No-Till Cropping Systems in Oklahoma

Created with SARE support
2008

A three-year study in Oklahoma and Texas revealed that no-till wheat is a viable option for Southern Great Plains’ farmers and ranchers.The purpose of the project was to move wheat and wheat/stocker cattle integrated production systems in the southern Great Plains closer to sustainability by investigating the effect of no-tillage cropping systems on wheat insect presence and abundance, wheat disease incidence and severity, wheat grain yield components, wheat nitrogen requirement, and system profitability. Researchers with Oklahoma State University conducted research to evaluate the impact of no-till practices on wheat insect presence and abundance, wheat disease incidence and severity, wheat yield components, fall forage production and yield of hard red winter wheat, the validity of sensor-based nitrogen recommendations in a no-till wheat production system, and impact on overall system profitability. Grain yield of no-till wheat plots were comparable to those of conventional-till plots, but fall forage yields were consistently lower in the no-till plots. Aphid numbers were lower in no-till wheat plots while Hessian fly numbers were higher than those in conventional till plots. Overall research and Extension efforts resulted in increased acceptance of no-till production methods in integrated crop-livestock systems in the Southern Great Plains.

Researchers developed a No-Till Cropping Systems in Oklahoma manual to assist individuals interested in a no-till cropping system in making decisions that affect the production of their operation.

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This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.