Crop production and soil water storage in long-term winter wheat–fallow tillage experiments

Abstract

Soil water is the major limiting factor in dryland crop production in the Central Great Plains. No-till fallow management increases soil water storage and reduces soil erosion potential. Two experiments were initiated in 1969 and 1970 near Sidney, NE to compare effects of moldboard plow (Plow), sub-tillage (Sub-till) and no-tillage (No-till) fallow systems on winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield, grain protein, residue production, and soil water accumulation during fallow. The first experiment was established in 1969 on an Alliance silt loam that had been previously cultivated prior to study initiation. This experiment contained a nitrogen (N) fertilizer split of 0 and 45 (kg N) ha −1 within each tillage treatment. The second experiment was established in 1970 on a Duroc loam that was in native mixed prairie sod. No fertilizer was applied at this site. At both sites, soil water storage was greatest with the no-till and least with the plow system. Winter wheat grain yields failed to consistently respond to increased soil water storage in the no-till system during the 24–26 years of the experiments. Grain yields with the plow system were 8% greater than with sub- and no-till systems at the Previously Cultivated site when N was not applied. The addition of N at this site eliminated yield differences due to fallow tillage systems. Grain protein averaged 13.8, 13.3 and 12.8% for all plow, sub- and no-till treatments, respectively. The addition of N at the Previously Cultivated site increased residue dry weights by an average of 5% in all tillage systems. Neither grain protein nor residue dry weights were affected by tillage system at the Native Sod site. Winter wheat–fallow is probably not a sustainable production system for the Central Great Plains, regardless of the fallow management system used.