www.dakotalakes.com

www.dakotalakes.com
Dakota Lakes Research Farm
• Three Hours from Mt. Rushmore
• Two and one-half hours from Sturgis
• Very near where “Dances with
Wolves” was filmed.
• No where near “Brokeback Mountain”
Dakota Lakes Research Farm
• OWNED BY FARMERS
• BOTH IRRIGATION AND
DRYLAND
• 100% LOW-DISTURBANCE NOTILL SINCE 1990
• PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE
PROFITS HELP TO SUPPORT
RESEARCH
1970
Average Wheat Price
in 1970 was $1.37/bu.
The Average price of a
barrel of oil was $3.39
In Minnesota where
tillage is king, it takes
slightly under 10 gallons
of diesel/acre for tillage,
seeding, and harvest.
It takes the energy of 1
gallon of diesel fuel to
manufacture, transport
and apply 5 lbs of N
If the Minnesota farmer
applies 150 lbs/acre of N,
the energy involved is
three times that used for
tillage, seeding, and
harvest.
Reduction of the
energy costs directly
related to tillage is
NOT the primary
reason to do no-till
WHY WE (AND
MOST OTHER
IRRIGATORS IN
OUR AREA) USE NOTILL
In the old days, pivots
ran at more than 60 psi
(1 inch of water in 40 minutes)
and still produced up
50% runoff or more.
Now with no-till and
diverse rotations we
use less water
(up to 30% less)
NO RUNOFF WITH
IRRIGATORS
APPLYING 2
INCHES OF WATER
IN 9 MINUTES
TAKE THE E OUT OF ET
(MAXIMIZE WUE IN LATE
SUMMER)
MAKE WATER ENTER THE SOIL
MAXIMIZE THE WATER HOLDING
CAPACITY OF THE SOIL
These concepts are
important under
irrigation, they are
imperative for rainfed
farming.
DECIDE WHICH
INFORMATION
SOURCES YOU CAN
TRUST
ADDRESS THE
PROBLEM INSTEAD
OF TREATING THE
SYMPTOM
Mother Nature Is An Opportunist
If you have a problem.
YOU!!!!
have provided the
OPPORTUNITY
somewhere in your system.
Strive to produce a crop
which is HEALTHY.
Not a crop which does
not get SICK.
ADEQUATE DIVERSITY
Weeds and diseases are
nature’s way of adding
diversity to a system which
lacks diversity.
Residue
Fertility
Tillage
Adopt A
Rotation
Crop Production
Weeds
Cover
C r o ps
Disease
System
Pests
Varieties
Soil Moisture
Farming System Components
• Cultural Practices
• Technology
• Management
CULTURAL PRACTICES
•
•
•
•
TILLAGE
ROTATION
SANITATION
COMPETITION
IN NATURE
TILLAGE IS A
CATASTROPHIC
EVENT
Cultural Practices
• Tillage needs to be replaced
by other cultural practices;
not by technology.
Cultural Practices
• Crop Rotation
• Sanitation
• Competition
• Tillage
Natural Control Benefit
Cool-Season Weeds (such as Downy Brome)
2 Years of Warm-Season Crops or Broadleafs
Reduce Number of Seeds > 95%
Same with
Warm-Season Weeds
Cool-Season Crops
Weed Life Cycle
Ap
Foxtail
Corn
W. Wheat
May
June
Green
Foxtail
July
------ ( E ) ------
Aug
Sep
Oct
** ( F ) **
P
XXX
Does it Work ?
(Field Trial)
Long-Term Rotation Study
Cool and Warm Season Crops
No-Till : Herbicides - Weed Control
Weed Density After 12 Years
(No Herbicides – Number of Weeds / m2)
Rotation Design < - > Weeds
Weeds
(plts/m2)
94
100
75
40
50
7
25
0
W-CP
W-C-CP
Pea-W-C-SB
Rotation – Tillage Interaction
(No Herbicides – Weeds / m2)
2 Crop
Rotation
4 Crop
Rotation
2 vs 4
Contrast
Tilled Site
225
44
1/5
No-Till
Site
94
7
1/13
THE REAL COMPARISON
• Tillage (disturbance) and Poor
Rotation gives 225 weeds/m2
• No-till and GOOD Rotation 7
weeds/m2
• That is 97% weed control
Tillage – Seed Survival
Green Foxtail
Seed Placed at 3 Depths in Soil
0, 2, and 4 inches
Measure Number of Live Seed Yearly
Green Foxtail Survival in Soil
Live Seed (%)
After 2 Years
60
55
40
28
20
11
0
0
2
4
Depth in Soil (inches)
Tillage - Weed Seedling
Emergence
Weed Seed Shed: (once)
No-Till
Till (seed 1 – 3 inches deep)
Count Seedlings Yearly, for 3 Years
Several Species, Average of 4 Sites
Seedling Emergence - Tillage
Till
Seedlings (%)
100
100
75
50
88
48
25
32
33
0
1
2
3
Seedlings Within a Year
4
No-Till
SB
Corn
WW
Corn
Seedlings (%)
100
100
75
50
88
48
25
32
33
4
0
1
2
Seedlings Within a Year
3
Till
No-Till
Sb
Corn
Corn
Seedlings (%)
100
100
75
50
88
48
25
32
33
4
0
1
2
Seedlings Within a Year
3
Till
No-Till
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2004
Field history-14 years continuous corn
Hybrid
DKC 60-15
DKC 60-16
DKC 60-12
DKC 60-14
Segment
No
Insecticide
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
165
170
172
174
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2004
Cost per acre for 34,000 seeds
Hybrid
DKC 60-15
DKC 60-16
DKC 60-12
DKC 60-14
Segment
Cost per
Acre
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
$47.56
$58.18
$71.78
More
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2004
Cost per bushel for 34,000 seeds
Segment
Yield
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
165
170
172
174
Cost per Added
Bushel
$0.00
$2.12
$3.46
More
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2005
Field history-15 years continuous corn
Hybrid
DKC 60-15
DKC 60-16
DKC 60-12
DKC 60-14
Segment
No
Insecticide
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
213
206
210
214
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2006
Field history-16 years continuous corn
Hybrid
DKC 60-17
DKC 60-19
DKC 60-12
DKC 60-14
Segment
No
Insecticide
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
199
200
193
196
Corn Genetic Trait Trial
Dakota Lakes Research Farm-Main 2007
Field history-17 years continuous corn
Hybrid
Pio 34A15
Pio 34A16
Pio 34A19
Pio 34A18
Segment
No
Insecticide
Base
CB only
CRW
CB + CRW
203
193
182
188
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLGY
• USE TECHNOLOGY TO
AUGMENT MANAGAMENT.
NOT TO REPLACE IT.
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLGY
• DON’T ASSUME YOU
NEED TO USE IT. DO THE
TESTING.
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLGY
• LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES.
IN SOUTH DAKOTA, DROUGHT
TOLERANT CORN IS CALLED
MILO OR SORGHUM. SEED IS
CHEAPER, INSECTS ARE NOT
A PROBLEM, ETC.
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLGY
• 4. KEEP MORE OF THE MONEY.
DON’T SEND IT TO DES MOINES,
CALGARY, ST. LOUIS, OR
DETROIT OR TO YOUR
LANDLORD.
DIVERSITY IMPACT ON
2007 IRRIGATED CORN YIELD
•
•
•
•
•
CONTINUOUS CORN
CORN-SOYBEAN
C-C-SB-W-SB (corn 1)
C-C-SB-W-SB (corn 2)
C-C-SB-SB-W-W (corn 1)
203 Bu
217 Bu
256 Bu
213 Bu
232 Bu
DIVERSITY IMPACT ON
MAXIMUM ACREAGE FOR A 30 ft
SEEDER
•
•
•
•
•
CONTINUOUS CORN
CORN-SOYBEAN
C-C-SB-W-SB
C-Sorghum-SB-W-Sunflower
C-C-SB-SB-W-W
1000 ac
2000 ac
2500 ac
5000 ac
3000 ac
DIVERSITY IMPACT ON
MACHINERY SIZE FOR 2000 ACRES
•
•
•
•
•
CONTINUOUS CORN
CORN-SOYBEAN
C-C-SB-W-SB
C-Sorghum-SB-W-Sunflower
C-C-SB-SB-W-W
60 ft
30 ft
25 ft
12 ft
20 ft
IF YOU COULD KNOW
ONLY ONE THING
ABOUT A SOIL WHAT
PARAMETER WOULD
YOU WANT TO
KNOW?
100 lbs. of dry soil
With 4 to 5 % OM can hold
165 to 195 lbs of water
With 1.5 to 2% OM it can only
hold 35 to 45 lbs of water.
Walters and Fenzais 1979
Nutrients Lost by Burning Straw
75 bu/acre wheat crop
Nutrient
Percent Lost
N
Content in
Straw
50 lbs/acre
P
5 lbs/acre
44
K
100 lbs/acre
40
CARBON 3000 lbs/a
80
82
Nutrients Lost by Removing Straw
75 bu/acre wheat or ½ of a 150 bu/acre corn crop
Nutrient
Percent Lost
N
Content in
Straw
50 lbs/acre
P
5 lbs/acre
100
K
100 lbs/acre
100
CARBON 3000 lbs/a
100
100
Maybe Carbon Dioxide Level Can
Be Changed Through Management
In tilled systems most of the
carbon dioxide evolves during the
4 days after tillage. This is before
it can be captured by your crop. N
is also released before it is needed.
Maybe Carbon Dioxide Level Can
Be Changed Through Management
Residue that decomposes after crop canopy is
established enhances canopy Carbon Dioxide
concentrations.
Microbial respiration during this period
enhances canopy carbon dioxide concentrations.
Dakota Lakes Mai n Stati on Rai nf al l
October 1 to September 30
SEPT
25
AUG
JULY
20
JUNE
MAY
15
APR
MAR
10
FEB
JAN
5
DEC
NOV
OCT
0
Nor mal
2006-2007
2005-2006
2004-2005
2003-2004
2002-2003
2001-2002
2000-2001
1999-2000
Rotation Impact on W.Wheat
Yields in 2002
Rotation
Yield
Corn-Pea-WW
56
SB-Corn-Pea-WW
28
Rotation Impact on W.Wheat
Yields in 2006
Rotation
Yield
Corn-Pea-WW
60
SB-Corn-Pea-WW
29
Corn-Pea-WW
Sb-Corn-Pea-WW
Rotation Impact on W.Wheat
Dakota Lakes Research Farm
Rotation
Corn-Pea-WW 2006
SB-Corn-Pea-WW 2006
Yield
60
29
Corn-Pea-WW 2005
Sb-Corn-Pea-WW 2005
92
57
Corn-Pea-WW 2002
SB-Corn-Pea-WW 2002
56
28
MAINTENANCE
+ 20 years
CONSOLIDATION
11-20 years
Continuous flow of N and C
High residues
C accumulation
Increase residues
> available water in the soil
> available water in the soil
High nutrient cycling
> N and P availability
N mineralization > immobilization
Increase CEC
> nutrient cycling
TRANSITION
6-10 years
OM acumulation
More residues
INITIAL
0-5 years
Low OM
Low residue
> soil aggregates
> soil microbial activity
N immobilization > mineralization
P accumulation
Soil structure regenaration
Microbial activity increases
More needs of N
Source: Adapted from J.C. Moraes Sa, 2003
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa
BIOLOGICAL
TIME
Take all net
geologic carbon
use out of the
system by the year
2026.
In other words no net loss of organic matter and
produce a sufficient amount of energy or biofuel to
replace the fossil fuel used to manufacture,
promote and transport ALL crop inputs and
outputs including those used by the family and
farm workers. A corollary goal is to stop all
nutrient leakage from the land (recycle all that is
not sold and replace what is sold). This includes
stopping the leakage of C. Once these goals are
accepted, we can finally get over this need to
compare tillage systems. Its not about the tillage
practice, it is about managing the ecosystem.
Tillage removes our ability to manage the system.
DO YOU
C
WHAT WE
C?
www.dakotalakes.com
15th Annual National No-Tillage Conference
January 10-13, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa