Northwest Crops Project

Northwest Crops Project
Tri-State Team Technology Transfer
Introduction: The Northwest Crops project is in its fourth year. From the beginning this project has been farmer-driven, and is managed in cooperation with growers in Whitman, Spokane, and Garfield Counties. Diana Roberts, Dennis Pittmann and Dennis Roe oversee the study, collect samples and yield measurements annually on each of the on-farm test plots. The study focuses on comparing a three-year no-till crop rotation with a four year no-till crop rotation. The four-year crop rotation includes corn. The purposes of the Northwest Crops project are to develop alternative no-till crops to meet the coming challenges in agriculture, to decrease field burning , erosion , and increase economic stability by increasing the diversity of crops.

View across a corn plot	Standing residue
Methods The Northwest Crops Project was started in 1998 comparing feild plots. The plots used either a three-year rotation of spring barley, chem fallow and winter wheat, or a four-year rotation of spring wheat, winter wheat, corn and a spring broadleaf crop.

The trials were conducted over a range of precipitation zones. Plot widths were approximately 700’ X 30’. Corn production was emphasized and compared with barley.	All of the crops in rotation were directed seeded. No other implements were used. The corn was planted with a six-row corn planter directly into that residue. Each participating grower managed one replicate of the study. Yields, weed density, soil quality changes and insect levels were sampled by Dennis Roe and Dennis Pittmann.
	The Study Compares a Four-year and a Three-Year Rotation The four year rotation versus the three year rotation has several advantages. Corn can be planted into a heavier residue than can cereals. The 30" corn row is planted through the heavy winter wheat stubble compared to the three-year rotation in which wheat is followed by spring barley.
Arial view of Lee Druffel’s test plots in August, 2000
Test plots for the Northwest Crops Project showing corn growing in stubble (left) and John Aeschliman examining residue in his corn plot
Results: The figure represents the yield data for the Whitman County participants of the study over the last four years. Although yields of winter wheat in the four-year rotation (light green) are slightly lower than those in the three-year rotation (dark green) keep in mind that in the four year rotation, the ground produced a crop every year, rather than remaining in chem fallow for a season as the three-year rotation did. Some of the smaller bars represent experimental broadleaf crops used by some of the growers.

This figure shows the yield data (converted into lbs..) for the four years of the study. Corn performed remarkably well for an experimental crop, and compared favorably with the spring barley production (fuchsia). The 2001 crops all suffered due to the drought, and as a result the winter wheat following chem fallow outperformed the four year winter wheat by a significant margin.
	Improved soil quality and erosion control • The four year rotation decreases erosion by keeping the field in crop for the entire year. • In the four-year rotation the field is cropped every year. • In the three-year rotation the comparatively higher winter wheat yields follow a fallow. • Three out of the four years of the study, corn outperformed the barley in yields. Corn has a potential as a rotation crop in the intermediate rainfall area. • Higher winter wheat yields following corn in rotation compared to winter wheat following barley in the rotation. Erosion has decreased. • Microbial activity has increased • Soil Quality has improved • These growers have not practiced field burning on the study. The four year rotation has led to better water infiltration, improved erosion control and a better understanding of high residue management. • There is promise for better wheat yields through four year crop rotations.
Conclusions The four-year rotation has significant advantages because it keeps the soil covered every season, decreasing erosion. Corn has several planting advantages in the four year rotations. It can be planted into a heavier residue than can cereals, and it can be planted into the heavy winter wheat stubble with greater success than spring barley. Although yield data show that winter wheat is slightly lower in yield in the four year rotation, this is offset by having a crop every year. Soil quality is improved by direct seeding the crop into standing stubble. In the next four years of the study, we plan to continue to improve the rotations and develop other alternative crops suitable for production in the Palouse.
Wheat and Corn	Corn Plot
Contact Persons for the Northwest Crops Project Dennis Pittmann 509-3974636 Ext. 115 Growers participating in the Northwest Crops Project Larry Tee-Spokane County David Ostheller- Spokane County Glenn & Bryan Dobbins-Spokane County Randy & Jeff Emtman-Spokane County Paul & Jake Gross-Spokane County Lee Druffel-Whitman County Steve Swannack-Whitman County Tracy Erickson-Whitman County Randy Repp-Whitman County Dan & Steve Moore-Whitman County John & Cory Aeschliman-Whitman County Ron Kile-Whitman County David & Paul Ruark-Garfield County This project is funded by a USDA SARE grant.	From left to right, Dwayne Beck, no-till researcher, Dennis Pittman, Northwest crop project , and Todd Scholtz, Idaho pea and lentil office.They are at the Pierre, SD no-till research center, standing in no-till garbanzo beans, with no-till corn and the Missouri river in the background. From left to right, Tony Ingersoll, NRCS-Tristate team, Dennis Roe, NRCS-Tristate team, Roger Willis, PNW representative for the Pioneer Seed Company. Dennis is demonstrating the benifits of no-till seeded corn in rotation.
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