2002 Kansas Performance Tests with Alfalfa Varieties

The Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station established an official alfalfa performance testing program in 1980 to provide Kansas growers with unbiased performance comparisons on alfalfa varieties marketed in the state. Each year, private companies are asked to enter varieties voluntarily at the locations slated for establishment that year. Descriptive information is presented with the results for each test. This information, including soil type, establishment methods, fertilization, pest control, irrigation, harvest dates, and growing conditions unique to that location, can help explain test and/or variety performance. Forage yields were estimated by harvesting four replications of each variety with a plot harvester

2004 Kansas Performance Tests with Winter Wheat Varieties

The Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station annually compares both new and currently grown varieties in the state’s major crop-producing areas. These performance tests generate unbiased performance information designed to help Kansas growers select wheat varieties suited for their area and conditions

2000 Kansas Performance Tests with Alfalfa Varieties

The Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station established an official alfalfa performance testing program in 1980 to provide Kansas growers with unbiased performance comparisons on alfalfa varieties marketed in the state. Each year, private companies are asked to enter varieties voluntarily at the locations slated for establishment that year. Descriptive information is presented with the results for each test. This information, including soil type, establishment methods, fertilization, pest control, irrigation, harvest dates, and growing conditions unique to that location, can help explain test and/or variety performance. Forage yields were estimated by harvesting four replications of each variety with a plot harvester

2001 Kansas Performance Tests with Summer Annual Forages

This publication presents the results of tests designed to compare forage production and quality of corn, sorghum, and sorghum-sudan hybrids. Samples from each harvest were collected to determine moisture content and for laboratory analysis of forage quality

2002 Kansas performance tests with spring small grains

Kansas performance tests are designed to evaluate small grain varieties in several environments by using recommended production practices. Varieties are evaluated for yield, test weight, maturity, height, and other characters that may arise in a given season

2022 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Dual-Purpose Variety Trials

Hemp is a broad term used to describe the many varieties of Cannabis sativa L. that produce less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The crop is globally significant and has recently been approved in the United States. There are many uses for industrial hemp, and the market for industrial hemp is rapidly growing as more states are legalizing its production. Industrial hemp is marketed for oil, grain, and fiber. Varieties have been selected for improved fiber and grain production that can service these markets. However, little research-based information is available regarding adaptability or production of these varieties in Kansas. The objectives of this research were to evaluate commercially available varieties of industrial hemp at two locations in Kansas

Report of Progress 1161

Grain Sorghum Performance Tests, conducted annually by the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, provide farmers, extension workers, and seed industry personnel with unbiased agronomic information on many of the grain sorghum hybrids marketed in the state. Because entry selection and location are voluntary, not all hybrids grown in the state are included in tests, and the same group of hybrids is not grown at all test locations

Lignin, sugar, and furan production of industrial hemp biomass via an integrated process

Traditional pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is often accompanied by washing and disposal of wastewater, which leads to overuse of water and loss of by-products. The objectives of this study were to validate the potential of an acid-base integrated process for simultaneous sugars, furans, and lignin production without washing and wastewater discarding. The difference in conversion performance among different biomass resources was also demonstrated. Parallel acetic acid (HOAc, pH = 2.25) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH, pH = 13.46) pretreatments followed by solid and liquid integration were applied to four genotypes of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) biomass that were harvested from two planting locations (Haysville and Manhattan, KS). Results showed that genotype, planting location, and their interaction had notable influences on biomass composition and its conversion to bioproducts but exhibited different trends. Glucan content of biomass from Haysville, ranging from 47.29 to 50.05%, were higher than those of 42.49–48.38 % from Manhattan with the lowest being Vega (Manhattan) and the highest being Hlukouskii (Haysville). Xylan and lignin contents in all the hemp genotypes were 11.70–13.88 % and 10.45–15.14 %, respectively. The integration process effectively rendered the pH of the integrated filtrate and slurry to approximately 4.80. The highest lignin recovery of 73.13 g/kg biomass was achieved by Rigel from Manhattan. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization showed that only lignin derived from Vega (Haysville) and Anka (Manhattan) was comparable to the commercial alkali lignin. Retaining monosaccharides (2.24–3.81 g/L) enhanced sugar concentrations (glucose: 40.40–45.71 g/L; xylose: 7.09–8.88 g/L) and conversion efficiencies (glucose: 71.19–77.71 %; xylose: 45.42–52.03 %). Besides, furans including 0.79–1.25 g/L of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and 0.99–1.59 g/L of furfural coupling with 1.96–2.95 % and 10.00–14.65 % conversion efficiencies, respectively, were obtained in the final hydrolysate. Biomass from Haysville produced relatively higher glucose concentrations than those from Manhattan. Based on mass balance, the most productive genotype was Rigel. This study offers essential information to reduce water and chemical overconsumption and to understand the effects of genotype and planting location on biomass valorization

Drought-Tolerant Corn Hybrids Yield More in Drought-Stressed Environments with No Penalty in Non-stressed Environments

Citation: Adee, E., Roozeboom, K., Balboa, G. R., Schlegel, A., & Ciampitti, I. A. (2016). Drought-Tolerant Corn Hybrids Yield More in Drought-Stressed Environments with No Penalty in Non-stressed Environments. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 9. doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.01534The potential benefit of drought-tolerant (DT) corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids may depend on drought intensity, duration, crop growth stage (timing), and the array of drought tolerance mechanisms present in selected hybrids. We hypothesized that corn hybrids containing DT traits would produce more consistent yields compared to non-DT hybrids in the presence of drought stress. The objective of this study was to define types of production environments where DT hybrids have a yield advantage compared to non-DT hybrids. Drought tolerant and non-DT hybrid pairs of similar maturity were planted in six site-years with different soil types, seasonal evapotranspiration (ET), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), representing a range of macro-environments. Irrigation regimes and seeding rates were used to create several micro-environments within each macro-environment. Hybrid response to the range of macro and micro-environmental stresses were characterized in terms of water use efficiency, grain yield, and environmental index. Yield advantage of DT hybrids was positively correlated with environment ET and VPD. Drought tolerant hybrids yielded 5 to 7% more than non-DT hybrids in high and medium ET environments (>430 mm ET), corresponding to seasonal VPD greater than 1200 Pa. Environmental index analysis confirmed that DT hybrids were superior in stressful environments. Yield advantage for DT hybrids appeared as yield dropped below 10.8 Mg ha(-1) and averaged as much as 0.6-1 Mg ha(-1) at the low yield range. Hybrids with DT technology can offer a degree of buffering against drought stress by minimizing yield reduction, but also maintaining a comparable yield potential in high yielding environments. Further studies should focus on the physiological mechanisms presented in the commercially available corn drought tolerant hybrids