Adoption of cover crops is greatly dependent on their effect on the productivity of the main crops and profitability of system. The objective of this study was to quantify effects of spring fallow replacement grain, forage, and cover crops on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) productivity and overall net return. This field study was conducted from 2013 through 2020 near Garden City, KS. Three phases of the wheat–sorghum–fallow (W-S-F) rotation were the main plots, and fallow and fallow replacement grain, forage, or cover crops were subplot treatments. Available soil water at planting (ASWP) of wheat was 58 to 81% less following forage and grain oat (Avena sativa L.) and triticale and ASWP of sorghum was 29% less following spring oat grain than fallow. Spring crops did not affect average wheat and sorghum yield, water use, or water productivity compared with fallow; likely because winter wheat yield potential over the study period was <1,700 or >3,500 kg ha⁻¹. Fallow replacement crops increased cost of production by 16 to 97% compared with fallow, and costs were greater for forage and grain crops than cover crops. However, gross returns of forage crops were greater than cover crops or grain crops. Net return was greatest for triticale forage than spring pea (Pisum sativum L.) grain. We concluded no significant effect of spring fallow replacements on wheat and sorghum yield, but greater net return from spring triticale forage because of greater forage productivity and low seed cost.

中文翻译：

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WSF轮作中休耕替代牧草、谷物和覆盖作物的生产力和盈利能力

覆盖作物的采用很大程度上取决于它们对主要作物生产力和系统盈利能力的影响。本研究的目的是量化春季休耕替代谷物、牧草和覆盖作物对冬小麦 ( Triticum aestivum L.) 和高粱 ( Sorghum bicolor ) 生产力和总体净收益的影响。这项实地研究于 2013 年至 2020 年在堪萨斯州加登城附近进行。小麦-高粱-休耕（WSF）的三个阶段是主要地块，休耕和休耕替代谷物、牧草或覆盖作物是副地块处理。小麦种植时的有效土壤水分 (ASWP) 比饲草和谷物燕麦 ( Avena sativa ) 减少 58% 至 81%L.) 和小黑麦和高粱的 ASWP 在春燕麦粒后比休耕时低 29%。与休耕相比，春季作物不影响小麦和高粱的平均产量、用水量或水分生产力；可能是因为研究期间冬小麦产量潜力小于 1,700 或 >3,500 kg ha ^-1。与休耕相比，休耕替代作物增加了 16% 至 97% 的生产成本，并且牧草和粮食作物的成本高于覆盖作物。然而，饲料作物的总收益高于覆盖作物或粮食作物。黑小麦牧草的净回报比春豌豆（Pisum sativumL.) 谷物。我们得出结论，春季休耕替代对小麦和高粱产量没有显着影响，但由于草料生产力更高且种子成本低，春季黑小麦草料的净回报更大。