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Dryland Corn and Grain Sorghum Yield Response to Available Soil Water at Planting
Author(s) -
Schlegel Alan J.,
Lamm Freddie R.,
Assefa Yared,
Stone Loyd R.
Publication year - 2018
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/agronj2017.07.0398
Subject(s) - sowing , sorghum , agronomy , precipitation , irrigation , growing season , yield (engineering) , environmental science , soil water , dryland farming , water use , sweet sorghum , agriculture , biology , geography , soil science , ecology , materials science , metallurgy , meteorology
Core Ideas Yield gains from available soil water at planting decreased as in‐season precipitation increased. Corn yield gain 27 to 33 kg ha –1 (mm available soil water at planting) –1 at in‐season precipitation of 196 to 215 mm. Corn yield gain 9 to 25 kg ha –1 (mm available soil water at planting) –1 as in‐season precipitation increased to 288 to 354 mm. Sorghum yield gain 12 to 22 kg ha –1 (mm available soil water at planting) –1 at in‐season precipitation of 163 to 281 mm. Sorghum yield gain 0 to 6 kg ha –1 (mm available soil water at planting) –1 at in‐season precipitation of 315 to 382 mm.Most dryland soil and crop management systems are geared toward improving amount and use of available soil water (ASW) at planting (ASWP) and in‐season precipitation (ISP). The relationship between ASWP and yield has seldom been a singular research focus. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of ASWP on yield and water productivity of dryland corn ( Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum [ Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The study was conducted at two locations, Tribune and Colby, KS, for 3 yr, 2012 to 2014. Four different levels of ASWP were established by applying irrigation prior to planting (0, 38, 76, or 114 mm). Corn and sorghum yield increased in response to increased ASWP but yield gains per millimeter of ASWP decreased as ISP increased. Corn yield gain was in the range of 27 to 33 kg ha −1 (mm ASWP) −1 when ISP was in the range of 196 to 215 mm and yield gain decreased to 9 to 25 kg ha −1 (mm ASWP) −1 when ISP increased to 288 to 354 mm. Similarly, grain sorghum yield response to ASWP decreased from 12 to 22 kg ha −1 to 0 to 6 kg ha −1 per millimeter ASWP when ISP increased from 163 to 281 mm to a range of 315 to 382 mm. We concluded that dryland corn and grain sorghum yield increased with increased level of ASWP and a significant contribution of ASWP to yield production is realized when ISP is low.