PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - B. G. McConkey
AU  - R. P. Zentner
AU  - W. Nicholaichuk
TI  - Perennial grass windbreaks for continuous wheat production on the Canadian prairies
DP  - 1990 Jul 01
TA  - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
PG  - 482--485
VI  - 45
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/4/482.short
4100  - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/4/482.full
AB  - Barriers of tall wheatgrass [Elytrigia pontica (Podp.) Hulub.] and Altai wild ryegrass [Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilg.] spaced every 15 m (50 feet) were tested as field windbreaks in southwestern Saskatchewan. Tall wheatgrass barriers (TWGB) were highly satisfactory windbreaks, but Altai wild ryegrass proved to be too competitive with spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown between the barriers. TWGB retained more snow than unsheltered wheat stubble and increased spring soil water reserves by an average of 23 mm (0.9 inch) for continuous cropping. Six-year average continuous spring wheat yields were 15% more between TWGB than in the open field. TWGB only marginally increased the net returns of continuous wheat production, compared to conventional open field production, but did reduce the risks of continuous cropping by increasing grain yields and net returns in dry years.