Abstract
Fallow Replacement Crop (Cover Crops, Annual Forages, and Short-Season Grain Crops) Effects on Wheat and Grain Sorghum Yields
Highlights
Interest in replacing fallow with a cash crop or cover crop has necessitated research on soil water and wheat yields following a shortened fallow period
The negative effects on wheat yields might be minimized with flex-fallow, which is the concept of only growing a crop in place of fallow in years when soil moisture at planting and precipitation outlook are favorable at the time of making the decision to plant
This study evaluated replacing part of the fallow period with a cover, annual forage, or short-season grain crop on plant-available water at wheat planting and winter wheat yield
Summary
Producers are interested in growing cover crops and reducing fallow. Growing a crop during the fallow period would increase profitability if crop benefits exceeded expenses. A study was done from 2007–2016 that evaluated cover crops, annual forages, and short season grain crops grown in place of fallow. Wheat yield following the previous crop was dependent on precipitation during fallow and the growing season. The length of the fallow period affected yields of the following wheat crop. Cover crops did not improve wheat or grain sorghum yields compared to fallow. The benefits of growing a cover crop during the fallow period must be greater than the expense of growing it; plus compensate for any negative yield impacts on the subsequent crop. The negative effects on wheat yields might be minimized with flex-fallow, which is the concept of only growing a crop in place of fallow in years when soil moisture at planting and precipitation outlook are favorable at the time of making the decision to plant
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