No-till Wheat Sorghum Fallow Rotation

The wheat, sorghum, fallow rotation has long been utilized as a productive cropping system in the semi-arid environment of the Oklahoma Panhandle.  This rotation shortens the fallow period compared to cropping systems in which a single crop is gown every other year. 

Research conducted at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension center demonstrates that the productiviety of this wheat, sorghum, fallow rotation can be further improved by the adoption of continous no-till management.  Figure 1 shows that no-till wheat yields were equal to those of the conventional tillage treatment expect in 2003 and 2005 when no-till yields were approximately 18 bushels higher.  These increased yield result from improved soil water management in the no-till system, which limits evoporative water loss and optimizes water infiltration during the fallow period. 

A detailed discussion of this data set can be found in the Oklahoma Panhandle Research and Extension Center's 2007 Research Highlights.