introducing a grain sorghum ratoon cropping system into SE Missouri. Objectives and Goals: .... Applied extension and research program focuses on small grains production, alternative crops ... Agronomy (Business & Industry). University of ...
Development of a Grain Sorghum Ratoon Cropping System for SE Missouri Shawn P. Conley Cropping Systems Specialist University of Missouri, Columbia Relevance: • • • •
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Base price for grain sorghum in the new farm bill is the same as corn. Grain sorghum yield is less variable than corn within and among years. Grain sorghum is more drought tolerant than corn or soybean. Grain sorghum production in SE Missouri o 31% of all acreage in the state o 29% of all production in the state Interest has been expressed, however research is lacking as to the feasibility of introducing a grain sorghum ratoon cropping system into SE Missouri.
Objectives and Goals: The objectives of this research are: 1) To quantify the affect of starter fertilizer on grain sorghum, growth, development, yield, and quality. 2) To quantify the optimal fertility requirements for a ratoon cropping system. 3) To determine the feasibility of introducing a grain sorghum ratoon cropping system into SE Missouri. The overall goal of this research is: 1) To develop a best crop management program for grain sorghum production in SE Missouri. Procedures: •
The experiment will be located at two locations in SE Missouri o Pemiscot and New Madrid counties
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Experimental Design: Randomized complete block design o Seeding rate: 110,000 plants per acre o Two cultivars: Early season ratoon: KS-310 (55 to 60 days to 50% bloom) Late season check: KS-710 (70 to 74 days to 50% bloom) o Starter treatment: 45# N and 30# P2O5 applied at planting (dribble placement) o First planting Nitrogen rate (pounds per acre): 180 pounds total (side-dressed 20 days after emergence) o Ratoon Nitrogen rate (pounds per acre, side-dressed):
0, 30, 60, 90, 120 o Ratoon Phosphorus rate (pounds per acre, side-dressed): 0 or 30 o Four replications: o Data collected: • Days to 50% bloom • Maturity and harvest date • Grain yield, test weight, 1000 kernel weight Full treatment list: Treatment
Starter Ratoon N rate
Ratoon P rate
Mid to late season cultivar (KS-710) Mid to late season cultivar (KS-710) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310) Early season cultivar (KS-310)
Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N N N
0 0 0 0 0 30 30 30 30 30 0 0 0 0 0 30 30 30 30 30
0 30 60 90 120 0 30 60 90 120 0 30 60 90 120 0 30 60 90 120
Current Status: Based on total growing degree units accumulated in SE Missouri it may be possible to ratoon crop grain sorghum. The production window to accomplish this goal however, is very narrow. Therefore, it is critical that every advantage be utilized to decrease the time required from planting to harvest. The application of a starter fertilizer may be one such method. Research indicated that starter fertilizer decreased the number of days from emergence to mid-bloom by 10, decreased time to harvest, and also increased yield by 34 bu per acre. It is well documented that crop response to starter fertilizer has been variable. However, research does
indicate that when planting under adverse environmental conditions (cool and wet), the application of a starter fertilizer may prove beneficial. To realistically achieve a grain sorghum ratoon crop, the first planting must be made under these conditions. Timetable and Strategy for Application: April: 2003 May to October: 2003 September to November: 2003 December: 2003 January: 2003 January to March: 2003 April: 2004 May to October: 2004 September to November: 2004 August: 2004 December: 2004 January: 2004 January to March: 2003 February: 2004
Initiate experiment Record plant growth and development data. Harvest plots and analyze grain quality Analyze data and develop initial state recommendations Present first year of data to the PFC and post results on website Schedule and complete meetings with growers, regional agronomists, and state faculty, to promote and implement research findings Initiate experiment Record plant growth and development data. Harvest plots and analyze grain quality Possible speaker at Delta Center Field Day Analyze data and develop state recommendations Present second year of data to the PFC and post results on website Schedule and complete meetings with growers, regional agronomists, and state faculty, to promote and implement research findings Develop MU Guide and submit manuscript for publication
References: Gordon, W.B. and D.A. Whitney. 2002. Starter fertilizer application effects on reduced and no-tillage grain sorghum production. Better Crops with Plant Food. 86:10-15. Khosla, R., M.M Alley, and P.H. Davis. 2000. Nitrogen management in no-tillage grain sorghum production: I. rate and time of application. Agron. J. 92:321-328. Livingston, S.D. and C.G. Coffman. Ratooning Grain Sorghum on the Texas Gulf Coast. Texas Agricultural Extension Service: Pages: 1-4. Stichler, C., M. McFarland, and C. Coffman. Grain Sorghum Production. Texas Agricultural Extension Service: Pages: 1-12. Yang, C., J.H. Everitt, and J.M. Bradford. 2001. Comparison of uniform and variable rate nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer applications for grain sorghum. 44:201-209.
Proposed Budget 2003 and 2004: 2003 Budget Proposal Plot establishment and harvest 176 total plots @ $30.00 per plot Salary and benefits 0.5 graduate student salary 0.5 graduate student benefits Travel (meals, mileage, hotel) Total
$ 5,280 $ 6,500 $ 2,804 $ 1,400 $ 15,984
2004 Budget Proposal Plot establishment and harvest 176 total plots @ $30.00 per plot Salary and benefits 0.5 graduate student salary 0.5 graduate student benefits Travel (meals, mileage, hotel) Total
$ 5,280 $ 6,760 $ 2,930 $ 1,400 $ 16,370
Total proposal request $32,354 Plot establishment and harvest charges include: seed, fertilizer, planting, pesticides as needed (herbicide and/or insecticide), irrigation, bird netting, machinery maintenance, fuel, and harvesting costs.
Shawn Paul Conley FACULTY APPOINTMENT Assistant Professor, September 2001 – Present
Agronomy (Cropping Systems) University of Missouri, Columbia
70% extension and 30% research appointment Applied extension and research program focuses on small grains production, alternative crops, and cropping systems management. The objectives of the program are to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of current Missouri production practices through value added activities and diversified cropping systems. Specific research and extension focus areas include: 1. Quantify baseline information for the development of an integrated crop decision aid for small grains production. Projects will range from improving current crop management and integrated pest management strategies to modeling crop and pest interactions. 2. Development of alternative crops and cropping systems. Projects will range from the development of best management practices for alternative crops to quantifying the agronomic, economic, and ecological impact of alternative crops and cropping systems on current production systems. EDUCATION Ph.D.
August 2001
Horticulture (Weed Science) University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.S.
May 1999
Horticulture (Weed Science) University of Wisconsin, Madison
B.S.
May 1996
Agronomy (Business & Industry) University of Wisconsin, Madison
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Extension Programs Grower and Commodity Meetings: Year 2002 2001
Number of Programs 12 8
Participation speaker speaker
Number attending 323 210
Conferences, Short Courses, Workshops, and Clinics: Year 2002 2002 2002 2001
Training Program Crop Management Conference Winter Wheat Crop Injury Clinic Crop Injury Clinic Crop Management Conference
Number trained TBD 60 150 100
Field Days and Demonstrations: Year 2002
Number of field days 4
Number attending my presentation 510
Extension Publications: Year 2002 2002 2002 2002
Title Winter Wheat Crop Injury Clinic Manual IPM Series: Missouri Soft Red Winter Wheat Handbook: in development 2002 National Winter Canola Variety Trial Integrated Pest and Crop Management Newsletter Articles: 6
REFERRED JOURNAL ARTICLES 1. Conley, S. P., L. K. Binning, and T. R. Connell. 2001. Effect of cultivar, row spacing, and weed management on weed biomass, potato yield and net crop value. Am. J. Potato Res. 78:31-37. 2. Conley, S. P., L. K. Binning, C. M. Boerboom, and D. E. Stoltenberg. 2002. Estimating giant foxtail cohort productivity and fecundity in soybean based on weed density, leaf area, or volume. Weed Sci. 50:72-78. 3. Conley, S. P., D. E. Stoltenberg, C. M. Boerboom, and L. K. Binning. 2002. Predicting soybean yield loss in giant foxtail and common lambsquarters weed communities. Weed Sci. In press. 4. Conley, S. P., L. K. Binning, C. M. Boerboom, and D. E. Stoltenberg. 2002. Parameters for predicting giant foxtail cohort effect on soybean-yield loss. Agron. J. In review. 5. Conley, S. P. and W. J. Wiebold. 2002. Response of Grain Sorghum Yield to Planting Date. Crop Man. In review.
