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Spring Wheat Production and Soil and Water Conservation as Influenced by Methods of Summer Fallowing on a Chestnut Soil in Northeastern Montana
Author(s) -
Power J. F.,
Aasheim T. S.,
Hartman G. P.
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1958.03615995002200050025x
Subject(s) - mulch , agronomy , environmental science , water content , tillage , summer fallow , spring (device) , growing season , agriculture , biology , geology , ecology , mechanical engineering , geotechnical engineering , engineering , cropping
Five methods of summer fallowing commonly employed in the spring wheat producing area of Montana were evaluated in respect to their effects on grain yield and quality, and on soil and moisture conservation. This study was conducted under dryland conditions on a Chestnut soil during the period 1949 to 1956. During seasons of normal or above‐normal growing conditions, grain yields were not significantly influenced by the method of fallowing employed the previous summer. Under poor growing conditions, grain yields were generally highest on plowed fallow. Protein content of the grain was slightly lower on stubble‐mulch than on plowed fallow. Test weights of the grain were highest on stubble‐mulch fallow. Other fallow methods were generally intermediate between plowed fallow and stubble‐mulch fallow in respect to grain quality. Soil‐moisture content at seeding time was not affected by fallow method. Stubble mulching provided the best soil erosion control. Fall tillage could not be recommended from the data collected in this study.