The objective was to determine the feasibility of increased cropping intensity and use of no-till and conservation-till methods in a wheat-fallow region.
The 6-year average crop-year precipitation was only 217 mm; less than the long-term average for the site in 5 of 6-years.
Early-planted winter wheat (WW) after conservation-till fallow produced greater grain yield, had higher water use efficiency, and was less variable compared to late-planted WW after no-till fallow, recrop WW, and recrop spring wheat.
No-till spring wheat grain yields were 209% greater in the one year of above-average precipitation compared to the average during the five years of drought.