Abstract
In Missouri as well as much of the Midwest, the most popular double-cropping system was winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) followed by soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr). These two crops can also be used in an intercrop system, but optimal row spacing was important to increase crop productivity. Research was conducted to evaluate (1) winter wheat inter- and double-crop production systems, using a variety of alternative crops, and (2) the impact of different wheat row spacings on intercrop establishment and yields within the various cropping systems. Field research was conducted during droughts in 2012 and 2013. Spacing of wheat rows impacted wheat yields by 150 kg ha−1, as well as yields of the alternative crops. Narrower row spacings (150 kg ha−1) and the double-crop system (575 kg ha−1) increased yield due to the lack of interference for resources with wheat in 2013. Land equivalent ratio (LER) values determining productivity of intercrop systems of 19 and 38 cm row showed an advantage for alternative crops in 2013, but not 2012. This signified that farmers in Northeast Missouri could potentially boost yield potential for a given field and produce additional forage or green manure yields in a year with less severe drought.
Highlights
Double-cropping is a production system that includes the growth of two separate crops at different times in the same growing season
There were no significant differences among treatments for total above ground dry matter, number of grains per area, grain weight, or grain yield. These findings indicated that there were no negative effects of wide-row planting on wheat yields [23]
On 3 October, 2011, wheat was no-till drill seeded at 112 kg ha−1 in 19 cm rows using a Great Plains no-till drill (Great Plains Ag., Salina, KS)
Summary
Double-cropping is a production system that includes the growth of two separate crops at different times in the same growing season This typically involves harvesting one species followed immediately by planting another. Research comparing mono-crop and double-crop wheat systems using a variety of other crops such as soybean and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) showed double-crop systems increased grain yield and net returns of the overall system [1, 3, 4]. These increases were attributed to greater resource utilization. Evaluating productivity of water and light, [6] found that double-cropping dramatically increased the productivity of radiation for both dry matter and yield on an annual basis
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