Lab 10: Cropping Systems (SW)
AGRON 220 Lab: Cropping Systems (NW)
A worksheet to walk you through the tenth lab session
Task 1: Field Boundaries and Soil Samples (soil info sheet on last page of worksheet)
Draw in boundaries for your group's four fields and label them A, B, C and D. You can look up the soil information using Web Soil Survey, if this helps with your decision!
Task 2: Field Rotations
Complete the table below for a 3-year rotation of your four fields. Remember that you must include the crops listed in your farmer letter! If you have double-cropping, these crops should be listed together, in order of planting.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Field A
Field B
Field C
Field D
Task 3: Year 1 Plant Populations
Find target plant populations for your first year's rotation based on your farm's region in Kansas.
Year 1 Crop
Year 1 Target Plant Population
Field A
Field B
Field C
Field D
Task 4: Year 1 Crop Yield Goals
Find reasonable yield goals for your first year's rotation based on your farm's region in Kansas.
Year 1 Crop
Year 1 Yield Goal
Field A
Field B
Field C
Field D
Task 5: Recommendations
Provide your group's response to the farmer-requested recommendations. Include your rationale, aka "why".
Task 6: Potential Problems
Respond to any problems the farmer indicated in their letter, and offer any thoughts your group has on other problems this farmer might encounter with the proposed rotation.