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
Dry edible bean variety
trials
Hard
red spring wheat variety trial
Onion
hybrid performance trial
Crop Production Management Studies
Corn
row width and hybrid study
Nitrogen management in hard red spring
wheat
Potato
variety nitrogen rate study
Strip-till, corn on corn nitrogen rate study
Strip-till, corn on soybean nitrogen rate
study
Strip-till, soybean on corn study
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. Intense
management in barley including; plant population, seeding depth, disease
control, nitrogen rate and timing have made great strides in increasing yield
levels of quality grain.
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: |
2011 – Soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring no-tilled with a Seedmaster
drill. |
|
Planting: |
Planted on March 17 with a Seedmaster drill.
Planting rate was 2.8 bu/acre (1,400,000 seeds/acre). |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 76 ft long by 10 ft wide. |
|
Fertilizer: |
At
planting 25 lbs N/acre, 39 lbs P2O5/acre, 48 lbs K2O/acre,
19 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1 with a separate shank ¾” to
the side and ½” below the seed. Stream
bar applied 76 lbs N/acre April 16 as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Wolverine (1.7 pt/acre) April 30, Headline
(6 oz/acre) May 3 and Tilt (4 oz/acre) May 18. |
|
Harvest: |
July 11 with a Hege plot combine. Harvest area was five feet wide and 76 feet
in length. |
RESULTS
Three six-row
malting barley varieties: Lacey, Stellar-ND,
and Tradition have been tested for seven years under irrigation at this
site. Their medium-short stature and
strong to very strong straw strength resists lodging. These three varieties have averaged 110.6 bu/acre and 12.0% protein over this seven year period.
Barley variety 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; pH 7.1; 1.7 % organic matter; soil-N 27 lb/acre, soil-P was very high,
soil-K was high. Navy and
miscellaneous bean - Maddock sandy loam and Hecla sandy loam: pH 7.3; 2.0 %
organic matter; soil-N 25 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
Pinto bean: 2011 – field
corn. Navy and misc bean: 2011 – field
corn and wheat. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Spring
conventional tillage. |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 29. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft
(2 rows) wide. There were 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
22 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20‑8-1. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler
irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Endura (11 oz/acre) July 11, July 18 and July 25 for disease control. Sevin (1.5 qt/acre) July 25 for insect control. Section 2EC(10
oz/acre) + COC (1% v/v) June 8 (pinto only), cultivation and hand weed for weed
control. |
|
Harvest: |
Hand
harvested when mature. Pinto bean August
27, navy bean August 28 and misc bean September 4 except for Merlot and
Sedona matured September 13. Harvest area for all bean varieties was:
seventeen feet of two rows. Beans were
threshed with a stationary plot thresher. |
Dry edible bean tables: Pinto Navy Misc
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: |
Embden loam; pH=7.3; 2.3 % organic matter; soil-N 60
lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crops: |
2011 – Barley and wheat. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring strip till. |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 1 in 30-inch rows. Thinned to 36,900
plants/acre. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
22 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20‑8-1. Dribble 53 lbs
N/acre and 18 lbs S/acre as 28-0-0 and 15-0-0-20 April 26. Sidedress 155 lbs of N/acre as 28‑0‑0
June 5. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed |
|
Pest Control: |
Roundup (30 oz/acre) + AMS (14 lb/100 gal) April 26 and
Harness (1 pt/acre) + Lumax (1 pt/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre ai) May
3. |
|
October 11 with a plot combine. Harvest area was two rows 17 feet long |
Corn Hybrid Performance Trial Table 1. Irrigated Table 2. Dry land
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: |
Egeland loam and Maddock sandy loam;
pH=7.4; 1.7 % organic matter; soil-N 18 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were
very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 - soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring no-tilled with a Seedmaster
drill. |
|
Planting: |
Planted on March 19 with a Seedmaster drill.
Planting rate was 2 bu/acre (1,600,000
seeds/acre). |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 76 ft long by 10 ft wide. |
|
Fertilizer: |
At
planting 25 lbs N/acre, 39 lbs P2O5/acre, 48 lbs K2O/acre,
19 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1 with a separate shank ¾”
to the side and ½” below the seed.
Stream bar applied 76 lbs N/acre April 16 and 50 lbs N/acre
April 26 as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Wolverine (1.7 pt/acre) April 30, Headline
(6 oz/acre) May 3, Tilt (4 oz/acre) May 18, Folicur (4 oz/acre) June 6
and Proline (5 oz/acre) June 9. |
|
Harvest: |
July 19 with a Hege plot combine. Harvest area was five feet wide and
76 feet in length. |
RESULTS
Yield,
test weight, grain protein and plant height were significantly different among
varieties. Yields averaged 80.2 bu/acre
in 2012 compared to the five year average of 68.0 bu/acre. Fungal diseases in more susceptible varieties
were kept in check with fungicides.
Hard red spring wheat Table Nitrogen management
in hard red spring wheat
Table 1. Faller Table 2. Glenn
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.
This study tested 16 sweet Spanish hybrids.
|
Soil: |
Embden loam and Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.3; 2.3 % organic
matter; soil‑N 60 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crops: |
2011 – barley. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring
strip-till. |
|
Planting: |
Direct seeded onions (285,000
seeds/acre) April 20 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: |
March
22 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20‑8‑1. Stream-bar
60 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 May 21, June 15 and July 3. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Roundup (30 oz/acre) + AMS (14 lb/100 gal) April 26;
Buctril (2 oz/acre) + COC (0.5% v/v) May 10, May 14 and May 21; Section
2EC (6 oz/acre) May 18, Buctril (1 pt/acre) + Goal 2XL (0.6 oz/acre) June 4,
Section (8 oz/acre) + NIS (0.25% v/v) June 28
and hand weeding for weed control.
Ridomil MZ 72 (2.5 lb/acre) August 2 and
August 6 for disease control. |
|
Harvest: |
Pulled all onions September 6 and left to field dry. After field drying onions were topped and
graded September 11 ‑ September 13. |
RESULTS
Onions responded well to the hot long growing season. As in the past six years, longer season onions (115-120) have performed best. The outcome in a short growing season caused by earlier frost may have different results. Previous years data; Sedona, Delgado, and Crocket averaged 815, 741, and 705 cwt/acre respectively from 2007‑2010. Sedona, Delgado, and Crocket averaged 556, 552 and 467 cwt/acre in the greater than three inch size from 2007‑2010.
Onion hybrid performance 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; pH=7.1; 1.7
% organic matter; soil-N 27 lb/acre; soil-P was very high; soil-K was high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 – field
corn. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring
conventional tillage. |
|
Planting: |
Planted soybean May 10 in
30-inch rows. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft
(2 rows) wide. There were 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
20 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20-8-1. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler
irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Valor (2 oz/acre) May 14,
Section (10 oz/acre) + COC (1% v/v) June 8; Raptor (5 oz/acre) + NIS
(0.25%v/v) June 21 for weed control.
Endura (11 oz/ac) July 11 and July 18, Proline (5 oz/acre) July
25 for disease control. Sevin (1.5 qt/acre) July 25 for insect control. |
|
Harvest: |
September 25 with a plot
combine. |
RESULTS
Grain yield, seed oil and protein %, test weight and plant lodging were significantly affected by variety in the roundup ready trial. Grain yield, seed oil and protein % and test weight were significantly affected by variety in the conventional trial. Yields in the Roundup Ready trial averaged 72.0 bu/acre compared to the four year average of 64.1 bu/acre.
Soybean variety trial tables
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Ted Helms, NDSU Department of
Plant Sciences
Breeding experiments were conducted at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site in 2012. 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 studies consisted of an experiment to evaluate conventional soybean experimental lines and an experiment to evaluate conventional soybean advanced breeding lines.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Natto: Maddock sandy loam, Hecla sandy loam and
Embden sandy loam; pH=7.1; 1.7% organic matter, soil-N 27 lb/acre, soil-P was
very high; soil-K was high. Conventional: Maddock sandy loam, Hecla sandy loam and
Embden sandy loam; pH=7.0; 2.1% organic matter, soil-N 32 lb/acre, soil-P and
soil-K was very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
Conventional – advanced breeding lines: 2011 – field corn. Conventional
– experimental lines: 2011 – field corn and onion. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring conventional tillage. |
|
Planting: |
Planted advanced May 10 and
experimental May 15, in 30-inch rows. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 5 ft
(2 rows) wide. All studies had 3 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
20 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20-8-1. . |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler
irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Valor (2 oz/acre) May 14
advanced and May 18 experimental. Section
(10 oz/acre) + COC (1% v/v) June 8; Raptor (5 oz/acre) +NIS (0.25%v/v)
June 21 for weed control. Endura
(11 oz/ac) July 11 and July 18, Proline (5 oz/acre) July 25 for
disease control.
Sevin (1.5 qt/acre)
July 25 for insect control. |
|
Harvest: |
September 29 with a plot
combine. |
Soybean breeding tables Soybean variety trial tables
Experimental Advanced Conventional Roundup Ready
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Strip-Till Sugarbeet Hybrid Performance Trial
W. Albus, L.
Besemann and H. Eslinger
Sugarbeet
stand establishment can be a difficult proposition. Generally, dryland
beets are planted into a well worked, firm, level, seedbed to maintain accurate
depth control and seed spacing into moist soil.
This results in a very smooth surface that is susceptible to wind
erosion. The emerging plants and
seedlings are easily cut off by blowing soil.
Wind can cause the young seedlings to spin out of the ground, called
helicoptering. In either event,
replanting is required. The replanting
is not only expensive but results in lost growing time which is important to
maximize yield. Strip-till is a
procedure used by producers to protect the plants from wind. Narrow black strips that match the row width
of the planter are made in the fall on previous small grain or other suitable
crop stubble. The strips are made with a
knife that works and lifts the soil.
Berm builders, coulters that contain the soil coming off the knife, make
a berm. Some strip-till machines used
angled fluted coulters to till the strip and form a berm. The widths of the black strips vary with the
machine used but typically are about 6 inches wide. The planter units
plant on the tilled black strips made the previous fall or spring. The un-worked stubble in‑between the
strips acts as a wind buffer to protect the seedlings from wind damage.
The objectives of this study are to
determine if viable sugarbeet stands can be established in strip-till zones and
to show the advantages of irrigation to keep the small, shallow seeds moist
during germination and seedling growth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Egeland loam and Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.23; 2.3 %
organic matter; soil-N
60 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crops: |
2011 – barley. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring
strip till. |
|
Planting: |
April 19.
Sugarbeet were planted in rows on 22‑inch centers. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 7⅓ ft (four rows) wide by 17 ft
long. The study had 4 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
22 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10‑16‑20‑8‑1. Stream-bar
60 lbs N/acre May 21 as 28-0-0; broadcast 120 lbs N/acre on June 8 as 46-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Roundup Power Max (30 oz/acre) April 26, Roundup Power
Max (40 oz/acre) May 21, June 9 and July 21 for weed control. Proline (5.7 oz/acre) July 25, August 6 and
August 30, Headline (12 oz/acre) August 15 for disease control. Sevin (1.5 qt/acre) July 25 for insect control. |
|
Harvest: |
September 25 and September 26. |
RESULTS
Although
sugarbeets emerged well, growth was slowed early in
the season due to adjacent barley residue.
Barley residue had a positive effect of giving protection to young
seedlings from wind. The long hot
growing season coupled with adequate soil moisture from irrigation produced
exceptional yields. Plant populations
were significantly lower in the Vanderhave SV36711
resulting in lower yields.
Sugarbeet variety table
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. 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 row width studies were continued. Since 15-inch rows provides the most
inter-row plant spacing it was decided there is no reason to test other narrow
row configurations until we get a consistent yield response in 15-inch
rows. 2012 is the seventh year of
comparing 15-inch rows to 30-inch rows.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.3; 1.7% organic
matter; soil-N 24 lbs/acre; soil‑P was high and soil-K was medium. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 – potato. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Conventional
tillage practices. |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 9 in 30-inch (41,800/ac) and
15-inch (39,000/ac) row spacing. |
|
Plots: |
Plots 157 ft long by 10 ft wide. Plots with 30-inch row spacing had 4 rows; plots
with 15-inch spacing had 8 rows. The
study had 3 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
20 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1. Stream bar 60 lbs N/acre May 21, May
31 and June 7 as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Lumax (3 pt/acre) May 11. |
|
Harvest: |
Harvested October 4 and October 5. Harvest area was four rows in the 30 inch
rows and eight rows from the 15 inch rows. |
RESULTS
Although 15-inch
rows yielded 5.7 bu/acre more than 30-inch rows in 2012 it wasn’t
significant. In seven years of study
15-inch rows have significantly out yielded 30-inch rows in one year only. The relationship between 15-inch and 30-inch
rows from 2006-2012 is presented in Figure1.
Corn
row width Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Energy Beet Variety Trial
Syngenta, Green Vision and NDSU
An irrigated
energy beet variety trial was initiated in the Oakes in 2009 as a cooperative
project among the Green Vision Group and Syngenta was continued in 2012. Energy beets hold a great potential as feed
stock for ethanol plants. High yielding
energy beet germplasm may yield higher than germplasm for sugarbeets
that must meet rigid sugar quality and impurity indexes. It is the objective of this trial to
determine the yield potential of energy beets under irrigation in SE ND.
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam and Hecla sandy loam; pH=6.9; 2.4 %
organic matter; soil-N 38 lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crops: |
2011 – wheat. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Conventional
tillage practices. |
|
Planting: |
April 23.
Sugarbeet were planted in rows on 22‑inch centers. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 5.5 ft (three rows) wide by 20 ft long. The study had 3 reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
22 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1. Stream-bar 60 lbs N/acre May 21 and
July 23 as 28-0-0; broadcast 100 lbs N/acre on June 12 as 46-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Roundup Power Max (32 oz/acre) May 21 and Roundup Power
Max (40 oz/acre) June 15 for weed control. Proline (5.7 oz/acre) August 7 and August
30, Headline (12 oz/acre) August 14 for disease control. |
|
Harvest: |
October 1. |
Results
The long hot
growing season with ample moisture supplied by overhead irrigation resulted in
the highest yield recorded at this site of 49.6 ton/acre. Sugarbeets
have averaged 38.7 ton/acre over the past seven years.
Energy beet Table
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Nitrogen Management in Hard Red Spring Wheat
Utilizing Remote Sensing
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
Intense management in hard red spring wheat including; plant population, seeding depth, disease control, weed control, nitrogen rate and timing have made great strides in increasing yield levels of quality grain. Nitrogen(N) uptake in wheat occurs during late spring and early summer when soil mineralization of N can vary greatly from year to year. Excessive N, results in increased lodging that reduces yield. Therefore the next step in intensive management is to use plant indicators that determine plant N sufficiency in real time. Insufficient N, results in low yields and low protein. Plant indicators can also allow us to determine if post flowering applications of N will increase grain protein.
To meet these objectives Faller hard red spring wheat was grown under intensive management at six N rates: 50, 100, 125, 150, 180 and 200 lb N/acre. The 50 and 100 lb N treatments were applied in two applications by April 16. The 150 and 200 lb N treatments were applied in three applications by April 26. The 180 lb N treatment was treated as the 150 lb N treatment with the addition of 30 lb N/acre on June 6 to increase grain protein. The 50 + NDRE treatment was treated as the 50 lb N treatment until nitrogen was determined insufficient by the NDRE readings on May 9, when an additional 75 lb N/acre was applied for a total of 125 lb N/acre. Faller is grown on a significant acreage in ND and tends to be low in grain protein. Nitrogen treatments were also applied to Glenn hard red spring wheat which is high in grain protein. The 100, 150, 200 and 180 treatments in the Glenn study were applied as in the Faller study. Normalized difference red edge values (NDRE) is a plant sensed indice that measures vegetation by both red edge color and bio-mass and thus can be used as a measure of plant N sufficiency. A goal in this study is to determine what sufficiency value is required to meet plant needs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam; pH=7.4; 1.7 % organic
matter; soil-N 18 lb/acre; soil‑P and soil-K were very high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 soybean. |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Spring no-tilled with a Seedmaster
drill. |
|
Planting: |
Planted on March 19 with a Seedmaster drill.
Planting rate was 2 bu/acre (1,600,000
seeds/acre). |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 20 ft wide (two
passes) wide. There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
At
planting 25 lbs N/acre, 39 lbs P2O5/acre, 48 lbs K2O/acre,
19 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1 with a separate shank ¾”
to the side and ½” below the seed. Stream bar 76 lbs N/acre April 16 as
28-0-0 to all treatments except the 50 lb N treatments which received 26 lbs
N/acre. Stream bar 50 lbs N/acre to the 150, 150 +
30 and 180 treatments and 100 lbs N/acre to the 200 lb treatment April
26. Stream bar 75 lbs N/acre to 50 +
NDRE treatment May 9 and 30 lbs N/acre to the 180 lb treatment June 6 as
28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Wolverine (1.7 pt/acre) April 30, Headline
(6 oz/acre) May 3, Folicur (4 oz/acre) June 6 and Proline (5 oz/acre)
June 9. |
|
Remote
sensing: |
Remote
sensing was achieved with a Holland Crop Circle ACS active canopy sensor
(normalized difference red edge ‑ NDRE). |
|
Harvest: |
July 19 with a Hege plot combine. Harvest area was one five feet wide passes
17 feet in length from the center of each plot. |
RESULTS
Grain yields were not affected by N rate. Test weights were lowered with increasing N rates. Protein content increased with increasing N rate. Applying 30 lb N/acre post anthesis tended to increase grain protein. Soil nitrate-N (0-2’) on July 27, increased with increasing N level. Normalized difference red edge (NDRE) values were measured with a Holland Crop Circle sensor. NDRE values increased with increasing N. Return to N was not significantly different among N rates in Faller but was significantly different in Glenn. Evidently, soil mineralization of soil organic N was much higher than expected as evidenced by the lack of return to N above 100 lb/acre. Also, wheat photosynthesis slows down and may stop at temperatures of 82 to 85 degrees F whereas respiration continues to increase with increasing temperatures up to 100 degrees. Heat stress becomes severe at 90 degrees. Daily maximum temperatures exceeded 84 degrees 27 times and exceeded 89 degrees 15 times from May 15 to July 15, (Fig. 1). This temperature induced stress may have prevented the wheat at the higher N rates to express it’s yield potential.
Plant N sufficiency value was based on the NDRE value of an N treatment compared to an NDRE value of a high reference N treatment (N applied at a rate above that known to be sufficient). The hypothesis in this study was to assume that if the NDRE value of an N treatment was between 95-98% of the value in the high N reference treatment, no additional fertilizer N would need to be applied. The 200 lb N/acre rate was used as the high reference treatment. In the case of this data set, NDRE would indicate the 150 lb/acre N rate to have the appropriate N rate to provide sufficient N to meet chlorophyll and biomass requirements. In the 50 lb N rate plus NDRE treatment, the sufficiency index (NDRE) was too low, at 76 percent of the reference on May 9, for a 125 lb/acre N remedial application on that date, for the wheat to regain 96% sufficiency levels at subsequent measurements. Also the 75 lb/acre N application on May 9, may not have been high enough.
Nitrogen management in hard red spring wheat: Table 1. Faller Hard red spring wheat variety trial Table 1.
Table 2. Glenn
Material and methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
The Response of Three Potato Cultivars to Nitrogen Rate
W. Albus, A. Thompson, 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/acre.
Measurements were taken periodically to measure nitrogen sufficiency
utilizing the following: Dry petioles
and petiole sap were analyzed for nitrate‑N; chlorophyll meter readings
with a Minolta SPAD 502; and canopy vegetative indexes with a Crop Circle ACS
430. The canopy index used in these
comparisons was the normalized difference red edge index (NDRE). The objective of these trials is to study
varietal response to nitrogen(N) and determine if N
sufficiency in a growing crop expressed by canopy index measurements can be
used to determine the most efficient N application and rate.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam and Embden sandy loam;
pH=7.1; 1.7 % organic matter; soil-N 27 lb/acre; soil-P was very high, soil-K
was high. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 – field corn. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Conventional tillage practices. |
|
Planting: |
April 25.
Planting rate was one seed piece per foot. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 17 ft long by 12 ft wide (4
rows). There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
March
20 broadcast 26 lbs N/acre, 41 lbs P2O5/acre, 49 lbs K2O/acre,
20 lbs S/acre and 2 lbs Zn/acre as 10-16-20-8-1. See (Table 2)
for N rate treatments. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Matrix (1.0 oz/acre) + Lexone (0.33
lb/acre) + Dual II Magnum (1¼ pt/acre) + NIS (0.125% v/v) June 4 for weed
control. Mustang Max (4 oz/acre) July
25 for insect control. Fungicides used
for disease control see (Table 1). |
|
Remote
sensing: |
Remote
sensing was achieved with a Minolta Spad 502 chlorophyll meter and a Holland
Crop Circle ACS active canopy sensor (normalized difference red edge – NDRE). |
|
Harvest: |
Harvest September 19 to September 27. Harvested one of the two center rows (17
feet) of each plot. |
RESULTS
Although fertilizer nitrogen(N)
rate didn’t significantly affect yield total yield was nearly maximized in all
varieties at 180 lb N/acre. A different
picture evolves if one accounts for the graded yield if 0-4 oz, 4-6 oz, 6-12 oz
and > 12 oz sized potatoes are given a market value of $5.00/cwt,
$14.50/cwt, $12.00/cwt and $16.00/cwt respectively. When graded value is accounted for, the
highest return to N was found at the 240 lb N/acre N rate in Bannock Russet and
Russet Burbank and at the 180 N/acre N rate in Dakota
Trailblazer. The three year means give us a clearer picture of return to N
above 120 lb N/acre in (Fig.
1) which shows the highest returns for Dakota Trailblazer and Russet Bank
at the 300 lb/acre N rate and Bannock Russet at the 180 lb/acre N rate. Plant nitrogen sufficiency,
as determined by chlorophyll meter readings on August 23 and NDRE measurements
on August 21, showed N sufficiency to be below 96% for all N rates below 300 lb
N/acre (Fig. 2). Nitrate-N in dry petioles exceeded the
critical value for all varieties at the 180 and 240 lb N rates through August 3
(Fig. 3). Dry petiole nitrate-N exceeded the critical
value on all dates for the 300 lb/acre rate.
Potato nitrogen rate Tables
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 15
years. Figure 1. shows the corn acres planted and
total bushels harvested in ND from 1997-2012.
We are currently planting about 3.39 million acres of corn and producing
about 407 million bushels annually.
North Dakota ethanol production capacity is
about 398 million gallons. At an
efficiency of 2.8 gal/bu of corn this ethanol production requires 142 million
bushels of corn annually, which is about one third of the corn grown in the
state. This and price ratios with other
crops favoring corn production, will continue to push for more corn acres in
the state requiring more corn on corn in the traditional corn growing regions
in the state.
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. Plots are spring strip-tilled. Fertilizer nitrogen is applied in two split
applications, the first at planting and the second at side-dress. Placement is addressed by applying the
planting time N application either with the strip-till operation prior to planting
or dribbling 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 (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; pH=7.1;
2.3% organic matter; soil-N average 8 lbs/acre; soil-P and soil-K were high;
soil-S was low. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 - field corn.
|
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Strip-till April 23 with an Orthman
strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: |
Pioneer P9917 AMI. |
|
Planting: |
Planted April 24 in 30-inch rows @ 33,000 seeds/acre. |
|
Plots: |
Plots were 137 ft long by 20 ft (8 rows)
wide. There were four reps. |
|
Fertilizer: |
April 5 all plots received a
broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as 0‑0-60. April 23
all plots, except the 25 lb/acre N
rate treatments, received 40 lb N/acre as 28-0-0, 13 lb N/acre and
18 lb S/acre as 15-0-0-20 via strip till or dribble (April 26). April 26 all plots received 12 lb N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre as 10-34-0 via dribble. The 25 lb/acre plots received 13 lb N/acre and 18 lb S/acre as 15
0-0-20 dribbled after planting.
Sidedress N treatments June 6; the 200 lb treatments received 135 lb
N/acre and 150 treatments received 85 lb N/acre as 28‑0-0 (three inches
deep). |
|
Irrigation: |
Hand move sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Harness (1 pt/acre) + Lumax (1 pt/acre) +
Atrazine (0.5 lbs ai/acre) May 3, Roundup Power Max (32 oz/acre) May 14. |
|
Remote
sensing: |
Remote
sensing was achieved with a Minolta Spad 502 chlorophyll meter and a Holland
Crop Circle ACS active canopy sensor (normalized difference red edge – NDRE).
|
|
Harvest: |
October 1 with a Case IH 1640 combine. Harvest area was the middle six rows of
each plot 137 feet long. |
RESULTS
All plots were
spring strip-tilled at a six to eight-inch depth with ten gal/acre of 10-34-0
applied. The 10-34-0 was placed at about
2 inches deep in this operation. So all plots received 12 lb N/acre at this time. We are testing the application of the 10-34-0
at this shallow depth in the strip-till application to determine any evident
seed burn. No apparent damage to emerged
stands was noted from 2010-12. The 25 lb
N/acre treatments got another 13 lb N/acre dribbled to the side of the seed row
after planting as ammonium thiosulfate. The remainder of the first N split in
the 150 and 200 lb N/acre treatments was applied at a six-inch depth with
strip-till as 45 lb N/acre as UAN and 8 lb N/acre as ammonium thiosulfate. Note, ammonium
thiosulfate must not get in contact with the seed. In the 150d and 200d treatments the remainder
of the first split applied was applied as UAN at 45 lb N/acre and 8 lb N/ac as
ammonium thiosulfate applied in a surface dribbled to the side of the seed row
at planting. The second N split in the
150, 200, 150d and 200d treatments was applied as UAN at side-dress in-between
every row at a three-inch depth.
Determining nitrogen sufficiency in
time is important to achieve N efficiency.
Remote sensing utilizing 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 and
normalized difference red edge (NDRE).
Remote sensing by chlorophyll meter and the Crop Circle Sensor did well
in predicting corn N status. Figure 2. shows the percent of maximum
return to N for each N rate from 2007 to 2012.
Maximum economic return to N has been highest at the 200 lb/acre N rate.
Strip-till corn on corn Table
Material and
methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Strip-Till, Corn on Soybean, Nitrogen Rate Study
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
The objective of this study is to compare corn yields of a corn/soybean rotation to those in a companion corn/corn rotation and to find differences in N response and other agronomic measurements in these no-till rotations, utilizing strip-till.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam, Hecla sandy
loam and Maddock sandy loam; soil-N average 13 lbs/acre. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 – soybean. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Strip-till April 23 with an Orthman
strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: |
Pioneer P9917 AMI |
|
Planting: |
Planted April 24 @ 33,000
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 5 all plots received a
broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as 0‑0-60. April 23
all plots, except the 25 lb/acre N
rate treatments, received 40 lb N/acre as 28-0-0, 13 lb N/acre and
18 lb S/acre as 15-0-0-20 via strip till or dribble (April 26). April 26 all plots received 12 lb N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre as 10-34-0 via dribble. The 25 lb/acre plots received 13 lb N/acre and 18 lb S/acre as 15
0-0-20 dribbled after planting.
Sidedress N treatments June 6; the 200 lb treatments received 135 lb
N/acre and 150 treatments received 85 lb N/acre as 28‑0-0 (three inches
deep). |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation
as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Harness (1 pt/acre) + Lumax (1 pt/acre) +
Atrazine (0.5 lbs ai/acre) May 3 and Roundup Power Max (32
oz/acre) May 14. |
|
Remote
sensing: |
Remote
sensing was achieved with a Minolta Spad 502 chlorophyll meter and a Holland
Crop Circle ACS active canopy sensor (normalized difference red edge – NDRE). |
|
Harvest: |
Hand harvest October 2 and
October 3. Harvest area was the two
center rows from each plot (seventy-two feet of total row). |
All plots were spring
strip-tilled at a six to eight-inch depth with ten gal/acre of 10-34-0
applied. The 10-34-0 was placed at about
2 inches deep in this operation. All plots received 12 lb N/acre at this time. We are testing the application of the 10-34-0
at this shallow depth in the strip‑till application to determine any
evident seed burn. No apparent damage to
emerged stands was noted from 2010-11. The 25 lb N/acre treatments got another
13 lb N/acre dribbled to the side of the seed row after planting as ammonium
thiosulfate. The remainder of the first N split in the 100, 150 and 200 lb
N/acre treatments was applied at a six-inch depth with strip-till as 45 lb
N/acre as UAN and 8 lb N/acre as ammonium thiosulfate. Note, ammonium
thiosulfate must not get in contact with the seed. In the 100d treatment the remainder of the
first split was applied as UAN at 45 lb N/acre and 8 lb N/acre as ammonium
thiosulfate applied surface dribbled to the side of the seed row at
planting. The second N split in the 100,
100d, 150, and 200 treatments was applied as UAN at side-dress in‑between
every row at a three-inch depth.
Determining
nitrogen sufficiency in time is important to achieve N efficiency. Remote sensing utilizing aerial photography
(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 and
normalized difference red edge (NDRE).
Remote sensing by chlorophyll meter and the Crop Circle Sensor did well
in predicting corn N status. Figure 1. shows the percent of maximum
return to N for each N rate from 2007 to 2012.
Although maximum economic return to N has been highest at the 200
lb/acre N rate in the corn soybean rotation the increase in return above the
150 lb/acre N rate is less consistent than in the corn on corn rotation.
Corn on soybean
strip-till Table
Material and
methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Strip-Till, Soybean on Corn Study
W. Albus, L. Besemann and H. Eslinger
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam, Embden loam Hecla
sandy loam Gardena loam and Maddock sandy loam. |
|
Previous crop: |
2011 – field
corn. |
|
Seedbed Preparation: |
Strip-till April 24 with an Orthman
strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: |
Syngenta NK, CL0911650-1. |
|
Planting: |
Planted May 18 @ 205,000 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 5 all plots received a
broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as 0‑0‑60. April
26 all plots received 12 lb
N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre as 10-34-0 via
dribble. |
|
Irrigation: |
Overhead sprinkler irrigation
as needed. |
|
Pest control: |
Roundup Power Max (32 oz/acre)
May 14 and Roundup Power Max (40 oz/acre June 21. Endura (11
oz/acre) July .11 |
|
Harvest: |
September 24 with a 4400 JD combine (60 rows 74 feet long, recorded with a weigh wagon). |
All soybean plots were combine harvested and bulked. The soybeans yielded 79.7 bu/acre at 9.7% moisture and had a test weight of 57.0 lb/bu.
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. Therefore 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 while
providing this Country with a renewable energy source.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
|
Rotations: |
Block
I: 2012 – field corn, 2011 - field corn, 2010 - field corn, 2009 - field
corn. Block
II: 2012 – soybean, 2011 - field corn, 2010 - soybean, 2009 - field corn. Block
III: 2012 – field corn, 2011 - soybean, 2010 - field corn, 2009- soybean. |
|
Soil: |
Embden sandy loam, Hecla sandy loam and Maddock sandy
loam. Block I: soil-N 27
lb/acre; soil-P and soil-K were very high; soil-S was medium. Block II: soil-N
19 lb/acre; soil-P was very high, soil-K was high; soil-S was medium. Block III: |
|
Seedbed preparation: |
Strip-till April 23 with an Orthman
strip-till machine. |
|
Hybrid: Variety: |
Corn:
Wensman W7320 VT 3PRO. Soybean:
Syngenta NK, CL0911650-1. |
|
Planting: |
Block I: Planted
corn April 24 in 30-inch rows @ 33,000 seeds/acre. Block II: Planted
soybean May 12 in 30-inch rows @ 205,000 seeds/acre. Block III: Planted
corn April 24 in 30-inch rows @ 33,000 seeds/acre. |
|
Fertilizer: |
Block I: April
5 all plots received a broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as
0‑0‑60. April 26 all plots received 12 lb N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre
as 10-34-0 and 63 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 via dribble. June 5, sidedress 145 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0. Block II: April
5 all plots received a broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as
0‑0‑60. April 26 all plots received 12 lb N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre
as 10-34-0 via dribble. Block III: April
5 all plots received a broadcast application of 142 lb K2O/acre as
0‑0‑60. April 26 all plots received 12 lb N/acre and 40 lb P2O5/acre
as 10-34-0 and 63 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 via dribble. June 5, sidedress 125 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0. |
|
Irrigation: |
Hand move sprinkler irrigation as needed. |
|
Pest Control: |
Block I: Harness (1
pt/acre) + Lumax (1 pt/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre) May 3 and Roundup Power
Max (32 oz/acre) May 14. Block II: Roundup
Power Max (32 oz/acre) May 14 and Roundup Power Max (40 oz/acre) June
21. Block III: Harness
(1 pt/acre) + Lumax (1 pt/acre) + Atrazine (0.5 lb/acre) May 3 and
Roundup Power Max (32 oz/acre) May 14. |
|
Remote
sensing: |
Remote
sensing was achieved with a Minolta Spad 502 chlorophyll meter and a Holland
Crop Circle ACS active canopy sensor (normalized difference
red edge – NDRE). |
|
Harvest: |
Block I: Hand
harvested the entire length (27 feet) of rows 5 and 8 from each plot on
October 4. Block II:
September 24 with a 4400 JD combine (36 rows 106 feet long, recorded
with a weigh wagon). Block III: Hand
harvested the entire length (27 feet) of rows 5 and 8 from each plot on
October 3. |
RESULTS BLOCK I (Corn/Corn)-2012
Corn stover was removed at the 33, 67 and 100 percent removal rates in block I (corn/corn rotation). Stover removal had no significant effect on grain yield, moisture and test weight. Stover removal had no effect on, chlorophyll readings (Spad 502), Normalized Difference Red Edge indice (Holland Crop Circle ACS 430) and stalk nitrate-N (Table 1). Longer term data from 2009 to 2012 is presented in (Table 2). Figure 1. shows what happens to the revenue for the higher yield of the 100 percent removal rate compared to the 0 percent removal rate when the cost of N, P and K are accounted for. The 0 removal plots averaged $25/acre more revenue from 2008 to 2011 than the 100 percent removal plots even when the 2008 year is included (corn stover was spread in a thick mat in 2008
RESULTS BLOCK III (Corn/Soybean)-2012
Stover removal rates of 33, 67, and 100 had no effect on grain yield, moisture or test weight (Table 3). Longer term data from 2009 to 2012 is presented in (Table 4).
RESULTS BLOCK II (Soybean/Corn)-2012
All soybean plots were combine harvested and bulked. The soybeans yielded 72.2 bu/acre at 9.1% moisture and had a test weight of 56.5 lb/bu.
Stover removal corn on corn: Table
Stover removal soybean on corn: Table
Material and
methods Index
Oakes Irrigation Research Site