HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Unger, P. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Unger, P. W. Agricola Articles by Unger, P. W.

Straw-mulch Rate Effect on Soil Water Storage and Sorghum Yield¹

ABSTRACT

A field study was conducted to determine the effects of straw mulch rates on soil water storage during fallow and on subsequent grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production. Wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)] straw at rates of 0 (check), 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 metric tons/ha was placed on field plots in July 1973, 1974, and 1975. A different area, previously cropped to dryland wheat, was used each year. Atrazine [2-chloro-4(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] was applied for volunteer wheat and weed control before mulch placement. Soil water content was measured periodically from July until the following May, when grain sorghum was planted, and during the sorghum growing season. Available soil water at planting averaged 12.3 and 21.4 cm for the 0- and 12-metric tons/ha mulch treatments, respectively. The additional water, along with greater infiltration and lower evaporation during the growing season, increased grain yields, which averaged 1,780 and 3,990 kg/ha for the respective treatments. Water-use efficiency increased from 55.6 kg/ha-cm for no mulch to 115.0 kg/ha-cm for 12 metric tons mulch/ha.

¹ Contribution from the Agric. Res. Serv., USDA, in cooperation with the Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., Texas A&M Univ. Presented before Div. S-6 at the Am. Soc. of Agron. Meeting, Houston, Texas, 30 Nov. 1976.

² Soil Scientist, USDA Southwestern Great Plains Research Center, Bushland, TX 79012.

Received for publication October 12, 1977. Accepted for publication January 31, 1978.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. R. Stone and A. J. Schlegel Yield-Water Supply Relationships of Grain Sorghum and Winter Wheat Agron. J., September 5, 2006; 98(5): 1359 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Nielsen, P. W. Unger, and P. R. Miller Efficient Water Use in Dryland Cropping Systems in the Great Plains Agron. J., March 1, 2005; 97(2): 364 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. C. Turner Agronomic options for improving rainfall-use efficiency of crops in dryland farming systems J. Exp. Bot., November 1, 2004; 55(407): 2413 - 2425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Powell, R. A. Pearson, and P. H. Hiernaux Crop-Livestock Interactions in the West African Drylands Agron. J., March 1, 2004; 96(2): 469 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Winter and P. W. Unger Irrigated Wheat Grazing and Tillage Effects on Subsequent Dryland Grain Sorghum Production Agron. J., May 1, 2001; 93(3): 504 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Unger Paper Pellets as a Mulch for Dryland Grain Sorghum Production Agron. J., March 1, 2001; 93(2): 349 - 357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Unger Alternative and Opportunity Dryland Crops and Related Soil Conditions in the Southern Great Plains Agron. J., January 1, 2001; 93(1): 216 - 226. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. W. Unger Conversion of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grassland for Dryland Crops in a Semiarid Region Agron. J., September 1, 1999; 91(5): 753 - 760. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P. W. Unger and R.L. Baumhardt Factors Related to Dryland Grain Sorghum Yield Increases: 1939 through 1997 Agron. J., September 1, 1999; 91(5): 870 - 875. [Abstract] [Full Text]