1998 Table of Contents

1998 STEEP III Progress Report

INVESTIGATORS:

Principal Investigators: Don Wysocki, Extension Soil Scientist, OSU, Pendleton and Steven Albrecht, Microbiologist, USDA-ARS, Pendleton.

Grower Cooperators: Bryan Jones, Robert Newtson, Jeff Shaw, and Jerry Simpson, Helix and Pilot Rock, Oregon

University Cooperators: Bill Schillinger, Agronomist, WSU, Ritzville; Bill Payne Agronomist, and Dan Ball Weed Scientist, OSU, Pendleton,

NRCS Cooperators: Tom Gohlke, State Agronomist and Hal Gordon, State Economist Portland; Bob Adelman and Steve Jaeger, Pendleton,

Industry Cooperator: Tim Wienke, Pendleton Grain Growers, Pendleton

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

1. To describe and identify a workable flex cropping (FC) systems
2. To establish on-farm and research center trials to address grower’s most critical FC soil and crop management questions
3. To measure soil quality changes occurring as a result of FC
4. To conduct an economic analysis of FC system

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Major changes in the Federal farm program and continued decline of soil resources pose two difficult challenges to wheat producers throughout the dryland Pacific Northwest. This is particularly critical for producers who have traditionally practiced winter wheat-summer fallow rotations. In the next seven years the national farm program will transition from a subsidy based program to one that is market oriented. This transition is a major change in program philosophy from that of the past 60 years. Subsidy payments will be incrementally reduced to zero in the transition. At program conclusion, producers will receive no deficiency payment; they will receive the market price. In the past, deficiency payments have kept the price received by the producer at about $4/bushel. In the future return to the grower will be fully determined by the market, certainly a more risky system. To operate in this system, growers must become more flexible so they can react to market trends. Flexibility means such practices as planting different crops (those with better profit margins), growing different market classes of wheat or annual cropping in favorable years. This flexible system can be termed flex cropping (FC).

A second challenge facing wheat producers is the continued decline of soil resources. At the farm and field level, erosion and loss of soil organic matter in winter wheat-summer fallow (WF) fields threaten crop productivity and long-term farm sustainability. At the watershed level they effect ecosystem health and surface water quality. Fortunately, FC may assist producers in addressing this challenge. Intensifying crop rotations and/or using rotation crops in FC systems improves protection from erosion and increases the amount of carbon cycled to the soil. Farmers, farms, fields and the environment are all better off when FC replaces WF cropping systems. Higher risk, greater workload, and the learning curve involved with changing systems are factors that deter producers from FC.

AGRONOMIC ZONE OF INTEREST: This project will focus on FC systems that have direct application in agronomic zones 3, 4, and 5 (Douglas et al. 1990). Soils in these zones are primarily, Condon, Valby, Morrow, Ritzville, Shano, or Walla Walla silt loams with a few very fine sandy loam analogs. Annual precipitation ranges from 8 to about 16 inches. Information obtained during this project will also have application to agronomic zones 1 and 2. This project will be conducted in areas that traditional have been in winter wheat-summer fallow rotation. The purpose of the project is to assist growers in developing flex cropping option that can replace summer fallow in these systems.

ABSTRACT OF RESEARCH FINDINGS: This project was initiated in the summer of 1997. Experimental trials were discussed with cooperators this past winter and established in the spring of 1998. Three experiments at three locations were conducted. Experiment 1 investigated the influence of the immediate past crop, tillage and fertilizer timing on spring soft white wheat. Experiment 2 examined the need for phosphorus, sulfur and chloride nutrition in furrow at planting. Experiment 3 investigated the rate and application method of topdress nitrogen on hard red spring wheat. Each of these experiments addressed questions that producers have when transitioning from fallow to annual or flex crop rotations.

RESULTS AND INTERPRETATIONS: Three experiments that addressed specific grower questions were completed during the 1997-1998 crop year. These trials were designed in consultation with participating growers and project investigator. When producers convert from fallow rotations to more intensive cropping, fertilizer and tillage management decisions must be made with little previous experience. Two commonly asked questions are "Should I prepare my fields in the fall?" and "Should I fertilize in the fall or wait until planting?". An experiment

investigated the interaction of fertilizer timing, crop rotation, and tillage practices. Treatments compared the performance of spring wheat after spring Canola vs. spring wheat, fall disking vs. undisturbed residue and fall vs. spring fertilizer application (Table 1). All plots were supplied with phosphorus, sulfur and starter nitrogen through the addition of 100 lb/acre 16-20-0-14 with the drill at planting. Briefly, spring wheat yielded 8-10 percent higher after spring Canola, tillage treatments were equal in crop response, and spring fertilization showed an advantage over fall application. Nearly, five inches of rain fell in May. This may have favored spring application.

Experiment 2 was conducted at the Sherman Station at Moro, Oregon. Growers in Sherman county had questioned the application of phosphorus and sulfur in annual spring crop. Growers felt they were getting response to sulfur application but were uncertain about phosphorus. Spring wheat (Alpowa) and yellow mustard were sown using seven in furrow fertilizer treatments (Table 2). Both crops responded to additions of phosphorus and sulfur, but not chloride. These crops were most responsive to sulfur with secondary response to phosphorus. Wheat and mustard were equally responsive to sulfur; however wheat was more responsive to phosphorus.

In Experiment 3, hard red spring wheat (HRSW) was topdressed with five rates of solution 32 using two application methods. This experiment was conducted because growers interested in annual cropping often consider HWSW as a planting option. HRSW presents a risk for the producer. The crop generally has a price premium compared to soft white wheat. However, the grain protein level must be 14 percent or higher. This requires about 30 percent more nitrogen than does comparable soft white wheat. If protein levels are not achieved there is no advantage to grow HRSW.

The trial was conducted on a grower’s field near Adams, Oregon. HWSW (936R) was sown in late March. Soil and tissue nitrogen levels were analyzed in April and the optimum N rate was determined by these data. Five rates were selected. The 100-lb/ac rate was considered optimum. Solution 32 (urea-ammonium nitrate solution) was applied in early May at the appropriate rate by spike wheel injection or surface dribbling. The crop responded equally to all N rates and both methods of application. At this time, protein analyses have not yet been obtained from the laboratory. However, the producer did achieve 14 percent protein using the 100-lb/ac N rate.

INTERACTION WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS CONDUCTING RELATED ACTIVITY

This project is complimentary to other cropping system projects currently funded by STEEP. The investigators in this project communicate with other investigators conducting cropping system research. This includes Steven Guy, Frank Young, Dan Ball, and Bill Schillinger. In addition, communications and contributions from Dr. Jack Brown, University of Idaho have been sought to facilitate the introduction of yellow mustard into FC systems.

Contact us: Hans Kok, (208)885-5971 | Accessibility | Copyright | Policies | WebStats | STEEP Acknowledgement
Hans Kok, WSU/UI Extension Conservation Tillage Specialist, UI Ag Science 231, PO Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844 USA Redesigned by Leila Styer, CAHE Computer Resource Unit; Maintained by Debbie Marsh, Dept. of Crop & Soil Sciences, WSU