UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
1, 
ae 
PAI VG" 
Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. Vv October 11, 1917 
WINTER WHEAT IN THE GREAT PLAINS AREA: 
RELATION OF CULTURAL METHODS TO PRODUCTION. 
By E. C. Cumtcort, Agriculturist in Charge, Joun 8. Cour, Agriculturist, and J. B. 
Kuska, Assistant, Office of Dry-Land Agriculture. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
PatrOGUchlOMer sence s-seenit-6 Scat aera 1 | Results at the several stations........-.-.--. 10 
Area included in these investigations. -...--- 2 | General discussion of results..............-.- 29 
Wlimahic Conditions... --2 =. 2 s2<cae see 3 | Comparison .of winter wheat with spring 
General plan of the investigations. ........-- 4 Wie bier tert). toe wncieaio ora setae mee rae cick 32 
Comparison of cultural methods. -....-.....-- 7 } Conelusionsss: 3. 22:.2Scereueneeoeaoure cee sees 34 
INTRODUCTION. 
This bulletin contains a study of the yields of winter wheat 
obtained under various methods of seed-bed preparation at 13 field 
stations in the Great Plains region. 
The study as here made shows the effect of the cropping and 
cultivation of the land in only the one year preceding the growth 
of the winter wheat. A study of the cost of production by each of 
the methods under trial and the resulting profit or loss is also given. 
There is also presented for comparison the average yields and the 
resulting profits or losses from spring wheat grown by the same 
methods at the same stations for the same years. 
Results are presented from an aggregate of 75 station years, involv- 
ing an ageregate of 1,137 plat years. By “station year”’ is meant 
one year at one station; by “plat year’’ is meant one plat at one 
station for one year. 
Such a mass of material furnishes an infinite amount of detail for 
study, but it is the purpose of this bulletin to consider only the 
broader bearings and more obvious and important phases of the 
work rather than a study of the details. 
This bulletin, dealing with only onecrop, does not afford ameasure for 
judging the agricultural possibilities for other crops of any section of 
theGreat Plainsarea. TheOffice of Dry-Land Agriculture of the United 
1 For a list of members of the scientific staff of the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture, cooperating stations, 
etc., see the second page of the cover. 
Notre.—This bulletin is intended for all who are interested in the agricultural possibilities of the Great 
Plains area. 
9656°—17—Bull. 595——1 
