Browsing by Author "Miller, Perry R."

Now showing 1 - 20 of 25

2008 Statewide Spring Dry Pea and Lentil Variety Evaluations
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2008) Chen, Chengci; Neill, Karnes E.; Carlson, G. R.; Miller, John H.; Stougaard, Robert N.; Strang, L.; Westcott, M.; Knox, M.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Miller, Perry R.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Tarum, M.; Koenig, V.
This paper evaluates spring dry pea and lentil varieties for grain production potential in diverse Montana environments. Dry pea grain yields were respectable among most of the testing sites (Table 3). Havre had the greatest production, with a trial average (converted to 13% moisture) of nearly 65 bushels acre-1 (65.6 bu/acre – 3,868 lbs/acre). Moccasin had the worst yield averaging less than 17 bushels acre-1 (16.1 bu/acre - 986 lbs/acre) which is much below long-term means and is thought to be due to poor sub-soil moisture, hail damage, snow and record lows in mid-June, and an insect infestation. As expected, no single entry was the top yielding variety at every location. However, the smooth yellow line PS9910140 did top the trial yields at three locations, and was among the top cultivars in the other locations. Lentil grain yields ranged from 450 to 2300 lbs acre-1 and were respectable across the state (Table 7), with the exceptions being Conrad (450 lbs acre-1), which had a poor stand establishment and Sidney (trial abandoned), which had poor soil moisture at seeding and experienced drought-like conditions through the growing season. Differences in grain yield between the dry pea and lentil trials at Moccasin can be attributed to planting of the lentil trial in a different field, which contained better stored soil moisture. The “Richlea”-type lentil line LC01602300R showed the greatest seed production at three of the six sites, with a grain yield ranging from 9.0 (at Conrad) to over 44 bushels acre-1 (Creston), but was not significant at any location (based on LSD0.05).
Agro-economic returns were reduced for four years after conversion from perennial forage
(2019-09) Miller, Perry R.; Bekkerman, Anton; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jones, Clain A.; Engel, Richard E.
Perennial crops are increasingly converted to annual cropping systems as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expire. We compared crop yields and net returns across 2013–2018 for no‐till pulse crop‐wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (P‐W) systems, preceded either by 10 yr of P‐W or 10 yr of perennial cropping (P‐WPer) at Bozeman, MT. The perennial mixed species planting, dominated by alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), was split into unharvested and annually harvested treatments 2005–2012. The 2013–2018 experimental design included both systems replicated as main plots, with 50 and 100% recommended available N rates as subplots. Precipitation was below average during three of the first four growing seasons, followed by two wetter than average years. The P‐WPer system had generally lower soil moisture and equal or greater nitrogen supply than the P‐W. ‘Haying off’ (reduced harvest index) occurred in wheat grown 2 and 4 yr after conversion from perennial to annual cropping, which reduced grain yield, and increased grain protein. Crop yield losses in the P‐WPer system averaged 0.84 Mg ha–1 (28%) over 4 yr and two N rates. After adjusting grain prices using historical discounts and premiums for test weight and protein content at Montana grain elevators, P‐WPer net returns were reduced for four consecutive years in three economic scenarios, and for 2 yr in a fourth scenario by a 4‐yr cumulative average of (USD) $731 ha–1 (45%). We conclude annual crop yield and economic returns were compromised for 4 yr following 10 yr of an alfalfa‐dominated perennial cropping system.
Bulk optical characterization of dissolved organic matter from semiarid wheat-based cropping systems
(2017-11) Romero, Carlos M.; Engel, Richard E.; D'Andrilli, Juliana; Chen, Cheng-Sao; Zabinski, Catherine A.; Miller, Perry R.; Wallander, R.
Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a critical role in the cycling of nutrients and long-term agricultural sustainability. The composition of DOM in soil is likely altered due to management, yet there is limited knowledge on the effect of long-term cropping on DOM chemical character. Here, we characterized water extractable DOM composition along a gradient of soil organic carbon (SOC) affected by differing cropping and tillage intensity in a semiarid climate of the northern Great Plains, USA. Soil samples (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 cm) were collected from conventional till-fallow winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; Ftill-W), no-till spring pea/oilseed-wheat (Pisum sativum L.; Pg/O-W), and no-till continuous wheat (W-W) fields, and analyzed using UV/Vis absorbance and excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy. The concentration of DOM decreased with depth and was significantly greater (P < 0.05) under W-W or Pg/O-W than Ftill-W. The absorbance at 254 nm (Abs254), a proxy for DOM aromatic nature, indicated that aromaticity decreased with depth and lower biomass-C inputs (i.e. W-W ≥ Pg/O-W ≥ Ftill-W). Multidimensional parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis revealed humic-like (C1, C2), monolignol-like (C3), and protein/tannin-like (C4) components with varying fluorescence intensities as a function of cropping system and soil depth. DOM humification, indicated by the humification index (HIX), increased significantly with depth (P < 0.05) and was higher for Ftill-W (2.95) than W-W (2.61) or Pg/O-W (2.28). Overall, DOM became depleted of plant-derived constituents and was enriched by more decomposed, condensed substances in Ftill-W, as compared to W-W or Pg/O-W soils. DOM composition is strongly affected by cropping intensity and such changes are important drivers controlling SOC accretion in arable soils.
Climate mitigation potential and soil microbial response of cyanobacteria‐fertilized bioenergy crops in a cool semi‐arid cropland
(Wiley, 2022-10) Gay, Justin D.; Goemann, Hannah M.; Currey, Bryce; Stoy, Paul C.; Christiansen, Jesper Riis; Miller, Perry R.; Poulter, Benjamin; Peyton, Brent M.; Brookshire, E. N. Jack
Bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) systems can serve as decarbonization pathways for climate mitigation. Perennial grasses are a promising second-generation lignocellulosic bioenergy feedstock for BECCS expansion, but optimizing their sustainability, productivity, and climate mitigation potential requires an evaluation of how nitrogen (N) fertilizer strategies interact with greenhouse gas (GHG) and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. Furthermore, crop and fertilizer choice can affect the soil microbiome which is critical to soil organic matter turnover, nutrient cycling, and sustaining crop productivity but these feedbacks are poorly understood due to the paucity of data from certain agroecosystems. Here, we examine the climate mitigation potential and soil microbiome response to establishing two functionally different perennial grasses, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum, C4) and tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum ponticum, C3), in a cool semi-arid agroecosystem under two fertilizer applications, a novel cyanobacterial biofertilizer (CBF) and urea. We find that in contrast to the C4 grass, the C3 grass achieved 98% greater productivity and had a higher N use efficiency when fertilized. For both crops, the CBF produced the same biomass enhancement as urea. Non-CO2 GHG fluxes across all treatments were low and we observed a 3-year net loss of SOC under the C4 crop and a net gain under the C3 crop at a 0–30 cm soil depth regardless of fertilization. Finally, we detected crop-specific changes in the soil microbiome, including an increased relative abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi under the C3, and potentially pathogenic fungi in the C4 grass. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of CBF-fertilized C3 crops as a second-generation bioenergy feedstock in semi-arid regions as a part of a climate mitigation strategy.
Compositional tracking of dissolved organic matter in semiarid wheat-based cropping systems using fluorescence EEMs-PARAFAC and absorbance spectroscopy
(2019-08) Romero, Carlos M.; Engel, Richard E.; D'Andrilli, Juliana; Miller, Perry R.; Wallander, Roseann
We conducted this study to quantify long-term cropping related changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and characterize the optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) after a decadal on-farm experiment in Montana, USA. Soil samples (0–50 cm) were collected from minimum till (MT) and no-till (NT) fields under fallow-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; F-W) and pea-winter wheat (Pisum sativum L.; P-W) rotations. Stocks of SOC(0–50 cm) averaged 65.6 Mg C ha−1 and 60.6 Mg C ha−1 for P-W and F-W, respectively. The net SOC accretion rate for P-W equated to 0.61 Mg ha−1 yr−1 relative to F-W. We used absorbance spectroscopy and excitation-emission matrices to characterize DOM composition of samples collected from MT F-W and NT P-W. The two cropping systems exhibited similar estimates of aromaticity (absorbance at 254 nm; 0.33–0.39 a.u.) and humification index (1.83–1.86). Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis revealed humic-like (C1, C2), monolignol/amino acid-like (C3), and amino acid-/tannin-like (C4) components with equivalent fluorescent intensities among MT F-W and NT P-W. Fluorescence efficiencies increased with depth, suggesting a shift from larger, plant-like material to smaller, microbial-derived precursors. Overall, we found DOM composition to be minimally affected by cropping systems in this semiarid climate of the northern Great Plains.
Cropping systems modify soil biota effects on wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and competitive ability
(2017-02) Johnson, Stephen P.; Miller, Zachariah J.; Lehnhoff, Erik A.; Miller, Perry R.; Menalled, Fabian D.
Plants alter soil biota which subsequently modifies plant growth, plant-plant interactions and plant community dynamics. While much research has been conducted on the magnitude and importance of soil biota effects (SBEs) in natural systems, little is known in agro-ecosystems. We investigated whether agricultural management systems could affect SBEs impacts on crop growth and crop-weed competition. Utilising soil collected from eight paired farms, we evaluated the extent to which SBEs differed between conventional and organic farming systems. Soils were conditioned by growing two common annual weeds: Amaranthus retroflexus (redroot pigweed) or Avena fatua (wild oat). Soil biota effects were measured in wheat (Triticum aestivum) growth and crop-weed competition, with SBEs calculated as the natural log of plant biomass in pots inoculated with living soil divided by the plant biomass in pots inoculated with sterilised soil. SBEs were generally more positive when soil inoculum was collected from organic farms compared with conventional farms, suggesting that cropping systems modify the relative abundance of mutualistic and pathogenic organisms responsible for the observed SBEs. Also, as feedbacks became more positive, crop-weed competition decreased and facilitation increased. In annual cropping systems, SBEs can alter plant growth and crop-weed competition. By identifying the management practices that promote positive SBEs, producers can minimise the impacts of crop-weed competition and decrease their reliance on off-farm chemical and mechanical inputs to control weeds, enhancing agroecosystem sustainability.
Emergy and energy analysis as an integrative indicator of sustainability: A case study in semi-arid Canadian farmlands
(2018-01) Fan, Jianling; McConkey, Brian G.; Janzen, H. Henry; Miller, Perry R.
Agricultural is essential to feed the human world but it can also degrade the physical world. Therefore, we need widely-accepted metrics to assess how prospective practices influence sustainability. We hypothesized that emergy and energy analyses considered together provide a robust, comprehensive measure of sustainability, and evaluated this hypothesis using findings from two field studies in the semiarid prairie region of Canada: a systems experiment including nine different 3-yr cropping rotation systems and a stubble experiment involving five preceding crop stubbles treatments with three nitrogen (N) addition levels. The grain yield emergy transformities of rotation systems with pulses, ranging from 0.68 to 0.83 E+05 sej J−1, were 32% lower (P < 0.05) than rotations without pulses. Significantly lower grain transformity of durum wheat grown on pulse stubbles than grown on durum wheat stubble were observed for both the systems and stubble experiments, suggested a higher crop production efficiency conferred by previous pulse crops. The emergy sustainability index (ESI) of Fallow-Durum wheat-Pea (F-D-P) rotation (1.94) was 1.3–2.2 times that of other rotations, while the continuous rotations increased ESI from 1.00–1.11 to ESIΔQ of 2.00–2.21 by considering the storage increase (ΔQ) of the system, i.e. soil organic carbon (SOC). The grain yield/energy input ratio (G/I) and energy output/energy input ratio (O/I) for F-D-P rotation (775 g MJ−1 and 12.9, respectively) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of all other rotations for its low energy input, which was obtained at the cost of huge SOC decrease. Modified energy use efficiency indices, G/IΔSOC and O/IΔSOC, were proposed in the present study to include the effect of SOC change (ΔSOC) in energy use efficiency by regarding ΔSOC as energy input where the system depleted SOC and as energy output where SOC accumulated. The G/IΔSOC and O/IΔSOC ratios for continuous rotations were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of other rotations, indicating higher energy use efficiency in continuous rotation systems. Therefore, ESIΔQ and O/IΔSOC are recommended as sustainability indicators in emergy and energy analysis respectively, and we recommend that emergy and energy analysis should be done and considered together to have a more informative assessment of relative sustainability and efficiency of cropping systems.
Evaluation of Dry Field Pea for Forage Production in Montana (Uniform Dry Pea Forage Trial) (2001)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2001) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Kephart, Ken D.; Knox, M.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, Perry R.; Westcott, M.
This report evaluates Austrian winter pea variety forage production in pure stands and with a companion cereal forage (Haybet hay barley) under different cropping and environmental conditions in Montana. Average dry matter forage production under dryland conditions was 3,320 pounds per acre (1.7 tons/acre) and under irrigation was 7,044 pounds per acre (3.5 tons/acre; Table 26). Haybet hay barley was the top dry forage producer at all sites (significant under irrigation), having an average dryland production of 4,389 lbs/acre (2.2 tons/acre) and an irrigated average production of 10,980 pounds per acre (5.5 tons/acre). Dry pea varieties mixed with barley had higher yields compared to pure stands (not significant at Bozeman). When all peas and pea/barley mixed plots were combined and compared with pure barley forage production, pure pea plots had significantly lower yields under both cropping conditions (Table 27). Under irrigation, the pea/barley mixed plots also had significantly lower forage yields than pure barley stands. These differences may be attributed to the disparity in total plot (pea + barley in mixed plots) stand densities between pure pea, pure barley and mixed plots under dryland (8, 12, and 12 plants/ft2, respectively) and irrigated conditions (10, 21 and 17 plants/ft2; see Table 24).
Fallow replacement and nitrogen management for reducing nitrate leaching in a semi-arid region
(2017-05) John, Andrew A.; Jones, Clain A.; Ewing, Stephanie A.; Sigler, W. Adam; Bekkerman, Anton; Miller, Perry R.
Nitrate (NO3 −) leaching into groundwater is a growing global concern for health, environmental, and economic reasons, yet little is known about the effects of agricultural management practices on the magnitude of leaching, especially in dryland semiarid regions. Groundwater nitrate–nitrogen (nitrate–N) concentrations above the drinking water standard of 10 mg L−1 are common in the Judith River Watershed (JRW) of semiarid central Montana. A 2-year study conducted on commercial farms in the JRW compared nitrate leaching rates across three alternative management practices (AMP: pea, controlled release urea, split application of N) and three grower standard practices (GSP: summer fallow, conventional urea, single application of urea). Crop biomass and soil were collected at ten sampling locations on each side of a management interface separating each AMP from its corresponding GSP. A nitrogen (N) mass balance approach was used to estimate the amount of nitrate leached annually. In 2013, less nitrate leached the year after the pea AMP (18 ± 2.5 kg N ha−1) than the year after the fallow GSP (54 ± 3.6 kg N ha−1), whereas the two AMP fertilizer treatments had no effect on nitrate leaching compared to GSPs. In 2014, leaching rates did not differ between each AMP and its corresponding GSP. The results suggest that replacing fallow with pea has the greatest potential to reduce nitrate leaching. Future leaching research should likely focus on practices that decrease deep percolation, such as fallow replacement with annual or perennial crops, more than on N fertilizer practices.
Legume, cropping intensity, and N-fertilization effects on soil attributes and processes from an eight-year-old semiarid wheat system
(2015-06) O'Dea, Justin K.; Jones, Clain A.; Zabinski, Catherine A.; Miller, Perry R.; Keren, Ilai N.
In the North American northern Great Plains (NGP), legumes are promising summer fallow replacement/cropping intensification options that may decrease dependence on nitrogen (N) fertilizer in small grain systems and mitigate effects of soil organic matter (SOM) losses from summer fallow. Benefits may not be realized immediately in semiarid conditions though, and longer-term effects of legumes and intensified cropping in this region are unclear, particularly in no-till systems. We compared effects of four no-till wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systemsâ€“summer fallowâ€“wheat (Fâ€“W), continuous wheat (CW), legume green manure (pea, Pisum sativum L.)â€”wheat (LGMâ€“W), and peaâ€“wheat (Pâ€“W)â€”on select soil attributes in an 8-year-old rotation study, and N fertilizer effects on C and N mineralization on a duplicate soil set in a laboratory experiment. We analyzed potentially mineralizable carbon and nitrogen (PMC and PMN) and mineralization trends with a nonlinear model, microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), and wet aggregate stability (WAS). Legume-containing systems generally resulted in higher PMC, PMN, and MB-C, while intensified systems (CW and Pâ€“W) had higher WAS. Half-lives of PMC were shortest in intensified systems, and were longest in legume systems (LGMâ€“W and Pâ€“W) for PMN. Nitrogen addition depressed C and N mineralization, particularly in CW, and generally shortened the half-life of mineralizable C. Legumes may increase long-term, no-till NGP agroecosystem resilience and sustainability by (1) increasing the available N-supply (~26â€“50 %) compared to wheat-only systems, thereby reducing the need for N fertilizer for subsequent crops, and (2) by potentially mitigating negative effects of SOM loss from summer fallow.
Long‐term cover crop effects on biomass, soil nitrate, soil water, and wheat
(Wiley, 2023-05) Miller, Perry R.; Jones, Clain A.; Zabinski, Catherine A.; Tallman, Susan M.; Housman, Megan L.; D'Agati, Kristen M.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.
Cover crops during summer fallow have been rarely researched in the semiarid northern Great Plains. This study was conducted during 2012–2019 at four Montana locations and included four functional groups (Brassica family, fibrous-rooted crops, legumes, and tap-rooted crops). Eleven treatments included sole functional groups, a Full Mix, the Full Mix minus each functional group, pea, and chemical fallow. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown after each cover crop year with three nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates. Cover crops were terminated with herbicide at first flower stage of pea (Pisum sativum L.) 57 to 66 days after planting. Shoot biomass averaged 2.0 Mg ha−1 over eight site-years representative of dryland farming in Montana. Using equal overall plant densities, treatments with six species averaged 13% greater biomass than two species. Measured at termination to a 0.9-m depth, Fallow held greater soil water than cover crop treatments, with Fallow averaging 57 mm greater than the Full Mix. Soil nitrate averaged 49 kg N ha−1 greater after Fallow than the Full Mix; the Legume treatment averaged 26 kg N ha−1 greater than the Minus Legume treatment. Wheat yield on Fallow averaged 0.85 Mg ha−1 greater than the Full Mix in 5 of 10 site-years, mainly at the driest site-years. The Legume treatment elevated wheat protein over the Minus Legume treatment by an average of 15 g kg−1. Cover crops grown during summer fallow reduced soil nitrate-N, soil water, and wheat yields compared with chemical fallow, especially in the major wheat growing region of north central Montana.
Nitrogen fixation among pea and lentil varieties in the Northern Great Plains
(Wiley, 2023-08) Baber, Kaleb; Jones, Clain; McPhee, Kevin; Miller, Perry R.; Lamb, Peggy
Pulse crops, including lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.), can improve the sustainability of Northern Great Plains cropping systems, largely through biological N fixation. Greater N fixation amounts can help producers to increase yield while decreasing N fertilizer inputs for the following crop. There may be potential to breed greater N-fixing pulse varieties, yet little is known about varietal differences in N fixation. Nitrogen fixation of pea and lentil varieties was quantified at two sites in Montana from 2019 to 2021 using an N difference approach and the 15N natural abundance method. Riveland and CDC Richlea were frequently high N-fixing lentil varieties, both fixing ca. 130 kg N ha−1 in the site-year with the most favorable growing conditions. No pea variety had consistently greater N fixation than others, despite N fixation ranging from 88 to 135 kg N ha−1 in one site-year among varieties. Nitrogen fixation by lentil had an inverse relationship with days to flowering but was not correlated with days to maturity. Nitrogen fixation by pea was positively correlated with days to maturity but was not correlated with days to flowering. Breeding lentil and pea for high N fixation by selecting high N-fixing varieties is likely difficult, as varieties performed differently under variable environmental conditions. Breeding efforts based on traits, such as days to flowering, could be more successful. There were more positive correlations between N fixation parameters and seed yield for pea than for lentil, suggesting that breeding for greater yields could increase N fixation for pea but not lentil.
Opportunities and Trade-offs among BECCS and the Food, Water, Energy, Biodiversity, and Social Systems Nexus at Regional Scales
(2018-01) Stoy, Paul C.; Ahmed, Selena; Jarchow, Meghann; Rashford, Benjamin; Swanson, David; Albeke, Shannon; Bromley, Gabriel T.; Brookshire, E. N. Jack; Dixon, Mark D.; Haggerty, Julia Hobson; Miller, Perry R.; Peyton, Brent M.; Royem, Alisa; Spangler, Lee H.; Straub, Crista; Poulter, Benjamin
Carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere to limit climate change to 2°C or less. The integrated assessment models used to develop climate policy acknowledge the need to implement net negative carbon emission strategies, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), to meet global climate imperatives. The implications of BECCS for the food, water, energy, biodiversity, and social systems (FWEBS) nexus at regional scales, however, remain unclear. Here, we present an interdisciplinary research framework to examine the trade-offs as well as the opportunities among BECCS scenarios and FWEBS on regional scales using the Upper Missouri River Basin (UMRB) as a case study. We describe the physical, biological, and social attributes of the UMRB, and we use grassland bird populations as an example of how biodiversity is influenced by energy transitions, including BECCS. We then outline a "conservation" BECCS strategy that incorporates societal values and emphasizes biodiversity conservation.
Pea in Rotation with Wheat Reduced Uncertainty of Economic Returns in Southwest Montana
(2015-01) Miller, Perry R.; Bekkerman, Anton; Jones, Clain A.; Burgess, Macdonald H.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Engel, Richard E.
Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is increasingly being rotated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Montana. Our objective was to compare economic net returns among wheat-only and pea–wheat systems during an established 4-yr crop rotation. The experimental design included three wheat-only (tilled fallow–wheat, no-till fallow–wheat, no-till continuous wheat) and three no-till pea–wheat (pea–wheat, pea brown manure–wheat, and pea forage–wheat) systems as main plots, and high and low available N rates as subplots. Net returns were calculated as the difference between market revenues and operation and input costs associated with machinery, seed and seed treatment, fertilizer, and pesticides. Gross returns for wheat were adjusted to reflect grain protein at “flat” and “sharp” discount/premium schedules based on historical Montana elevator schedules. Cumulative net returns were calculated for four scenarios including high and low available N rates and flat and sharp protein discount/premium schedules. Pea–wheat consistently had the greatest net returns among the six systems studied. Pea fallow–wheat systems exhibited greater economic stability across scenarios but had greater 4-yr returns (US$287 ha–1) than fallow–wheat systems only under the low N rate and sharp protein discount schedule scenario. We concluded that pea–wheat systems can reduce net return uncertainties relative to wheat-only systems under contrasting N fertility regimes, and variable wheat protein discount schedules in southwestern Montana. This implies that pea–wheat rotations, which protected wheat yield and/or protein levels under varying N fertility management, can reduce farmers’ exposure to annual economic variability.
Statewide Evaluation of Chickpea (Garbonzo Bean) Variety Performance (Montana Uniform Chickpea Performance Trial)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2001) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.; Muehlbauer, F.J.; Short, R.W.
This report evaluates grain yield potential of chickpea varieties under dryland conditions across Montana. Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2001 cropping year across much of Montana. Below normal growing season precipitation was recorded at all sites, with Sidney being the exception. The above normal precipitation that fell during June, followed by warm humid conditions, at the Sidney site accelerated an outbreak of Ascochyta blight causing severe damage to the chickpea trial. Low grain yields were reported at the Conrad site which received only 2.28 inches of precipitation between seeding date and end of July. By summarizing four years (1998-2001) of performance trials, statewide, Dwelley (kabuli-type) chickpea was out yielded by all other varieties of chickpeas evaluated, except for the one-year trial at Bozeman (Table 23).
Statewide Evaluation of Chickpea (Garbonzo Bean) Variety Performance (Montana Uniform Chickpea Performance Trial) (2002)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2002) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.; Muehlbauer, F.J.; Short, R.W.
This report evaluates grain yield potential of chickpea varieties under dryland conditions across Montana (Moccasin Testing Site Only). Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2002 cropping year across much of Montana. Below normal growing season precipitation was recorded at all sites at Moccasin, which received only 86% of its normal growing season precipitation from May 1 through July 31. An outbreak of Ascochyta blight was detected on July 15th, and an application of Quadris was applied to suppress the disease until the plots could be harvested. A severe thunderstorm accompanied by hail, hit the site on August 20th, causing at least 50% losses in yield (Table 13). Desi and small kabuli chickpea grain yields, since 1998, have averaged 1,300 pounds per acre under dryland conditions at Moccasin (Table 15). By analysis (which extrapolates yields over missing years), CDC Desiray has been the best grain producer, averaging 1,422 pounds of grain per acre (23.7 bu/acre). However, it has not significantly out produced any of the other desi-/small kabuli-type chickpeas. The large kabuli chickpeas have averaged only 363 pounds per acre (includes the hail damaged yields of 2002). It is unclear at this time what is causing the low kabuli-yields reported at Moccasin. Further research is needed. CDC Xena, had the best 4-year grain average, producing 437 pound per acre.
Statewide Evaluation of Dry Pea Variety Performance (Montana Statewide Dry Pea Performance Trial) (2001)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2001) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.
This report evaluates the performance of dry pea varieties under different climatic and cropping conditions across Montana. Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2001 cropping year across much of Montana. Below normal growing season precipitation was recorded at all sites, with Sidney being the exception. However, Sidney had below normal moisture conditions at seeding and received much above normal precipitation in June. The Conrad-dryland site received only 2.28 inches of crop-year precipitation (April 26th - July 25th), of which 1.53 inches fell in June. The irrigated site at Conrad was abandoned due to a severe kochia (K. scoparia) weed infestation and deer pressures. Statewide dryland dry pea grain yields from 1999 through 2001 have averaged 1,457 pounds per acre (24.3 bu/acre), with Sidney-dryland (1,791 lbs/acre) having the highest four-year average dryland yield (Table 8). Statewide, Carrera yellow pea, with an average dry pea production of 1,919 pounds per acre, along with Eclipse and Victoria yellow peas (equal to Carrera at 5% level), has been the best dry pea grain producer under dryland environments (Table 9). Espace green pea (1,904 lbs/acre) has been the top producing green pea variety (not significant at 5% level). In two years of irrigated trials at Conrad, Swing yellow pea had the best performance, however was only significantly better than Carrera yellow, Melrose Austrian winter and Trapper small yellow peas.
Statewide Evaluation of Dry Pea Variety Performance (Montana Statewide Dry Pea Performance Trial) (2002)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2002) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.
This report evaluates the performance of dry pea varieties under different climatic and cropping conditions across Montana (Moccasin Testing Site Only). Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2002 cropping year across much of Montana. At the Moccasin site, crop-year precipitation (April through July) was 86% of normal, receiving 1.14 inches below the normal growing season precipitation. Dry pea grain yields for selected varieties that have been included in the Statewide Dry Pea Performance Trial at Moccasin for three (3) or more of the five years (1998 - 2002) the trials have been conducted, were summarized (Table 5). Dry pea grain production of these selected varieties has averaged 1,666 pounds per acre (27.8 bu/acre) and has increased since 1998. With an average dry pea production of 1,967 pounds per acre, Grande, smooth yellow pea, has been the best grain producer, but has not had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher production than CDC Handel, CDC Mozart and Swing smooth yellow peas. Compared with Trapper yellow field pea (a forage type), all varieties tested, with the exception of the Austrian winter pea Granger, have consistently out-yielded Trapper.
Statewide Evaluation of Lentil Variety Performance (Montana Statewide Lentil Performance Trial) (2001)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2001) Wichman, David M.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Neill, Karnes E.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.
This report evaluates the performance of lentil varieties under different cropping conditions across Montana. Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2001 cropping year across much of Montana. Below normal growing season precipitation was recorded at all sites, with the Sidney site being the exception. The Sidney site had below normal moisture conditions at seeding and received much above normal precipitation in June. The Conrad site received only 2.28 inches of precipitation during the growing season (April 26th - July 25th), of which 1.53 inches fell in June. Looking at multi-year variety yields compared to Laird green lentil at all locations, indicated that most varieties perform equal to or better than Laird, except for at the Huntley site, where Laird tended to do better than the majority of the other lentils evaluated (Table 16). By comparing yields from the 2001 field season to the statewide four-year (1998-2001) average (Tables 12 and 16, respectively), lentil production, under dryland environments, in 2001 was 91% of the four-year statewide trial average (923 lbs/acre and 1,019 lbs/acre, respectively). With an average dryland grain production of 1,159 pounds per acre, CDC Richlea green lentil has been the highest statewide grain yielding lentil over four years of testing. Moccasin lentil yields were the only dryland site where 2001 lentil production was greater than that sites four-year average (1,137 and 1,114 lbs/acre, respectively). Lentil yields in the 2001 season at Corvallis were 166% of that sites two-year average (2,255 and 1,361 lbs/acre, respectively) and over 700 pounds more production than the four site-year irrigated average of 1,512 pounds per acre. Over the four years of statewide lentil evaluations, the dryland grain yields averaged 1,019 pounds per acre, with Sidney, Bozeman and Moccasin having the highest average yields. Under irrigation, lentil production averaged 1,512 pounds per acre in from 1998 through 2001.
Statewide Evaluation of Lentil Variety Performance (Montana Statewide Lentil Performance Trial) (2002)
(Central Agricultural Research Center, 2002) Wichman, David M.; Neill, Karnes E.; Eckhoff, Joyce L.; Holmes, Jeffrey A.; Jackson, G.; Kephart, Ken D.; Lamb, Peggy F.; Miller, James B.; Miller, Perry R.
This report evaluates the performance of lentil varieties under different climatic and cropping conditions across Montana. Drought-like conditions persisted into the 2002 cropping year across much of Montana. At the Moccasin site, crop-year precipitation (April through July) was 86% of normal, which received 1.14 inches below the normal growing season precipitation. Selected lentil entries’ grain yields, which were involved in the Statewide Lentil Performance Trial for three or more years since 1998, were summarized (Table 10). Since 1998, CDC Milestone, a small green lentil (Eston-type), had the most lentil grain production, with an average of 1,431 pounds per acre (23.9 bu/acre), but was only significantly greater than Laird, French Green, Crimson and Indianhead lentils. Overall, lentil yields at Moccasin have averaged just over 1,200 pounds per acre (20 bu/acre), between 1998 and 2002. When yields were compared with Laird large green lentil (an industry standard), only CDC Milestone had consistently better yields than Laird (125% of Laird, which is greater than the LSD(0.05) of 20%).