Profitability of alternative production and tillage strategies for dryland wheat and grain sorghum in the Central Great Plains

Three tillage systems used in continuous cropping and rotations with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were compared. Experiment station yield data and annual price darn from 1986 to 1995 were coupled with 1995 cost-of-production estimates to determine expected net returns for a typical dryland farm in south central Kansas. In general, risk analysis indicated thar risk-averse managers preferred ed reduced-tillage systems. A rotation of reduced-tillage sorghum and no-tillage wheat was preferred by moderately risk-averse producers. A combination of reduced-tillage continuous sorghum and reduced-tillage continuous wheat was preferred by more risk-averse producers. Planting wheat and grain sorghum in a rotation provided a small economic advantage compared to planting a single crop of wheat or sorghum.