Winter Wheat Intercropping and Double-Cropping Systems.

WINTER WHEAT INTERCROPPING AND DOUBLE-CROPPING SYSTEMS

Leah Sandler                                                                                                   Kelly Nelson

Graduate Student                                                                               Research Agronomist

Chris Dudenhoeffer                                                                                        Randall Smoot

Research Specialist                                                                             Superintendent

Abstract

Relay-intercrop production involves overlapping growth cycles of two or more crops.  This production system is common with legumes seeded into small grains; however, the companion crops may compete for water, nutrients, and sunlight, which may slow development of either crop. This cropping system has been proposed to reduce risk associated with double-crop soybean production, move double-crop production farther north, and increase farm profitability. The objectives of this research are to 1) evaluate winter wheat inter- and double-crop production systems using a variety of alternative crops, 2) evaluate the impact of 7.5 and 15 in wheat within the intercropping systems and, 3) evaluate the difference between early broadcast alternative crop seeds and later, planted alternative crop seedings. One research question that was focused on was whether using 15 inch row wheat decreases wheat yields too much, or eliminates enough competition among intercrops to create stronger growth of the crops planted into the wheat? Wheat variety  MFA 2525 was planted in October 2011 in Northeast Missouri at 100 lb/a in 7.5 in. rows. In order to get 15 in. row spacing for the wheat we sprayed Roundup Power Max at a rate of 32 oz/a on every other row for those areas. On April 4, 2012, buckwheat at 55lbs/a, tillage radishes at 6lbs/a, sunflowers at 5lbs/a, hairy vetch at 35lbs/a, and fava beans at 200lbs/a were broadcast as well as planted into 15 inch rows into wheat. In a separate experiment, cowpeas at 50lbs/a, soybeans at lbs/a, peas at 30lbs/a, hairy vetch at 35lbs/a, red clover at 10lbs/a, amaranth at 10 lbs/a, grain sorghum at 10lbs/a, and pearl millet at 15lbs/a were planted into 7.5 and 15 inch row wheat.  These crops were chosen for a variety of reasons. The most common intercropping system is wheat and legumes often soybeans or red clover, as the nitrogen fixing properties of legume (in this trial peas, cowpeas, fava beans, hairy vetch, and clover) pairs work well with wheat. Other crops including grain sorghum, grain amaranth, and sunflowers could be harvested for grain and create additional income as there are potential markets for these crops in Missouri.