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Title: THE EFFECT OF ALTERNATIVE HARVEST STRATEGIES ON RESIDUE IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS

Author
item Henry, William
item Nielsen, David
item Vigil, Merle

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2004
Publication Date: 10/31/2004
Citation: Henry, W.B., Nielsen, D.C., Vigil, M.F. 2004. The effect of alternative harvest strategies on residue in the central Great Plains. Agronomy Abstracts. Presented at the 2004 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2004. Seattle, WA

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Because moisture is limiting in the Central Great Plains, the accumulation of residue is important for producers. Factors such as erosion, snow catch, soil microclimate, and weed emergence may all be influenced by the amount and type of surface residue. The orientation of the may also affect the degree of the residue's impact. Following a substantial snowfall event, preliminary data suggest that wheat harvested with a stripper head left residue that collected 25 cm of snow compared with only 5 cm of snow in the conventionally cut wheat stubble. This effect is dependent upon the intensity, wind, and duration of the snowfall event, but the difference in soil water at these sample sites was roughly 5 cm which translates into approximately 10 bu/A in the following wheat crop r2 = 0.76. Proso millet was also successfully harvested with a stripper head 37.6 bu/A compared to swathing and conventional harvest 39.5 bu/A. Proso millet harvested with a stripper head also left 88% of the residue standing compared to only 29% standing residue for millet swathed and harvested conventionally. Future studies involving weed emergence and harvest techniques will be examined.