학술논문

Cropping sequence and tillage system influences annual crop production and water use in semiarid Montana, USA
Document Type
Report
Source
Field Crops Research. Jan 4, 2007, Vol. 100 Issue 1, p32, 12 p.
Subject
No-tillage
Rain and rainfall
Wheat
Soil moisture
Beans
Legumes
Mimosaceae
Water conservation
Water use
Water
Droughts
Language
English
ISSN
0378-4290
Abstract
To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2006.05.004 Byline: A.W. Lenssen (a), G.D. Johnson (b), G.R. Carlson (c) Keywords: Cropping systems; Semiarid; Northern Great Plains; Water use efficiency; Crop rotation Abstract: Available water is typically the biggest constraint to spring wheat production in the northern Great Plains of the USA. The most common rotation for spring wheat is with summer fallow, which is used to accrue additional soil moisture. Tillage during fallow periods controls weeds, which otherwise would use substantial amounts of water, decreasing the efficiency of fallow. Chemical fallow and zero tillage systems improve soil water conservation, allowing for increased cropping intensity. We conducted a field trial from 1998 through 2003 comparing productivity and water use of crops in nine rotations under two tillage systems, conventional and no-till. All rotations included spring wheat, two rotations included field pea, while lentil, chickpea, yellow mustard, sunflower, and safflower were present in single rotations with wheat. Growing season precipitation was below average most years, resulting in substantial drought stress to crops not following fallow. Preplant soil water, water use, and spring wheat yields were generally greater following summer fallow than wheat recropped after wheat or alternate crops. Water use and yield of wheat following summer fallow was greater than for chickpea or yellow mustard, the only other crops in the trial that followed summer fallow. Field pea performed best of all alternate crops, providing yields comparable to those of recropped spring wheat. Chickpea, lentil, yellow mustard, safflower, and sunflower did not perform well and were not adapted to this region, at least during periods of below average precipitation. Following summer fallow, and despite drought conditions, zero tillage often provided greater amounts of soil water at planting compared to conventional tillage. Author Affiliation: (a) USDA, ARS, ASRU, 1500N. Central Ave., Sidney, MT 59270, USA (b) Department of Entomology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA (c) Northern Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Havre, MT 59501, USA Article History: Received 16 November 2005; Revised 27 April 2006; Accepted 10 May 2006