Farmer-Designed Research on the Use of Legumes in Sustainable Dryland Cropping Systems

Farmer-Designed Research on the Use of Legumes in Sustainable Dryland Cropping Systems

Summary

Involving farmers in research is crucial to addressing real needs in production agriculture and to creating broader farmer acceptance of research findings. Our first objective is to develop an innovative model of farmer collaborator participation in research by actively involving farmers in determining on-farm research objectives and experimental approach. We have formed a farmer steering committee composed of four farmer collaborators and two other farmers who have experience with legumes in dryland cropping systems. Collaborators were chosen from areas with different soil and climatic conditions within the dryland wheat-producing region.

The committee has met and recommended specific research objectives. Trials were located on three farms and one agricultural experiment station in western Nebraska in a region with a mean annual precipitation of 17 in. These locations represent a range of soil and climatic conditions in the region. The wheat-fallow system was used on 90 percent of the acres producing wheat in 1998. The farmers ensured the statistical validity of their experimental design by working with a project consultant from the Department of Biometry to develop the design. It was designed with plots in a split-block design with two replications at each of the four sites. Main treatments were legume or fallow, split-plot treatments were three nitrogen fertilization levels.

At each site, the following protocols were followed: Austrian winter peas were planted in the fall into millet stubble; fallow plots were left in stubble. Soil tests were taken at pea planting to establish baseline values for soil particulate organic matter levels; pH; available P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn; and nitrate levels. Weed counts were made in the spring on all plots to determine if peas were competing with weed growth. Peas were disked into the soil when they reached the bud stage the following spring. The field had an abbreviated fallow from date of incorporation until wheat planting in September. Pea residue was measured and evaluated for level of protection from wind erosion. Starter fertilizer was applied to all wheat planted.

Analysis of variance will be performed on the data collected to determine treatment differences in soil characteristics, weed populations, and wheat yields. Regression analysis will be used to determine legume N fertilizer equivalents. We expect to see a long-term yield benefit of using a legume. All of the farmer collaborators are interested in continuing this study over a period of years. To demonstrate agronomic and economic findings to regional farmers, Extension researchers and educators, and others interested in sustainable cropping systems, our farmer collaborators served as experts at field days held on their farms and at the local dryland cropping experimental station.

North Central Region SARE 1998 Annual Report

Collaborators: