James P. Shroyer

Performance of wheat variety blends in Kansas

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 1980 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Wheat Variety Selection to Maximize Returns and Minimize Risk: An Application of Portfolio Theory

This research shows that a portfolio of wheat varieties could enhance profitability and reduce risk over the selection of a single variety for Kansas wheat producers. Many Kansas wheat farmers select varieties solely based on published average yields. This study uses portfolio theory from business investment analysis to find the optimal, yield-maximizing and risk-minimizing combination of wheat varieties in Kansas.

Planting date effects on tiller development and productivity of wheat

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 1985 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

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.

Relationship between Tillering and Grain Yield of Kansas Wheat Varieties

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 1998 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.

Growth and survival of wheat seedlings after dehydration and rehydration

The planting depth of wheat often is increased to place the seeds in damp soil when low surface moisture restricts germination and seedling development. However, planting seed deeply in dry soil often results in low emergence, slow seedling development, and thin stands. Even if moisture is adequate for germination of seeds, continued lack of precipitation might dehydrate seedlings and stop their growth until additional rain occurs to rehydrate them. The ability of seedlings to tolerate dehydration/rehydration is important for establishing stands of wheat. In addition, planting deeply and delaying emergence depletes carbohydrate reserves in the endosperm that are needed by the seedlings. This study was designed to determine the ability of wheat seedlings, especially the coleoptile and root, to withstand desiccation and the effect of the stress at different developmental stages on seedling emergence. A full account of the study was published in Agronomy Journal 89:822-826 (1997).

Preharvest sprouting of hard red and hard white wheats in Kansas

Wheat in Kansas usually ripens under warm, dry conditions that favor development of excellent grain for bread making. However, the ripe grain can sprout in the spike when moist conditions delay harvest and promote germination. Persistent rain, heavy dew, and high humidity that stimulate preharvest sprouting are most common in eastern Kansas and least common in western Kansas. In central Kansas, moist conditions caused sprouting in 1979, 1989, 1993, and 1999. Moisture swells wheat kernels and activates enzymes that break down proteins, starches, lipids, and other constituents in the endosperm. Flour milled from the endosperm of sprouted wheat produces bread that is porous and sticky and has a low loaf volume. The grain has little value to the milling and baking industries and is discounted heavily. More than 4% damaged kernels-including sprouted kernels-causes grain to be rated Grade 3 or lower and unacceptable for bread making. Grain that is slightly sprouted might be blended with sound grain for making flour, but grain that is severely sprouted usually is used for livestock feed. Ripe grain is dormant and must pass through a period of afterripening before it can germinate, even under favorable conditions. The length of the afterripening period is highly variable, ranging from a few days in some varieties to a month or longer in others. Differences in the length of the afterripening period, or dormancy, greatly affect susceptibility of wheat varieties to preharvest sprouting. Most hard red win-

Storage losses in net-wrapped, large, round bales of alfalfa hay

Netand twine-wrapped alfalfa hay bales were stored from July, 1990 to April, 1991 in three Kansas counties (Reno, Saline, and Stafford). Dry matter losses and changes in acid detergent fiber and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen levels during storage were not significantly different between netand twinewrapped bales. Although a significant difference in dry matter recovery between inside and outside bale storage occurred in Saline County, it was not considered important because all recoveries were high. No significant differences in ADF or ADIN increases were found between initial core samples and samples from the outer 4 in. of the bales at the end of storage. The minimal deterioration and weathering were probably due to below average rainfall (less than 14 in.) during the 9mon. storage period. Net wrapping is probably not justified on the basis of reducing storage losses in low rainfall areas.

Preservation of alfalfa hay with a microbial inoculant

Eleven large, round, alfalfa bales were treated with Pioneer® Brand 1155 Alfalfa Hay Inoculant and nine bales were untreated. The initial baling moistures were 14.1% (low) or 17.6% (medium). No significant differences were found in dry matter recovery or changes in acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen levels during the 2-month storage period. Average temperature was highest in the medium moisture bales, but was not high enough to cause heat damage. The microbial inoculant did not improve preservation or quality of the alfalfa hay at the baling moistures used in this study.

Austrian Winter Pea

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 1992 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.