Winter wheat residue impact on soil water storage and subsequent corn yield

Luana M. Simão,Greg R. Kruger,Amanda C. Easterly,Cody F. Creech

doi:10.1002/agj2.20459

Abstract

AbstractStanding winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residue can capture snow, reduce soil erosion and water evaporation, and increase crop yields in semi‐arid environments. Solid‐stemmed winter wheat (SSWW) varieties may remain standing longer in the field; however, SSWW consistently yields less than conventional hollow‐stemmed winter wheat (HSWW). This research investigates if the negative economic impact of yield loss of SSWW may be overcome by increasing the subsequent corn (Zea mays L.) yield due to increased snow capture and soil moisture. The experiment covered two cycles of a wheat–corn–fallow rotation in two separate fields between 2016 and 2019 near Sidney, NE. Five wheat varieties were tested (four varieties HSWW and one SSWW). Treatments (variety) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. ‘Warhorse’ (SSWW) and ‘Settler CL’ (HSWW) had the lowest grain yield (2,119 and 2,153 kg ha−1, respectively) in a drier year. Warhorse (SSWW) residue did not persist standing longer in the field compared with other HSWW varieties. No advantage of SSWW over HSWW was observed in enhancing soil moisture for years with average precipitation during the corn growing season, and consequently, corn yield did not increase. These results suggest that SSWW should be considered only if the risk of crop failure from wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) would reduce HSWW grain yields below those achieved when using SSWW.

Highlights

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ranks third in total hectares grown in Nebraska, and the western part of the state is responsible for approximately 80% of the state’s production (USDA, 2020)
The second year had considerably more precipitation, grain yield was less than the first year for all varieties except Warhorse due to hail damage in May (Table 2)
Pronghorn and LCS Chrome had greater grain yield than Warhorse and Settler CL, whereas Robidoux showed no differences among varieties

Summary

Introduction

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) ranks third in total hectares grown in Nebraska, and the western part of the state is responsible for approximately 80% of the state’s production (USDA, 2020). By conserving water in semi-arid regions (Nielsen, Unger, & Miller, 2005; Schlegel, Assefa, Haag, Thompson, & Stone, 2019a; Unger, 1992; Unger, Stewart, Parr, & Singh, 1991). The use of crop rotations of ≥3 yr has proven to be a beneficial system in semi-arid regions (Davis, Hill, Chase, Johanns, & Liebman, 2012; Nielsen & Vigil, 2018; Schlegel, Assefa, Haag, Thompson, & Stone, 2019b; Schlegel, Dumler, & Thompson, 2002), and a 3-yr rotation of wheat–corn (Zea mays L.)–fallow is common in the High Plains of the United States (Rosenzweig & Schipanski, 2019). Maintaining crop residue in semi-arid regions is beneficial for maintaining a sustainable system and decreasing the risks of reduced yield by low soil water conservation

Methods

Results

Conclusion