The number of insects is higher in plots with lower plant populations, and decreased in plots that received less water. Winter wheat and grain sorghum are ideal crops for the southern Great Plains, according to Paul Unger, soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service at the Conservation and Production Research Laboratory here. His research results will be highlighted as part of the Panhandle Ag Day Sept. 1. These crops adapt well and can be grown under irrigated or dryland conditions. According to the soil scientist, it may help control insects and plant diseases, but these weren't major problems during this study.
Rotation also provides increased chances to store more water in the soil.
This is especially important when plants are grown on dryland, which Unger will be showcasing during his Ag Day demonstration. Grain sorghum is well adapted to dryland production in the Texas Panhandle. However, there's some disagreement about the best planting dates and seeding rates, according to Steven Winter, an agronomist with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and co-investigator, Louis Baumhardt, a soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service here. Proponents for early planting set the date at May 15, at about 18,000 seed per acre. Some suggest early to mid-June at 32,000 seed per acre works well.