5 for N rate treatments. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Applied
Matrix (1˝ oz/acre) + Lexone (⅓ lb/acre) + NIS (0.125% v/v) on June 14
for weed control. Applied
Mustang Max (4 oz/acre) July 25, August 20 and September 2 for insect
control. See Table 4 for fungicide treatments. |
|
Harvest: |
Roto-beat vines and harvest October 5. Harvested two separate 20 foot sections
from the 3rd row of each plot from each variety. |
Although
fertilizer nitrogen(N) rate didn’t significantly affect yield, Russet Burbank
and Dakota Trailblazer showed a trend of increasing yield with increasing
fertilizer N and Bannock Russet showed a trend of decreasing yields with
increasing fertilizer N rate Figure 1. Chlorophyll meter readings on July 23 and
multi-spectral canopy measurements of normalized difference red edge (NDRE) on
August 14 and 25, were significantly affected by N rates. Petioles for nitrate-N analysis were
composited from two replications so were not statistically analyzed. Petiole nitrate-N versus the critical value
for given dates are shown in Figure 1. Except for the 240 lb N rate on August 24,
the nitrate-N in petioles exceeded the critical value at the 240 and 300 lb N
rates on all sampling dates.
Figure 2.
Shows the relationship among petiole nitrate-N, chlorophyll meter
readings and NDRE values on August 11.
Chlorophyll meter readings and NDRE values were normalized by dividing the
value recorded on each date by the highest value on that date.
Potato N-rate Tables 1, 2 and 3
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Optimum Corn Stover Removal for Biofuels and the
Environment
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
The 2007 US energy bill calls for 36 billion gallons of ethanol to be
produced by 2020. In 2007 the US
produced 6.5 billion gallons of ethanol.
If corn grain was able to supply 15 billion gallons of ethanol, 21
billion gallons ethanol would have to come from cellulosic material (biomass)
to meet the 2020 mandate. The production of 21 billion gallons of cellulosic
ethanol will require 350 million tons of dry biomass. Presently, perennial grasses and corn stover
are the most available. About 194
million tons of biomass is produced in US production agriculture annually, with
75 million tons coming from corn stover.
Figure 1 shows the
historical increase in corn grain used for ethanol production from
2006-2010. The 4.6 billion bushels of
corn for ethanol in 2010 accounts for 36% of the corn grown in the US. Obviously, corn stover is being looked at to
play a major role in cellulosic ethanol production.
Before we commit ourselves to using corn stover for fuel we need to
study the environmental and economic consequences of this action. What effect will stover removal have on soil
organic matter, soil erosion and ultimately sustainability of the land
resource?
The objective of this study is to determine what rates of stover
removal within different cropping systems are conducive to maintaining and
possibly improving the productive capacity of the land will providing this
Country with a renewable energy source.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Rotations: |
Rotation I: field corn-2008,
field corn-2009, field corn 2010. Rotation II soybean-2008,
field corn-2009, soybean-2010. Rotation III field corn-2008,
soybean-2009, field corn-2010. |
|
Soil: |
Embden
sandy loam, Hecla sandy loam and Maddock sandy loam; Block
1: soil-N 16 lbs/acre; soil-P and soil-K
were very high; soil-S was very low. Block
2: soil-N 17 lbs/acre; soil-P and
soil-K were very high; soil-S was very low. Block
3: soil-N 9 lbs/acre; soil-P and
soil-K were very high; soil-S was very low. |
|
Previous
crops: |
Block
1: 2009 - field corn; 2008 - field
corn; 2007 - field corn; 2006 - soybean. Block
2: 2009 - field corn; 2008 - soybean;
2007 - field corn; 2006 - edible bean and soybean. Block
3: 2009 - field corn; 2008 - corn;
2007 - onion; 2006 - sunflower and edible bean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Strip-till April 22 with an Orthman strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: Variety: |
Corn: Dekalb DCK43-27. Soybean: Pioneer 91M51. |
|
Planting: |
Block
1: Planted corn April 27 in 30-inch
rows @ 33,000 seeds/acre. Block
2: Planted soybean May 18 in 30-inch
rows @ 205,000 seeds/acre. Block
3: Planted corn April 27 in 30-inch
rows @ 33,000 seeds/acre. |
|
Fertilizer: |
Block
1: April 22, during strip-till operation, band 12 lbs
N/acre and 40 lbs P2O5 as 10-34-0. April 28, band 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs
S/acre as 12-0-0-26 and 45 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0. June 10, sidedress 155 lbs N/acre as
28-0-0. Block
2: April 22, during strip-till operation, band 12 lbs
N/acre and 40 lbs P2O5 as 10-34-0. Block 3:
April 22, during strip-till operation,
band 12 lbs N/acre and 40 lbs P2O5 as 10-34-0. April 28, band 8 lbs N/acre and 17 lbs
S/acre as 12-0-0-26 and 45 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0. June 10, sidedress 115 lbs N/acre as
28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Hand move sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest Control: |
Block
1: Applied Harness (2 pt/acre) April
27, Roundup Power Max (28 oz/acre) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) June 1 and Laudis (3
oz/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre ai) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) + MSO (1% v/v) June
4. Block
2: Applied Roundup Power Max (28 oz/acre)
+ AMS (1 lb/10 gal) June 1 and June 28.
Endura (11 oz/acre) July 6 and Prothioconazole (5 oz/acre) July
13. Block
3: Applied Harness (2 pt/acre) April
27, Roundup Power Max (28 oz/acre) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) June 1 and Laudis (3
oz/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre ai) + AMS (1 lb/10 gal) + MSO (1% v/v) June
4. |
|
Corn
stalks/residue was removed from Block I and Block II on April 9 according to
the protocol (0%, 33%, 66% and 100% removal). |
|
|
Block
1: Hand harvested a 10 ft section of
rows 5, 6, 7 and 8 from each plot on September 28, combined remainder October
15 with a 4400 JD combine using a 4 row head and recorded with a weigh wagon. Block
2: Harvested on September 29 with a 4400
JD combine with a straight cutter head (60 rows 106 feet long, and recorded
with a weigh wagon). Block
3: Hand harvested a 10 ft section of
rows 5, 6, 7 and 8 from each plot on September 29, combined remainder October
15 with a 4400 JD combine using a 4 row head and recorded with a weigh wagon. |
Corn stover was removed at the 33, 67 and 100 percent removal rates in block I (corn/corn rotation) from 2008 to 2010 in block III (corn/soybean rotation)
in 2008 & 2010 and block II (corn/soybean rotation) in 2009. Amount of stover dry matter (DM) and nutrients in removed stover are listed in Tables 1 and 2 and Figures 2-6, for the three years.
RESULTS BLOCK I (Corn/Corn)-2010
Although there was a trend for grain yield to increase as stover removal decreased it was not statistically significant. Despite the fact that corn matured four days earlier when 100 percent of the stover was removed compared to no removal, this did not translate into higher yields. Normalized difference red edge (NDRE) at the zero removal rate was higher than the other removal rates on 11-Aug. Ear height at the zero removal rate was higher than the 67 and 100 percent removal rates. This indicates a higher biomass production at the zero removal rate.
A major objective of this study is to determine the effect corn stover removal rates on soil organic matter. This will take some time to make definitive determinations. But we can measure nutrient loss in the removed stover and place a value on it. Nutrient value was based on a price of $690, $520, $475, and $305 per ton of 11-52-0, 0-0-60, 46-0-0 and 21-0-0-24, respectively. The cost of nutrient removal at the 0, 33, 67 and 100 percent removal rates was $35, $69 and $97 per acre, respectively, or about $21/ton.
RESULTS BLOCK III (Corn/Soybean)-2010
There was a tendency for yield to be higher and grain moisture higher at the lower rates of stover removal although not significant. Grain protein content was higher at the highest removal rate compared to the lowest. Silk date was delayed at the zero removal rate. The cost of nutrient removal at the 0, 33, 67 and 100 percent removal rates was $36, $65 and $88 per acre, respectively, or about $19/ton.
Optimum corn stover removal Tables: 1 (Corn on corn). 2
(Corn on soybean) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3
Material and methods Index
Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
FARM EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Corn N Rate Studies in Producer Fields
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Historically, low fertilizer nitrogen prices and less precise methods
of fertilizer application resulted in higher than required applications of
nitrogen (N) to manage risk. With
current technology and nitrogen prices this strategy in no longer
relevant. Nitrogen rates and methods of
determining N sufficiency were tested in a corn on corn rotation in 12
irrigated farm fields from 2006 to 2009 to demonstrate proper N rates. An additional out-come of these studies was
the ability to compare the response to N at the field scale to N response at
the research plot level. The plot
research was conducted by North Dakota State University (NDSU) at the Oakes
Irrigation Research Site (OIRS)1, Northwest 29 Research Site (NW 29)2
and the Oakes Newly Irrigated Site Study (ONISS)3. Methods to determine N sufficiency were
evaluated.
RESPONSE TO N RATE IN NDSU TRIALS
Nitrogen calibration work in continuous irrigated corn plots was conducted from 1979 to 1984 (OIRS), 1991 and 1994-95 (NW 29) and 1994-95 (ONISS). The three data sets were combined into one data set called Oakes. The Oakes data set showed yields were maximized at N rates from 205 to 245 lb/ac, (Figure 1). Assuming a N cost of $0.45/lb and a corn price of $4.50/bu the maximum return to N (MRTN) was between 185 and 225 lb/ac of fertilizer N, (Figure 2).
1Zubriski, J.C. and R.Utter. Corn, water
level, N rate and time of application trial. Oakes
Irrigation Research Annual reports. 1979-84.
2Knighton, R.E
and N. Derby. Unpublished data NW 29 Research Site. 1991 and 1994-95.
3Prunty, L.D. and L. Besemann. Unpublished
data ONISS Research Site. 1994-95.
RESPONSE TO N RATE IN FARM FIELDS
Soil-plant N relationships were studied from 2006 to
FOCUS OF
2010 AND FUTURE RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Many factors effect N efficiency including: rate, placement, timing, precipitation and temperature. These also effect soil N mineralization from soil organic matter which plays a major role in N efficiency. Some of these we can control, some we cannot. The objective of this work is to devise methods/technologies that allow producers to choose N rates based on best economic returns, yet prevent yield losses in years when either soil mineralization is low or N is lost to deep percolation or de-nitrification.
To accomplish this goal, nitrogen sufficiency needs to be an assessed at a pre-determined growth stage so remedial action can occur before any real or potential yield loss has occurred. Although young corn plants don’t require a large quantity, N supply is critical as agronomic parameters such as ear size are set by the six leaf stage. To determine N sufficiency a high N reference strip is required for each corn hybrid with a significant presence in the field. The ratio of green color in the field to the green color in the reference strip determines if N is limiting. Although measurements of plant N sufficiency are of value prior to tasseling, the tasseling to early silk stage is the critical time to determine N sufficiency. Therefore proper N strategy will prevent any measureable deficiency prior to this time. Secondly, the effective uptake of applied fertilizer N after silking declines rapidly, so N deficiencies need to be corrected promptly. The goal is to reduce the risk of N deficiency when N strategy is compromised by unanticipated environmental conditions.
Nitrogen sufficiency in past studies at Oakes has been estimated by direct measurements; chlorophyll meter and basal stalk N test and remotely by images from aerial photography. Chlorophyll meters are labor intensive making it almost impossible to map fields. Aerial images are subject to plane availability and require clear skies. In 2010 we began taking multi-spectral canopy measurements with a Crop Circle 430 (Holland Scientific). It calculates normalized difference red edge (NDRE) measurement from the crop canopy that is an indicator of green color and biomass. Other brands of multi-spectral meters are available. Multi-spectral canopy meters have the capability of being carried by an individual or attached to equipment. It has its own light source so is unaffected by daylight. A high clearance vehicle or air plane would allow field mapping and turn over time could be as little as 24 hours.
ON FARM RESEARCH 2010
Testing with a multi-spectral
canopy meter in corn began in 2010 in farm field 1 where the corn stalks had
been removed from the previous crop. The
maximum return to N (MTRN) in Figure
9 is 167 lb N/ac less than the where the maximum yield was recorded at 338
lb N/ac in Figure 8. The basal stalk nitrate-N content is
significantly below the lower critical optimum level of 700 ppm at the 171
lb/ac N rate (Figure 10). Corn was a very efficient user of N drawing
the basal stalk nitrate-N levels below the critical level and yet produced high
yields. This is supported by the fact
that adding the next 30 lb/ac of N resulted in the stalk test exceeding the
upper critical level of 2,000 ppm. NDRE
was strongly related to N rate (Figure
11). This good relationship didn’t
help to determine N sufficiency as the NDRE value at the 171 lb/ac N rate was
only 77% of its maximum value. This low
percentage would suggest a N deficiency.
The high yields at the low N rate in this study were probably due to the
corn stalks being removed the previous fall.
Figure 12 shows that
NDRE gives a larger range of measurement compared to normalized difference
vegetative index (NDVI). Further studies
in 2011 will help us determine whether NDRE measurements can be used to
determine N sufficiency.
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site