Cropping System and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Grain Sorghum Production. (4275)
Authors:
B. Gordon* - Kansas State Univ.
Abstract:
The use of legumes in crop rotations has been a principal means of supplying nitrogen (N) to
non-legume plants. Sorghum is grown in low rainfall areas because of its ability to withstand heat and drought stress. Soybean acres continue to expand into the central Great Plains. This experiment was initiated to compare continuous sorghum production to sorghum grown in annual rotation with soybeans in a no-tillage system. The study was established in 1980 near Belleville, KS on a Crete silt loam soil. Treatments included cropping system (continuous sorghum and sorghum rotated with soybeans)and N rates (0, 34, 67, and 101 kg/ha). In 1996, four additional N rates (134, 168, 202, and 235 kg/ha) were added to the experiment to further define N response. During 1982-1995, yield of sorghum rotated with soybean was 27% greater than yield of continuous sorghum. The application of 67 kg N/ha maximized yield of sorghum rotated with soybean while yield of continuous sorghum
continued to increase with increasing N rate up to the 101 kg N/ha rate. Yield of sorghum rotated with soybean was greater than continuous sorghum at all levels of applied N. Even when higher N rates were added, yield of continuous sorghum never equaled yield of sorghum rotated with soybean. Addition of N alone did not make up yield losses found in the continuous sorghum production system.
Speaker Information: Barney Gordon, Kansas State Univ., 1300 60 Rd, Courtland, KS 66939; Phone: 785 335-2836; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Monday, November 1, 2004, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM Presentation Start: 1:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1165)
Keywords: grain sorghum; crop rotation; nitrogen fertilization; soybeans
