Growing future the
T
he research and partnerships the plant, soil and environmental sciences faculty in the Department of Agricultural Sciences have created over the years assist in not only serving students but also in the growing need for practical crop research in the Panhandle of Texas. Each faculty member brings his or her unique expertise to the Panhandle, but all are working toward solving issues related to the ever-changing conditions farmers and ranchers are facing now and in the future. Brock Blaser and Marty Rhoades began to establish some small plot research on the Nance Ranch in 2010 and 2011. 7KH ÂżUVW VWXG\ ZDV completed in 2012 by Jody Gilchrest and was a forage sorghum study funded by the Ogallala Aquifer Program and Texas Grain Sorghum
Board. This study evaluated the effect of irrigation rate and nutrient source (manure vs synthetic nitrogen) on total production and forage quality. Yields ranged from 3 to 6 tons per acre with limited irrigation and production was similar between the manure and synthetic treatments. The similarities between nutrient sources will be valuable information for forage producers in the region who are seeking additional uses for the excess manure. Additional studies at the new research plots included sweet corn irrigation studies, urea and urease research on wheat, corn and dryland compost and tillage work with wheat and sorghum. There are also plans to develop small demonstration plots for the plant science labs and crops team practice. Other research trials by plant science faculty include the investigation of alternate planting geometries for VRUJKXP DQG FRUQ VSHFLÂżFDOO\ D process called “clumpâ€? planting. Clump planting involves planting
WKUHH RU ÂżYH VHHGV RI FRUQ RU VRUJKXP respectively, in the same area that one seed normally occupies under traditional planting scenarios. The clumps are then spaced further apart in the row so traditional dryland plant populations can be achieved. Bob Stewart has been testing these alternate planting geometries with multiple graduate student projects over the past several years with the belief these new arrangements will prevent tillers (typically waste resources in dryland situations with little to no grain production) from forming in the crops but still allow for enough space around the clumps to utilize the water available. “For dryland cropping in the Texas High Plains, it is essential to have ZDWHU VWRUHG LQ WKH VRLO SURÂżOH DW WKH time of seeding to supplement growing season precipitation,â€? Stewart said. “With high plant populations and low precipitation, most of this water is used during the vegetative growth stage resulting in low grain yields.â€? The hypothesis is that plants growing close to one another will improve the microclimate, reduce formation of tillers that use water but seldom produce grain, and plant roots will not extract all the plant-available soil water between the clumps until late in the season. When compared to traditional planting patterns, the clumps yield levels below about 2,500 lbs. per acre and have shown no yield reduction at levels below about 5,000 lbs. per
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