Making a Profit Replacing Fallow but Not with Cover Crops.

Growing a crop during the fallow period might increase precipitation efficiency, improve soil quality, and increase profitability. Growing a crop during the fallow period would increase profitability if crop benefits exceeded expenses. Limited information exists on growing crops in place of fallow in the semi-arid Great Plains. A study from 2007 to 2012 evaluated cover crops, annual forages, and grain peas grown in place of fallow in a no-till wheat-fallow system. Wheat yield was not affected by the previous crop whether hayed or left as cover. Wheat yield following the previous crop was dependent on precipitation during fallow and the growing season. When moisture was limiting and wheat yields following fallow were less than 4000 kg ha^-1, growing a crop during the fallow period reduced wheat yield. When yields following fallow were greater than 4000 kg ha^-1, only winter triticale, grain peas, and continuous wheat grown during the fallow period reduced wheat yield. Wheat yield following continuous wheat was 41% less, and following grain peas was 21% less compared to wheat-fallow. Wheat-fallow averaged 3760 kg ha^-1. Cover crops never increased wheat yields. Annual forages and grain peas can increase profitability, but cover crops commonly reduced profitability compared to wheat-fallow.