Effect of fallow frequency, flexible rotations, legume green manure, and wheat class on the economics of wheat production in the Brown soil zone

Zentner, R. P.; Campbell, C. A.; Selles, F.; Jefferson, P. G.; Lemke, R.; McConkey, B.G.; Fernandez, M. R.; Hamel, Chantal; Gan, Yantai; Thomas, A. G.

doi:10.4141/p05-081

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…By comparison, Zentner et al (2006) reported for an experiment being conducted on adjacent land on this same soil type, that the 2003-level production costs for N and P fertilized F-W-W, and Cont W, but managed using conservation tillage practices, averaged $229 and $285 ha -1 yr -1 , respectively, over the 1988-2002 period. The higher costs for F-W-W reported in the conservation tillage study reflect the increased costs associated with controlling weeds on fallow areas with (mainly) herbicides versus using primarily mechanical tillage.…”

Section: Production Costs and Breakeven Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Economics of spring wheat production systems using conventional tillage management in the Brown soil zone – Revisited

Zentner¹,

Campbell²,

Selles³

et al. 2007

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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Producers in the semiarid Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairies have historically used fallow (F)-based cropping systems with mechanical tillage methods to produce spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (W). However, in the past two decades government policies and programs have changed, as have cropping practices, market opportunities, and weather patterns. This study re-examines the economic merits of these conventional cropping systems under today’s conditions in regard to the optimal cropping frequency, value of applying N and P fertilizer at soil test rates, and the possible advantage of replacing monoculture wheat with lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) (Lent) or flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) (Flx) grown in mixed rotations. The analysis draws on data from a long-term crop rotation experiment that was established in 1967 on an Orthic Brown Chernozem at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. All cropping systems were managed using conventional tillage practices, which attempted to conserve as much surface crop residue as possible (i.e., stubble mulch tillage techniques were used). The findings for 1985–2002, a period characterized by above normal precipitation, were compared with those reported previously for the 1967–1984 period when growing conditions were less favorable but more typical for this area. Net returns during 1985–2002 were highest for W-Lent ($93 ha-1 yr-1) and lowest for F-Flx-W ($38 ha-1 yr-1). Net returns for well-fertilized F-W, F-W-W, F-W-W-W-W-W, and Cont W during this same period were similar, averaging about $52 ha-1 yr-1 or 44% less than for W-Lent. These results contrast with those reported for the previous 18-yr period when F-W and F- W-W generally produced higher net returns than Cont W. Within the F-W-W systems, the application of both N and P fertilizer increased the 18-yr (1985–2002) mean net returns by $18 ha-1 yr-1 compared with application of N only, and by $32 ha-1 yr-1 compared with application of P only. For Cont W the application of N and P fertilizer increased the mean net returns by $71 ha-1 yr-1 compared with application of P only. These economic benefits from N and P fertilization were much higher than those reported in 1967–1984 due to the more humid growing conditions and the increased rate of N fertilizer prescribed by the soil testing lab since 1991. Further, our findings showed that only if producers were highly risk averse, do not subscribe to all-risk crop insurance , or if the price for wheat was high or price for lentil low, would the monoculture wheat systems be preferred to W-Lent. However, producers who are highly risk averse would still opt for the cropping systems that included some summerfallow. Our findings support the recent trends in land use practices by area producers towards more diversified and intensive cropping systems which are less reliant on frequent fallowing. Key words: Crop rotations, wheat, lentil, flax, summerfallow, production costs, net returns, income variability

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Section: Production Costs and Breakeven Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Economics of spring wheat production systems using conventional tillage management in the Brown soil zone – Revisited

Zentner¹,

Campbell²,

Selles³

et al. 2007

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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“…However, despite greater economic returns, financial risk increased with continuous wheat (Zentner et al, 2006).…”

Section: Cropping System Productivity In Continuous Croppingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Winter Wheat and Cropping System Performance across Precipitation Gradients in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA

Maaz

Schillinger

Machado

et al. 2017

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Ecological instability and low resource use efficiencies are concerns for the long-term productivity of conventional cereal monoculture systems, particularly those threatened by projected climate change. Crop intensification, diversification, reduced tillage, and variable N management are among strategies proposed to mitigate and adapt to climate shifts in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW). Our objectives were to assess these strategies across iPNW agroecological zones and time for their impacts on (1) winter wheat (WW) (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity, (2) crop sequence productivity, and (3) N fertilizer use efficiency. Region-wide analysis indicated that WW yields increased with increasing annual precipitation, prior to maximizing at 520 mm yr −1 and subsequently declining when annual precipitation was not adjusted for available soil water holding capacity. While fallow periods were effective at mitigating low nitrogen (N) fertilization efficiencies under low precipitation, efficiencies declined as annual precipitation exceeded 500 mm yr −1 . Variability in the response of WW yields to annual precipitation and N fertilization among locations and within sites supports precision N management implementation across the region. In years receiving <350 mm precipitation yr −1 , WW yields declined when preceded by crops rather than summer fallow. Nevertheless, WW yields were greater when preceded by pulses and oilseeds rather than wheat across a range of yield potentials, and when under conservation tillage practices at low yield potentials. Despite the yield penalty associated with eliminating fallow prior to WW, cropping system level productivity was not affected by intensification, diversification, or conservation tillage. However, increased fertilizer N inputs, lower fertilizer N use efficiencies, and more yield variance may offset and limit the economic feasibility of intensified and diversified cropping systems.

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“…This experiment has been described in detail previously (Zentner et al 2003(Zentner et al , 2004(Zentner et al , 2006Campbell et al 2000b); thus, we present only a brief description of the techniques used, and additional information and data specific to the objectives of this paper.…”

Section: Experimental Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wheat received in-crop weed control each year using recommended rates of herbicides (Zentner et al 2006). The LGM did not receive in-crop herbicides.…”

Section: Experimental Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the new study used reduced (minimum) tillage instead of conventional tillage; all treatments were fertilized with N and P based on soil tests; the stubble was cut tall at harvest to enhance snow trapping, increase available spring soil water and reduce evapotranspiration as the crop grew (Campbell et al 2000b;Zentner et al 2006). The treatments tested in this study included a legume green manure (LGM) system, a comparison of a high-yielding wheat vs. a standard hard red spring wheat; a flexible rotation that was fallowed only if stored soil water in the spring was below a certain minimum, a grass (hay) treatment, and cropping frequency.…”

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Quantifying carbon sequestration in a minimum tillage crop rotation study in semiarid southwestern Saskatchewan

Campbell¹,

VandenBygaart²,

Zentner³

et al. 2007

Can. J. Soil. Sci.

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. Quantifying carbon sequestration in a minimum tillage crop rotation study in semiarid southwestern Saskatchewan. Can. J. Soil Sci. 87: 235-250. Scientists and the agricultural community require methods of quantifying C sequestration in soils. This is important in assessing the impact of crop management practices on emission of greenhouse gases and for "C trading". Using simulation models may be a more effective method of quantification as compared with in situ measurements. A 17-yr crop rotation experiment being conducted on a medium-textured Orthic Brown Chernozem at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in which soil organic C (SOC) was being monitored periodically, was used to assess the effect on C sequestration of cropping frequency, wheat class, legume green manure (LGM), flexible cropping based on available water, and regrassing of crop land. Prior to the study, the experimental site had been cropped to fallow-wheat (F-W) for the previous 60 yr. Crop management in this experiment involved minimum tillage, snow trapping, and N + P fertilization based on soil tests. Three models [Century, the Introductory C Balance model (ICBM), and the Campbell model] were tested for their effectiveness in simulating SOC trends. Because growing season precipitation was average to above average, yields, and thus C inputs from residue, were also above average, and consequently SOC increased in most systems for the first 10 yr before reaching a new steady state. SOC gains (kg ha -1 yr -1 ) in the 0-to 15-cm depth in 17 yr were directly proportional to cropping frequency (F-W-W = 135, F-W-W-W = 332, and Cont W = 441);LGM-W-W gained SOC at a much higher rate than F-W-W (329 vs. 135 kg ha -1 yr -1 ); Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), although it yielded 26% less than Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat, gained SOC at a higher rate than CPS wheat (135 vs. 0 kg ha -1 yr -1 ). Further, 2 yr of conventionally-tilled fallow in 17 yr (flexible system) markedly suppressed SOC gain by 46% compared with Cont W (441 vs. 236 kg ha -1 yr -1 ). There was a 282 kg ha -1 yr -1 gain in SOC under crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) (CWG) but most of this gain occurred in the last 7 yr. Though having their inherent weaknesses, the ICBM and Campbell models performed equally well in simulating SOC trends (r 2 = 0.55 ** ), but Century was less effective (r 2 = 0.21 * ), in part because of its limited ability to simulate yields. Because C input, and thus yield, is one of the main factors influencing SOC gains, and since measured yields are used in the ICBM and Campbell models, while simulated yields are used by Century, the ICBM and Campbell models have an advantage over the Century model in this comparison. Efficiencies of conversion of input C to SOC increased with cropping frequency, and were higher for LGM-W-W than for F-W-W, and for systems with CWRS wheat rather than CPS wheat. Efficiency of conversion was 8% for F-W-W, 15% for LGM-W-W and 21% for Cont W.Key words: ICBM model, Century model, Campbell model, C sequest...

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Effect of fallow frequency, flexible rotations, legume green manure, and wheat class on the economics of wheat production in the Brown soil zone

Cited by 30 publications

References 20 publications

Economics of spring wheat production systems using conventional tillage management in the Brown soil zone – Revisited

Economics of spring wheat production systems using conventional tillage management in the Brown soil zone – Revisited

Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Winter Wheat and Cropping System Performance across Precipitation Gradients in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA

Quantifying carbon sequestration in a minimum tillage crop rotation study in semiarid southwestern Saskatchewan

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