Corn yield and soil nitrogen following winter annual cover crops interseeded into soybean

Almond (Prunus dulcis Mill. [D.A. Webb]) is the third most widely spread crop in Spain and has traditionally been cultivated in marginal areas and shallow soils under rainfed conditions. However, it recently has been progressively introduced in flat irrigated areas. The implementation of cover crops in the inter-rows of woody crops has been proven as a suitable strategy to reduce the runoff and soil erosion but they also can boost soil quality and health. A field experiment was conducted during two-monitoring seasons to examine the soil nitrogen and carbon sequestration potential of three seeded cover crops [barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), and a mixture of 65% barley and 35% vetch] and a control of spontaneous flora in irrigated almond orchards (SW Spain). Here, we show that barley provided the highest biomass amount, followed by mixture covers, vetch, and the control treatment. Also, vetch covered the soil faster in the growing stage, but its residues were decomposed easier than barley and mixture treatments during the decomposition period after mowing, providing less soil protection when the risk of water erosion with autumn rainfall is high. On the other hand, vetch improved soil nitrate content by over 35% with respect to barley and mixture treatments at 0–20 cm soil depth throughout the studied period. In addition, a greater carbon input to the soil was determined in the barley plot. That is, the mixture and barley cover crops had higher potential for carbon sequestration, augmenting the soil organic carbon by more than 1.0 Mg ha−1 during the study period. Thus, taking into consideration the findings of the present experiment, the establishment of a seeded cover crop would be more advisable than spontaneous flora to mitigate soil erosion, enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration in irrigated almond plantations in Mediterranean semi-arid regions.

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Planting Alfalfa with Cover Crops on Forage Dry Matter Yield and Nutritive Values of Alfalfa

Journal of Agricultural Studies ◽

10.5296/jas.v5i2.11408 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 107

Author(s):

Doohong Min ◽

Iryna McDonald

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Dry Matter Yield ◽

Annual Ryegrass ◽

Oilseed Radish ◽

Nutritive Values ◽

Raphanus Sativus L ◽

Medicago Sativa L ◽

Winter Annual

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of planting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with- and without cover crops on forage dry matter yield and nutritive values of alfalfa in Kansas, USA. In the first production year 2014, dry matter yield of mono-culture alfalfa appears to be compatible or even higher than planting with certain species of winter annual forages as a cover crop. Alfalfa planted with a combination of four different multi-species winter annual forages such as oats (Avena sativa L.), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumL.), and turnip (Brassica rapa L.) had the highest dry matter yield of alfalfa in 2014.Dry matter yield of alfalfa in 2nd production year 2015 was similar to alfalfa + oats and alfalfa + oats + oilseed radish + annual ryegrass + turnip or significantly higher than alfalfa planted with annual ryegrass, oilseed radish, and turnip together. Based on two year of data in 2014 and 2015, the highest alfalfa yield occurred when alfalfa was planted with a combination of oats, oilseed radish, annual ryegrass, and turnip. The lowest dry matter yield of alfalfa occurred when alfalfa was planted with annual ryegrass.No significant differences in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were found when comparing alfalfa monoculture with alfalfa + oats, alfalfa + oilseed radish, alfalfa + oats + oilseed radish + annual ryegrass + turnip, and alfalfa + turnip treatments. When considering both dry matter and nutritive values of alfalfa, planting alfalfa with cover crops appears to be compatible or better practice than planting alfalfa monoculture.

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Effect of Winter Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Corn Yield, and Nitrate Leaching

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.267 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 22-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

S. Kuo ◽

B. Huang ◽

R. Bembenek

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

N Leaching ◽

Corn Yield ◽

N Availability ◽

Soil N ◽

Soil N Availability ◽

N Concentration ◽

Fertilizer Rates

Biculture of nonlegumes and legumes could serve as cover crops for increasing main crop yield, while reducing NO3leaching. This study, conducted from 1994 to 1999, determined the effect of monocultured cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch on N availability in soil, corn (Zea mays L.) yield, and NO3-N leaching in a silt loam soil. The field had been in corn and cover crop rotation since 1987. In addition to the cover crop treatments, there were four N fertilizer rates (0, 67, 134, and 201 kg N ha-1, referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively) applied to corn. The experiment was a randomized split-block design with three replications for each treatment. Lysimeters were installed in 1987 at 0.75 m below the soil surface for leachate collection for the N0, N2, and N3treatments. The result showed that vetch monoculture had the most influence on soil N availability and corn yield, followed by the bicultures. Rye or ryegrass monoculture had either no effect or an adverse effect on corn yield and soil N availability. Leachate NO3-N concentration was highest where vetch cover crop was planted regardless of N rates, which suggests that N mineralization of vetch N continued well into the fall and winter. Leachate NO3-N concentration increased with increasing N fertilizer rates and exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water standard of 10 mg N l�1 even at recommended N rate for corn in this region (coastal Pacific Northwest). In comparisons of the average NO3-N concentration during the period of high N leaching, monocultured rye and ryegrass or bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch very effectively decreased N leaching in 1998 with dry fall weather. The amount of N available for leaching (determined based on the presidedress nitrate test, the amount of N fertilizer applied, and N uptake) correlated well with average NO3-N during the high N leaching period for vetch cover crop treatment and for the control without the cover crops. The correlation, however, failed for other cover crops largely because of variable effectiveness of the cover crops in reducing NO3leaching during the 5 years of this study. Further research is needed to determine if relay cover crops planted into standing summer crops is a more appropriate approach than fall seeding in this region to gain sufficient growth of the cover crop by fall. Testing with other main crops that have earlier harvest dates than corn is also needed to further validate the effectiveness of the bicultures to increase soil N availability while protecting the water quality.

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Green house studies on the biology of winter annual grasses and the use of cover crops and herbicides for their control

Agronomy Journal of Nepal ◽

10.3126/ajn.v2i0.7529 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 139-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

JD Ranjit ◽

R Bellinder ◽

C Benidict ◽

V Kumar

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Flag Leaf ◽

Biological Study ◽

Cornell University ◽

Green House ◽

Annual Grasses ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Preemergence Herbicides

Greenhouse studies were initiated in two small (Polypogon fugox) and large (Phalaris minor) seeded annual grasses in 2007 at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA. These two annual grasses were very common in wheat fields of midhills and terai regions of Nepal. P fugox was taken for biological study. Days to emergence took 8-11 days in green house. Early emerged panicles were longer than those emerged late. Panicle took 10-12 days to emerge completely from the flag leaf. Panicles per plant were 120. Seeds were very small having about 1091 seeds per panicle. So one fully matured plant could produce seeds about 130920. Study on eco-biology needs to continue in the future. P fugox and P minor responded differently to buckwheat residues. Among different treatments emergence and growth of both weeds were suppressed more by buckwheat residues when left on the surface than incorporated. P minor was less affected by buckwheat residues. It might be due to larger seed compared to P fugox. Post emergence herbicides clodinofop and pinoxaden were effective on both grasses. Isoproturon and tralkoxydim were effective on P fugox. Sulfosulfuron was good in reducing plant growth to some extent. Preemergence herbicides pendimethalin and s-metolochlor were effective in reducing emergence and growth of both weeds. Isoproturon and and sulfosulfuron suppressed plant growth reducing dry plant biomass. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajn.v2i0.7529 Agronomy Journal of Nepal (Agron JN) Vol. 2: 2011 pp.139-148

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Corn Response Across Plant Densities and Row Configurations for Different Moisture Environments

International Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.1155/2020/4518062 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Kipling S. Balkcom ◽

Kira L. Bowen

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Plant Density ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Summer Rainfall ◽

Moisture Stress ◽

Yield Response ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Measured Variable ◽

Irrigation Level ◽

Plant Densities

Corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Southeast can be negatively impacted by erratic summer rainfall and drought-prone, coarse-textured soils, but irrigation combined with conservation tillage and cover crops may support greater plant densities arranged in different row configurations to improve yield. We examined five site-years of data across two soil types in Alabama to compare corn yields in a conservation system across three plant densities for single- and twin-row configurations in dryland and irrigated moisture regimes. Treatments were arranged with a split plot treatment restriction in a RCB design with three replications. Main plots were irrigation level (no irrigation and irrigation), and subplots were a factorial arrangement of three plant densities (5.9, 7.4, and 8.9 plants m−2) and row configurations (single and twin). A moisture environment (low and moderate) variable, defined by growing season rainfall, was used to average over site-years. In general, irrigation in the moderate-moisture environment improved each measured variable (plant height, stover yield, corn yield, and test weight) and decreased grain N concentration and aflatoxin levels compared to the low-moisture environment with no irrigation. Benefits of increased rainfall and irrigation to reduce soil moisture stress across drought-prone soils were evident. Pooled results across all site-years indicated no yield response as plant density increased, but greater yields were observed with the greatest plant densities in the moderate-moisture environments. No advantage for twin-row corn production was observed across five site-years in Alabama, which indicates either row configuration can be successfully adopted.

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Effect of Wheat Cover Crop and Split Nitrogen Application on Corn Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10081081 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1081 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Oladapo Adeyemi ◽

Reza Keshavarz-Afshar ◽

Emad Jahanzad ◽

Martin Leonardo Battaglia ◽

Yuan Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Block Design ◽

Corn Yield ◽

N Losses ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

N Application ◽

Use Efficiency

Corn (Zea mays L.) grain is a major commodity crop in Illinois and its production largely relies on timely application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Currently, growers in Illinois and other neighboring states in the U.S. Midwest use the maximum return to N (MRTN) decision support system to predict corn N requirements. However, the current tool does not factor in implications of integrating cover crops into the rotation, which has recently gained attention among growers due to several ecosystem services associated with cover cropping. A two-year field trail was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application affects nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of corn with and without a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements and four replicates was used. Main plots were cover crop treatments (no cover crop (control) compared to a wheat cover crop) and subplots were N timing applications to the corn: (1) 168 kg N ha−1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha−1 at planting + 112 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha−1 at planting + 56 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; and (4) 168 kg N ha−1 at sidedress along with a zero-N control as check plot. Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. In 2018, grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control, indicating a yield penalty when corn was preceded with a wheat cover crop. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no yield differences among N treatments and N balances were near zero. In 2019, delaying the N application improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses which was confirmed by lower N balances in sidedressed treatments. Overall, our findings suggest including N credit for cereals in MRTN prediction model could help with improved N management in the Midwestern United States.

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Response of the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test to liquid and composted dairy manure applications in a corn agroecosystem

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s05-048 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 86 (4) ◽

pp. 655-663 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

J H Klapwyk ◽

Q M Ketterings ◽

G S Godwin ◽

D. Wang

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Soil Nitrogen ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Amino Sugar ◽

Dairy Manure ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Potentially Mineralizable N ◽

Manure Amendments ◽

N Management ◽

Over Time

Dairy manure is important for corn (Zea mays L.) production in New York. Optimizing corn yield while minimizing environmental loss with manure nutrients is often a challenge. A potential tool for improving N management is the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test (ISNT), which estimates amino sugar N, a pool of potentially mineralizable N for corn uptake. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the short-term effects of manure applications on ISNT-N, and (2) the longer-term impacts of annual additions of composted and liquid dairy manure on ISNT-N. A 6-wk incubation study showed that NH4-N from manure temporarily (< 2 wk) increased ISNT results. A 4-yr field study was conducted with annual spring applications of two rates of composted dairy manure (45 and 77 Mg ha-1) and two liquid dairy manure rates (63.5 and 180 kL ha-1). Results showed that ISNT-N slightly decreased over time in check plots (no manure or fertilizer additions) and that increases in ISNT-N over time in compost and liquid manure amended plots were consistent with changes in N credits currently given to manures in New York. Our results suggest that the ISNT accounts for N in previously applied compost and manure amendments, but that samples should not be taken within 2-wk following manure addition. Key words: Amino sugar, compost, Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test, nitrogen, manure, nutrient management

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The suitability of non-legume cover crops for inorganic soil nitrogen immobilisation in the transition period to an organic no-till system

Plant Production Science ◽

10.1080/1343943x.2015.1128098 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 105-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lars Rühlemann ◽

Knut Schmidtke

Keyword(s):

Soil Nitrogen ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Transition Period ◽

No Till ◽

Legume Cover Crops ◽

Nitrogen Immobilisation

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Cover Crop and Postemergence Herbicide Integration for Palmer amaranth Control in Cotton

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 348-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Matthew S. Wiggins ◽

Robert M. Hayes ◽

Robert L. Nichols ◽

Lawrence E. Steckel

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Palmer Amaranth ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Annual Grasses ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Hand Weeding

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the integration of cover crops and POST herbicides to control glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth in cotton. The winter-annual grasses accumulated the greatest amount of biomass and provided the most Palmer amaranth control. The estimates for the logistic regression would indicate that 1540 kg ha−1would delay Palmer amaranth emerging and growing to 10 cm by an estimated 16.5 days. The Palmer amaranth that emerged in the cereal rye and wheat cover crop treatments took a longer time to reach 10 cm compared to the hairy vetch and crimson clover treatments. POST herbicides were needed for adequate control of Palmer amaranth. The glufosinate-based weed control system provided greater control (75% vs 31%) of Palmer amaranth than did the glyphosate system. These results indicate that a POST only herbicide weed management system did not provide sufficient control of Palmer amaranth, even when used in conjunction with cover crops that produced a moderate level of biomass. Therefore, future recommendations for GR Palmer amaranth control will include integrating cover crops with PRE herbicides, overlaying residual herbicides in-season, timely POST herbicide applications, and hand weeding in order to achieve season-long control of this pest.

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