Net Returns from No-Till Doublecrop Winter Wheat and Irrigated Soybean on a Clay Soil

Abstract

Economic evaluation of agronomic production practices is required to determine their feasibility in cropping systems with two or more crops. Net returns from continuous double‐cropped wheat (Triticum oestivum L.) and irrigated soybean [Glycine ma (L.) Merr.] were calculated using data from plantings made in 1988, 1989, and 1990 near Stoneville, MS, on a Tunica clay (clayey over loamy, montmorillonitic, nonacid, thermic, Vertic Haplaquept) in tilled and no‐till seedbeds in both burned and standing wheat stubble. Yield of soybean was not affected by stubble management or seedbed preparation. Yield of wheat was reduced in plantings made following soybean that was planted in standing wheat stubble in the first 2 yr of the study. Seedbed preparation for wheat planting had an inconsistent effect on wheat yield. Wheat yields declined as the study progressed. Combined net returns were greater from the burned stubble treatment in 2 of the 3 yr, and this was attributed to the higher net returns from wheat in this treatment. Combined net returns from the tilled seedbed treatment were similar to those from the no‐till treatment in 1988 and 1989; in 1990, net returns from the tilled seedbed treatment were higher. These results indicate that highest combined net returns from a continuous wheat‐soybean doublecrop system will be obtained when soybean is planted in burned wheat stubble. Low and declining wheat yields in this short‐term study (confounded with year effects) indicate that continuous wheat‐soybean doublecropping using no‐till planting of wheat is not a viable management option. This conclusion has to be verified with longer‐term research, however. Research Question Doublecropping of winter wheat and soybean is a common practice in the southern USA. On the clay soils of the lower Mississippi River Valley, wet fall weather often precludes the planting of wheat in a prepared seedbed, thus reducing the planned doublecrop acreage. Seeding wheat in a no‐till seedbed could result in increased wheat plantings, and thus more acres could be allotted to doublecropping. This study was conducted to assess the economic risk of no‐till planting of wheat and soybean as a way of increasing doublecropped acreage. Literature Summary Doublecropping winter wheat with soybean is an important cropping practice in the southern USA. In the doublecrop system, soybean is planted no‐till in standing wheat stubble, or in a no‐till or prepared seedbed following burning of wheat stubble. Wheat is usually planted in a prepared seedbed following soybean harvest, even if the soybean crop is planted no‐till. Doublecropped wheat and soybean results in greater economic returns than monocropped soybean when soybean is irrigated. The economic feasibility of no‐till seeding of doublecrop wheat in a continuous winter wheat‐soybean doublecrop system where soybean is irrigated is unknown. Study Description A field study was conducted for three doublecrop cycles (October 1987 through October 1990) on Tunica clay near Stoneville, MS. Wheat stubble was either bu...

Early‐Maturing Soybean in a Wheat–Soybean Double‐Crop System Yield and Net Returns

“…Wheat yield ranged from 4838 to 5497 kg ha −1 (Table 2), with a 3‐yr average of 5170 kg ha −1 This was much higher than the county's (Washington County) average yield of 3462 kg ha −1 for 2000 through 2004 (Mississippi Agricultural Statistics Service, 2005c) and those reported previously for the same location but a different site in Mississippi (Wesley and Cooke, 1988; Heatherly et al, 1996). Wesley and Cooke (1988) reported an average yield of 3233 kg ha −1 , whereas Heatherly et al (1996) indicated 2930 kg ha −1 for their 1988 experiment. The differences in yield are likely related to differences in varieties, soil type, and rainfall pattern between this study and earlier studies.…”

“…This was not the case in 2004; perhaps the short growing season favored the MG III cultivars relative to the late MG IV cultivars (Table 3). The results from this 3‐yr study and those from Wesley and Cooke (1988) and Heatherly et al (1996) indicate that MG V and VI cultivars may not have a yield advantage over MG IV and III cultivars when planted in a double‐crop system and could be a risk if planted after early June in a season with terminal wet conditions. Yields at the same location (Stoneville) in Mississippi and under similar production practices for double‐cropped MG VI averaged 2331 kg ha −1 (Wesley and Cooke, 1988), whereas yields for MG V averaged 2641 kg ha −1 (Heatherly et al, 1996).…”

“…In the report by Wesley and Cooke (1988), the double‐cropping system had a total income advantage of $114 ha −1 over the full‐season system, with the wheat accounting for 51% of the returns. In similar studies on no‐till soil using a late MG V soybean cultivar, Heatherly et al (1996) reported combined net returns of $645, $99, and $72 for 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively, from a wheat‐soybean double‐cropped system. According to the authors, the wheat contributed 41% of the combined returns reported for 1988 when wheat and soybean produced the highest yields.…”

Producing Soybean and Wheat Cropping Systems in Rainfed Environments

“…We observed no change in yield of wheat could be attributed to including wheat in a rotation with soybean. In contrast, Heatherly et al (9) reported low and declining wheat yields in a three‐year study of continuous wheat‐soybean doublecropping using no‐till wheat planting. Higher wheat yields have been reported for monocrop compared to wheat‐soybean doublecropping (8).…”

“…Early-season soybean can be followed by planting winter wheat as a doublecrop (1,10). Alternatively, in winter wheat production regions with adequate frost-free periods and rainfall, such as the southern USA, double cropping soybean following wheat is possible (8,9,17,19). Limited summer rainfall is not conducive to successful doublecropping, particularly with respect to soybean following wheat.…”