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Soil Nitrate, Soil Water, and Grain Yields in a Wheat‐Fallow Rotation in the Great Plains as Influenced by Straw Mulch 1
Author(s) -
Smika D. E.,
Black A. L.,
Greb B. W.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1969.00021962006100050040x
Subject(s) - agronomy , mulch , straw , soil water , seeding , crop rotation , environmental science , summer fallow , crop , biology , soil science , agriculture , cropping , ecology
Abstract Wheat straw mulch rates greater than 3,360 kg/ha were needed to significantly reduce soil NO 3 −N during fallow at three Great Plains locations. Smaller amounts of NO 3 −N in the soil at the end of fallow with stubble mulch did not limit grain production. Grain yields of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) were positively correlated with stored soil water at seeding all years at Akron, 2 out of 5 years at North Platte and 2 out of 3 years at Sidney, but there was no relation between grain yields and soil NO 3 −N at seeding at any of the locations. Mulched soils contained more water and less NO 3 −N at seeding than bare soils. In 7 out of a total of 11 crop years from all locations when grain yields were higher from mulched soil than from bare soil, soil NO 3 −N was available in sufficient quantity under both treatments so that final grain yields were not limited. In those years when grain yields were reduced by the presence of a straw mulch, no evidence was obtained that indicated this reduction was due to an inadequate supply of N. Grain yield responses to added N were greater on bare soil than on mulched soil.