Dale L. Fjell

Soybean Response to Row Spacing and Seeding Rates in Northeast Kansas

Soybean is a major crop in northeast Kansas and plays an important role in summer row-crop rotations. Since the early 1980’s, planting soybeans in narrow rows (10 in or less) has become popular and is used for approximately 50% of the soybeans in the region. Row spacing and seeding recommendations generally are developed from results of field experiments and local experience. Kansas producers typically plant between 130,000 and 180,000 seeds/a with 30-in rows and increase seeding rates by approximately 10 to 25% with narrow rows. Yields vary tremendously depending on soil and environmental conditions, with yield potential being 20 to 25 bu/a in some locations and 50 to 60 bu/a in others. This study was designed to determine the influence of environment on optimum row spacing and seeding rates for soybeans in northeast Kansas.

Field research 2003

This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright 2004 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Field research 2000

This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright 2000 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Field research 1999

This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright 1999 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Summer annual forages in south central Kansas

Six summer annuals and three forage sorghums were evaluated for forage yield and quality under south central Kansas dryland conditions. When cut in the late boot to early heading stage, all forage types (millet, sudan, sorghum-sudan, and forage sorghum) produced similar dry matter yields, with no consistent differences in nutritional quality. Allowing the forages to reach maturity prior to cutting increased total yield per acre but decreased the crude protein content. The millets were higher in protein at maturity than the sudans or forage sorghums. However, the forage sorghums produced the most mature forage, whereas common sudan yielded the least. Cool, moist conditions during the growing season allowed the forages to develop slowly.

Yield and nutritional quality of nine summer annual forages

Nine summer annual forages were studied to evaluate yield and nutritional quality differences resulting from forage type and cultivar when cut at two stages of maturity. Substantial dry matter yield and quality differences were observed among the six hybrid pearl millets tested. Several hybrid pearl millets gave comparable dry matter yields to the sorghum-sudans at boot and headed stages of growth. Hybrid pearl millets were much higher in crude protein than the hybrid sorghum-sudans and sudangrass. Although yield increased markedly between boot and headed cutting stages, nutritional value declined greatly. Nitrate levels were excessively high in all forages when harvested at the boot stage in July, and several were still above safe levels at the headed stage. Therefore, nitrate and feed quality testing is recommended for safe and efficient utilization of summer annual forages.

Response of drilled early corn to several plant populations

Dryland corn acreage has been increasing in Kansas because of the use of early-maturing hybrids that are planted earlier than full-season hybrids. Earlymaturing hybrids planted early (early corn) reach their reproductive stages before the mid-summer heat and drought occur. Also, farmers have been interested in reducing corn row spacings from the traditional 30 inches. Equidistant plant spacing, which occurs with narrower row spacings, reduces within-row competition. Narrow row spacings for grain sorghum and soybeans planted with a grain drill have increased yields, while reducing erosion. intercepting more light, and increasing water uptake. This study was designed to determine the influence of environment on various plant populations of drilled early corn.