Comparison of a spring wheat-mechanical fallow rotation with a winter wheat-chemical fallow rotation in southwestern Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedA Canuck spring wheat-mechanical tillage fallow rotation (SWMF) was compared to a Norstar winter wheat-chemical fallow rotation (WWCF) between 1981 and 1985 at Swift Current. Over the 5 year period, production costs were somewhat greater for SWMF but grain yields, gross returns, and net returns were not significantly different between rotations. Yearly variation in grain yields and net returns were less for WWCF. In the wetter years of 1981, 1982, and 1983, SWMF had significantly larger grain yields, gross returns, production costs, and net returns. In the drier years of 1984 and 1985, production costs were similar but WWCF had significantly larger grain yields, gross returns, and net returns. Total herbicide costs for both rotations were essentially equal. Available soil water in the spring of the crop year was equal for the two rotations which suggested WWCF had less non-productive loss of water