The effect of cover crops on the establishment and yield of vining peas and on nitrate leaching

1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Knott
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Quick Freezing

SUMMARYExperiments were designed to assess the effects of cover crops, compared with bare stubble, on the establishment and yield of a following crop of vining peas sown in March. The cover crops of winter wheat (to simulate self-sown wheat) or winter rye, and bare stubble, were ploughed in on different dates: 1 December, 1 February or 1 March. Cover crops were destroyed with or without the use of herbicide. The three experiments in 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 were sited on a free-draining, sandy loam soil at Thornhaugh, Cambridgeshire.The cover crops, sown as soon as possible in September following a winter wheat crop, had low dry matter (DM) production and nitrogen uptake in the dry autumns of 1990 and 1991, but in the third experiment (1992/93), autumn rainfall was higher than the long-term average and DM production and N uptake were greater. Cover crops reduced the overwinter soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) content in all 3 years compared with bare stubble. However, in spring, SMN increased where cover crops had been incorporated, due to the mineralization of the cover crop residues. Rye captured more nitrogen than wheat.Vining pea vigour and maturity at quick-freezing harvest stage were not affected by cover crop, destruction date or method in any of the three seasons.On the light soil, satisfactory seedbeds were achieved after ploughing at all three timings for experiments in 1990/91 and 1992/93 and vining pea yields were not reduced by cover crops or by destruction date or method. However, delayed ploughing in February and March in the 1991/92 experiment resulted in lower vining pea yields compared with ploughing in December. This was due to poor seedbeds after late ploughing rather than cover crop, stubble treatment or method of destruction.

Integration of nitrate cover crops into sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris) rotations. I. Management and effectiveness of nitrate cover crops

1998 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. F. ALLISON ◽  
M. J. ARMSTRONG ◽  
K. W. JAGGARD ◽  
A. D. TODD
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Crop N Uptake

Between 1989 and 1993, 17 experiments tested the effect of cover crop species, sowing date and destruction date on cover crop dry matter (DM) yield, N uptake and on soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) content. All the experiments were carried out in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire on sandy-loam textured soils after crops of cereals or oilseed rape had been harvested. The largest DM yields were obtained with early sowings and averaged 1·6 t/ha. Cover crop N uptake was less dependent upon sowing date and averaged 35 kg N/ha. The average reduction in SMN was from 46 to 32 kg N/ha. Differences between cover crop species were small when compared with season/site variations.Cereal cover crop DM yields were closely related to the thermal time accumulated from the first significant rainfall after sowing, whilst the yields of non-cereal cover crops were more affected by the moisture content of the soil at sowing. The amount of SMN in the soil at sowing had little or no effect on cover crop yield. The yields of cereal cover crops were much more predictable than those of non-cereal cover crops. Water usage by cover crops was estimated to be 20 mm/t DM and large cover crops delayed the onset of leaching and reduced the amount of water leached. However, even in dry autumns and winters, soils are likely to reach field capacity before the following beet crop is sown. Due to their large C[ratio ]N ratio (20[ratio ]1) little N would be mineralized after cover crop destruction. Cover crops comprising volunteer cereals and weeds often performed as well as the other cover crops and in most cases will be the most cost-effective cover crops.

scholarly journals Drainage N Loads Under Climate Change with Winter Rye Cover Crop in a Northern Mississippi River Basin Corn-Soybean Rotation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7630
Author(s):  
Robert Malone ◽  
Jurgen Garbrecht ◽  
Phillip Busteed ◽  
Jerry Hatfield ◽  
Dennis Todey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
General Circulation ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Mississippi River Basin

To help reduce future N loads entering the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River 45%, Iowa set the goal of reducing non-point source N loads 41%. Studies show that implementing winter rye cover crops into agricultural systems reduces N loads from subsurface drainage, but its effectiveness in the Mississippi River Basin under expected climate change is uncertain. We used the field-tested Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM) to estimate drainage N loads, crop yield, and rye growth in central Iowa corn-soybean rotations. RZWQM scenarios included baseline (BL) observed weather (1991–2011) and ambient CO2 with cover crop and no cover crop treatments (BL_CC and BL_NCC). Scenarios also included projected future temperature and precipitation change (2065–2085) from six general circulation models (GCMs) and elevated CO2 with cover crop and no cover crop treatments (CC and NCC). Average annual drainage N loads under NCC, BL_NCC, CC and BL_CC were 63.6, 47.5, 17.0, and 18.9 kg N ha−1. Winter rye cover crop was more effective at reducing drainage N losses under climate change than under baseline conditions (73 and 60% for future and baseline climate), mostly because the projected temperatures and atmospheric CO2 resulted in greater rye growth and crop N uptake. Annual CC drainage N loads were reduced compared with BL_NCC more than the targeted 41% for 18 to 20 years of the 21-year simulation, depending on the GCM. Under projected climate change, average annual simulated crop yield differences between scenarios with and without winter rye were approximately 0.1 Mg ha−1. These results suggest that implementing winter rye cover crop in a corn-soybean rotation effectively addresses the goal of drainage N load reduction under climate change in a northern Mississippi River Basin agricultural system without affecting cash crop production.

Cereal cover crops for weed suppression in a summer fallow-wheat cropping sequence

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. E. Blackshaw ◽  
E. G. Smith ◽  
S. M. McGinn
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Weed Growth ◽  
Summer Fallow

Cropping systems in western Canada that include summer fallow can leave the soil exposed to erosion and require frequent weed control treatments. Cover crops have been used for soil conservation and to suppress weed growth. Experiments were conducted under rain-fed conditions at Lethbridge, Alberta to determine the effect of short-term fall rye (Secale cereale L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and annual rye cover crops in the fallow year on weed growth and subsequent wheat yield. Under favorable weather conditions fall rye was as effective as post-harvest plus early spring tillage or herbicides in spring weed control. Winter wheat and fall rye residues, after growth was terminated in June, reduced weed biomass in September by 50% compared to no cover crop in 1993 but had little effect on weeds in 1995. Fall-seeded cover crops reduced the density of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber in Wiggers) and Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] but increased the density of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.), wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus L.), and thyme-leaved spurge (Euphorbia serpyllifolia Pers.) in the following fall or spring. Wheat yields after fall rye and no cover crop were similar but yields after spring-seeded annual rye were less than after no cover crop. Spring-seeded annual rye did not adequately compete with weeds. Cover crops, unlike the no cover crop treatment, always left sufficient plant residue to protect the soil from erosion until the following wheat crop was seeded. Key words: Allelopathies, fall rye, nitrogen, soil conservation, soil moisture, weed control, spring rye, winter wheat

scholarly journals Introducing cover crops as fallow replacement in the Northern Great Plains: II. Impact on following wheat crops

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Maryse Bourgault ◽  
Samuel A. Wyffels ◽  
Julia M. Dafoe ◽  
Peggy F. Lamb ◽  
Darrin L. Boss
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Grain Yields

Abstract The introduction of cover crops as fallow replacement in the traditional cereal-based cropping system of the Northern Great Plains has the potential to decrease soil erosion, increase water infiltration, reduce weed pressure and improve soil health. However, there are concerns this might come at the cost of reduced production in the subsequent wheat crop due to soil water use by the cover crops. To determine this risk, a phased 2-year rotation of 15 different cover crop mixtures and winter wheat/spring wheat was established at the Northern Agricultural Research Center near Havre, MT from 2012 to 2020, or four rotation cycles. Controls included fallow–wheat and barley–wheat sequences. Cover crops and barley were terminated early July by haying, grazing or herbicide application. Yields were significantly decreased in wheat following cover crops in 3 out of 8 years, up to maximum of 1.4 t ha−1 (or 60%) for winter wheat following cool-season cover crop mixtures. However, cover crops also unexpectedly increased following wheat yields in 2018, possibly due in part to residual fertilizer. Within cool-, mid- and warm-season cover crop groups, individual mixtures did not show significant differences impact on following grain yields. Similarly, cover crop termination methods had no impact on spring or winter wheat grain yields in any of the 8 years considered. Wheat grain protein concentration was not affected by cover crop mixtures or termination treatments but was decreased in winter wheat following barley. Differences in soil water content across cover crop groups were only evident at the beginning of the third cycle in one field, but important reductions were observed below 15 cm in the last rotation cycle. In-season rainfall explained 43 and 13% of the variability in winter and spring wheat yields, respectively, compared to 2 and 1% for the previous year cover crop biomass. Further economic analyses are required to determine if the integration of livestock is necessary to mitigate the risks associated with the introduction of cover crops in replacement of fallow in the Northern Great Plains.

Suitability of legume cover crop-winter wheat intercrops on the semi-arid Canadian Prairies

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Blackshaw ◽  
L J Molnar ◽  
J R Moyer
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Slight Reduction ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Winter Wheat Yield ◽  
Semi Arid

Farmers on the Canadian prairies are interested in including legume cover crops in their cropping systems to reduce fertilizer inputs and improve farm sustainability. A field study was conducted to determine the merits of establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) or Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) cover crops in fall or in spring with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Spring-planted legumes emerged well within the winter wheat crop, but their growth was limited under these semi-arid conditions. Fall-planted red clover had low plant densities following winter in two of three experiments and fall-planted winter pea reduced winter wheat yield by 23 to 37% compared with the no cover crop control. In contrast, fall-planted alfalfa exhibited good winterhardiness, provided some weed suppression without reducing winter wheat yield, caused only a slight reduction in soil water content, and contributed an extra 18 to 20 kg ha-1 of available soil N at the time of seeding the following spring crop. Additionally, fall-planted alfalfa increased the yield of succeeding canola (Brassica napus L.) in unfertilized plots in two of three experiments. Further research is warranted to better understand the agronomic and economic benefits of alfalfa-winter wheat intercrops under a wider range of environmental conditions.Key words: Cover crops, intercropping, relay crops, soil nitrogen, soil conservation

scholarly journals Soybean Relative Maturity, Not Row Spacing, Affected Interseeded Cover Crops Biomass

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Hans J. Kandel ◽  
Dulan P. Samarappuli ◽  
Kory L. Johnson ◽  
Marisol T. Berti
Keyword(s):  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Crop Biomass

Adoption of cover crop interseeding in the northwestern Corn Belt in the USA is limited due to inadequate fall moisture for establishment, short growing season, additional costs, and need for adapted winter-hardy species. This study evaluated three cover crop treatments—no cover crop, winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and winter camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz)—which were interseeded at the R6 soybean growth stage, using two different soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) maturity groups (0.5 vs. 0.9) and two row spacings (30.5 vs. 61 cm). The objective was to evaluate these treatments on cover crop biomass, soil cover, plant density, and soybean yield. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield was also measured the following year. The early-maturing soybean cultivar (0.5 maturity) resulted in increased cover crop biomass and soil cover, with winter rye outperforming winter camelina. However, the early-maturing soybean yielded 2308 kg·ha−1, significantly less compared with the later maturing cultivar (2445 kg·ha−1). Narrow row spacing had higher soybean yield, but row spacing did not affect cover crop growth. Spring wheat should not follow winter rye if rye is terminated right before seeding the wheat. However, wheat planted after winter camelina was no different than when no cover crop was interseeded in soybean. Interseeding cover crops into established soybean is possible, however, cover crop biomass accumulation and soil cover are limited.

Contrast between sandy and clay soils in the effects of various factors on the growth, nitrogen uptake and yield of winter wheat in three years

1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Thorne ◽  
P. J. Welbank ◽  
F. V. Widdowson ◽  
A. Penny ◽  
A. D. Todd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Silty Clay ◽  
Early Application ◽  
Number Of Shoots

SummaryWinter wheat grown following potatoes on a sandy loam at Woburn in 1978–9, 1980–1 and 1981–2 was compared with that on a clay loam at Rothamsted in 1978–9 and 1980–1, and on a silty clay (alluvium) at Woburn in 1981–2. The cultivar was Hustler in the harvest years 1979 and 1981 and Avalon in 1982. On each soil in each year multifactorial experiments tested effects of combinations of six factors, each at two levels.The best 4-plot mean grain yield ranged from 89 to 11·1 t/ha during the 3 years; it was smaller on the sandy soil than on the clay soil in 1979, but larger on sand than on the clay in 1981 and 1982. Until anthesis the number of shoots, dry weight and N content of the wheat giving these best yields were less on sand than on clay. Unlike grain weight, straw weight was always less on sand.Sowing in mid-September instead of mid-October increased grain yield on clay in each year (by 0·4·0·7 t/ha) and increased yield on sand only in 1981 (by 1·6 t/ha). Early sowing always increased dry weight, leaf area, number of shoots and N uptake until May. The benefits were always greater on clay than on sand immediately before N fertilizer was applied in the spring and usually lessened later on both soils.Aldicarb as an autumn pesticide increased grain yield of early-sown wheat on both soils in 1981 by lessening infection with barley yellow dwarf virus. Aldicarb increased yield on clay in 1982; it also decreased the number of plant parasitic nematodes.Wheat on sand was more responsive to nitrogen in division, timing and amount than was wheat on clay. In 1979 yield of wheat on sand was increased by dividing spring N between March, April and May, instead of giving it all in April, and in 1982 by giving winter N early in February. In 1981 division and timing on sand interacted with sowing date. Yield of early-sown wheat given N late, i.e. in March, April and May, exceeded that given N early, i.e. in February, March and May, by 1·4 t/ha; single dressings given all in March or all in April also yielded less than the late divided dressing. Yield of later-sown wheat given all the N in April was at least 1·2 t/ha less than with all N given in March or with divided N. In all years treatments that increased yield usually also increased N uptake. Grain yield on clay was never affected by division or timing of spring N or by application of winter N. This was despite the fact that all treatments that involved a delay in the application of N depressed growth and N uptake in spring on both sand and clay. The mean advantage in N uptake following early application of spring N eventually reversed on both soils, so that uptake at maturity was greater from late than from early application. Increasing the amount of N given in spring from the estimated requirement for 9 t/ha grain yield to that for 12 t/ha increased yield in 1982, especially on sand. The larger amount of N always increased the number of ears but often decreased the number of grains per ear and the size of individual grains.Irrigation increased grain yield only on the sandy soil, by 1·1 t/ha in 1979 and by 07 t/ha in 1981 and 1982. The component responsible was dry weight per grain in 1979 and 1982, when soil moisture deficits reaching maximum values of 136 and 110 mm respectively in the 2 years developed after anthesis; the component responsible was number of ears/m2 in 1982 when the maximum deficit of 76 mm occurred earlier, in late May.

scholarly journals Suitability of peanut residue as a nitrogen source for a rye cover crop

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kipling Shane Balkcom ◽  
Charles Wesley Wood ◽  
James Fredrick Adams ◽  
Bernard Meso
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
N Application ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Biomass Yields

Leguminous winter cover crops have been utilized in conservation systems to partially meet nitrogen (N) requirements of succeeding summer cash crops, but the potential of summer legumes to reduce N requirements of a winter annual grass, used as a cover crop, has not been extensively examined. This study assessed the N contribution of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) residues to a subsequent rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop grown in a conservation system on a Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) at Headland, AL USA during the 2003-2005 growing seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split plot design, with main plots of peanut residue retained or removed from the soil surface, and subplots as N application rates (0, 34, 67 and 101 kg ha-1) applied in the fall. Peanut residue had minimal to no effect on rye biomass yields, N content, carbon (C) /N ratio, or N, P, K, Ca and Zn uptake. Additional N increased rye biomass yield, and N, P, K, Ca, and Zn uptakes. Peanut residue does not contribute significant amounts of N to a rye cover crop grown as part of a conservation system, but retaining peanut residue on the soil surface could protect the soil from erosion early in the fall and winter before a rye cover crop grows sufficiently to protect the typically degraded southeastern USA soils.

Investigating tarps to facilitate organic no-till cabbage production with high-residue cover crops

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie P Lounsbury ◽  
Nicholas D Warren ◽  
Seamus D Wolfe ◽  
Richard G Smith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Crop Biomass

AbstractHigh-residue cover crops can facilitate organic no-till vegetable production when cover crop biomass production is sufficient to suppress weeds (>8000 kg ha−1), and cash crop growth is not limited by soil temperature, nutrient availability, or cover crop regrowth. In cool climates, however, both cover crop biomass production and soil temperature can be limiting for organic no-till. In addition, successful termination of cover crops can be a challenge, particularly when cover crops are grown as mixtures. We tested whether reusable plastic tarps, an increasingly popular tool for small-scale vegetable farmers, could be used to augment organic no-till cover crop termination and weed suppression. We no-till transplanted cabbage into a winter rye (Secale cereale L.)-hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mulch that was terminated with either a roller-crimper alone or a roller-crimper plus black or clear tarps. Tarps were applied for durations of 2, 4 and 5 weeks. Across tarp durations, black tarps increased the mean cabbage head weight by 58% compared with the no tarp treatment. This was likely due to a combination of improved weed suppression and nutrient availability. Although soil nutrients and biological activity were not directly measured, remaining cover crop mulch in the black tarp treatments was reduced by more than 1100 kg ha−1 when tarps were removed compared with clear and no tarp treatments. We interpret this as an indirect measurement of biological activity perhaps accelerated by lower daily soil temperature fluctuations and more constant volumetric water content under black tarps. The edges of both tarp types were held down, rather than buried, but moisture losses from the clear tarps were greater and this may have affected the efficacy of clear tarps. Plastic tarps effectively killed the vetch cover crop, whereas it readily regrew in the crimped but uncovered plots. However, emergence of large and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) appeared to be enhanced in the clear tarp treatment. Although this experiment was limited to a single site-year in New Hampshire, it shows that use of black tarps can overcome some of the obstacles to implementing cover crop-based no-till vegetable productions in northern climates.

EFFECT OF COVER CROPS ON WINTER SURVIVAL, COMMON ROOT ROT, AND YIELD OF WINTER WHEAT

1962 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Smith ◽  
J. S. Horricks ◽  
J. E. Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Ammonium Phosphate ◽  
Winter Survival ◽  
Common Root ◽  
Common Root Rot

When four varieties of winter wheat (Yogo, Kharkov 22 M.C., Jones Fife, and Elgin) were sown into wheat, oat, or barley cover crops, the yields were lower than when they were sown on fallow. The yield of winter wheat sown into the different cover crops was highest in barley and lowest in wheat cover crop. When the growth of cover crops was abundant, the yield of winter wheat was reduced. Application of ammonium-phosphate-sulphate fertilizer (16-20-0) increased the yield of winter wheat and generally decreased the severity of common root rot. Winter survival was generally greater when winter wheat was sown into cover crops than when it was sown on fallow. Root rot was most severe in winter wheat sown into wheat cover and was progressively less severe when sown into fallow, barley, or oat cover. Neither blade-cultivating nor mowing the cover crop prior to seeding the winter wheat appreciably affected the yield.

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