Alan Schlegel's Research
Crop Production & Management
Large Scale Dryland Cropping Systems
A large-scale rain-fed cropping systems research and demonstration project evaluated four summer crops (corn, grain sorghum, sunflower, and soybean) along with winter wheat in crop rotations varying in length from 2- to 4-years. The objective of the study is to identify cropping systems that enhance and stabilize production in rain-fed cropping systems to optimize economic crop production.
Land Application of Animal Wastes on Irrigated Corn
Animal wastes are routinely applied to cropland to recycle nutrients, build soil quality, and increase crop productivity. This study evaluates established best management practices for land application of animal wastes on irrigated corn.
Long-Term Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Yield of Irrigated Corn
Long-term research shows that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied to optimize production of irrigated corn in western Kansas. Averaged across the past 10 years, corn yields were increased up to 125 bu/a by N and P fertilization.
Four-Year Crop Rotations with Wheat and Grain Sorghum
Research on four-year crop rotations with wheat and grain sorghum was initiated at the K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune in 1996. The rotations were wheat-wheat-sorghum-fallow and wheat-sorghum-sorghum-fallow, along with continuous wheat.
No-Till Limited Irrigated Cropping Systems
Research was initiated under sprinkler irrigation to evaluate limited irrigation in a no-till crop rotation. In multi-crop rotations, relatively poor results with one crop (in this case wheat) can reduce profitability compared to a monoculture especially when the monoculture crop does well. However, the multi-crop rotation may reduce economic risk when the monoculture crop does not perform so well.
Effect of Tillage Intensity in a Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow Rotation
Grain yields of wheat and grain sorghum increased with decreased tillage intensity in a wheat-sorghum-fallow rotation.
Skip Row Corn for Improved Drought Tolerance
Research on skip row planting of dryland corn was initiated at the K-State Southwest Research-Extension Center near Tribune in 2004. The objective was to determine whether some pattern of skipping rows would improve drought tolerance of dryland corn.
Long-Term Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilization on Yield of Irrigated Grain Sorghum
Long-term research shows that phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer must be applied to optimize production of irrigated grain sorghum in western Kansas. Averaged across the past 10 years, sorghum yields were increased more than 50 bu/a by N and P fertilization.