Productivity and profitability with fallow replacement forage, grain, and cover crops in W‐S‐F rotation

Abstract

AbstractAdoption of cover crops is greatly dependent on their effect on the productivity of the main crops and profitability of system. The objective of this study was to quantify effects of spring fallow replacement grain, forage, and cover crops on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) productivity and overall net return. This field study was conducted from 2013 through 2020 near Garden City, KS. Three phases of the wheat–sorghum–fallow (W‐S‐F) rotation were the main plots, and fallow and fallow replacement grain, forage, or cover crops were subplot treatments. Available soil water at planting (ASWP) of wheat was 58 to 81% less following forage and grain oat (Avena sativa L.) and triticale and ASWP of sorghum was 29% less following spring oat grain than fallow. Spring crops did not affect average wheat and sorghum yield, water use, or water productivity compared with fallow; likely because winter wheat yield potential over the study period was <1,700 or >3,500 kg ha−1. Fallow replacement crops increased cost of production by 16 to 97% compared with fallow, and costs were greater for forage and grain crops than cover crops. However, gross returns of forage crops were greater than cover crops or grain crops. Net return was greatest for triticale forage than spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) grain. We concluded no significant effect of spring fallow replacements on wheat and sorghum yield, but greater net return from spring triticale forage because of greater forage productivity and low seed cost.