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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82678
Title: USING HISTORICAL CLIMATE PATTERNS TO PREDICT PRODUCTIVITY OF A LEGUME- CEREAL ROTATION

Author
item Williams, Robert
item Nicks, Arlin
item Rao, Srinivas
item Mackown, Charles

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is used as a winter forage for stocker cattle throughout the Southern Great Plains. Planted in early September to mid October, winter wheat can provide forage from mid November to until mid March, if the wheat is grown for grain, or until early May, if the wheat is grazed out. In either case the field is left fallow until replanted in the fall. Pigeonpea [Cajanus caja (L.) Millsp.], an annual legume, has been suggested as a possible summer forage to be planted following winter wheat. This would provide a high quality forage to supplement summer grassland pastures. However there is a concern that sufficient soil water would be available to successfully crop both winter wheat and pigeonpea. The EPIC model was used to determine the impact of winter wheat-pigeonpea rotation on soil water resources. Results from the model simulations will be discussed.