Drill and broadcast establishment methods influence interseeded cover crop performance in organic corn

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Wallace ◽  
Sarah Isbell ◽  
Ron Hoover ◽  
Mary Barbercheck ◽  
Jason Kaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
N Retention ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Organic Systems ◽  
Winter Fallow ◽  
Corn Grain

Abstract Organic grain producers are interested in interseeding cover crops into corn (Zea mays L.) in regions that have a narrow growing season window for post-harvest establishment of cover crops. A field experiment was replicated across 2 years on three commercial organic farms in Pennsylvania to compare the effects of drill- and broadcast-interseeding to standard grower practices, which included post-harvest seeding cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) at the more southern location and winter fallow at the more northern locations. Drill- and broadcast-interseeding treatments occurred just after last cultivation and used a cover crop mixture of annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] + orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) + forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. ssp. longipinnatus). Higher mean fall cover crop biomass and forage radish abundance (% of total) was observed in drill-interseeding treatments compared with broadcast-interseeding. However, corn grain yield and weed suppression and N retention in late-fall and spring were similar among interseeding treatments, which suggests that broadcast-interseeding at last cultivation has the potential to produce similar production and conservation benefits at lower labor and equipment costs in organic systems. Post-harvest seeding cereal rye resulted in greater spring biomass production and N retention compared with interseeded cover crops at the southern location, whereas variable interseeding establishment success and dominance of winter-killed forage radish produced conditions that increased the likelihood of N loss at more northern locations. Additional research is needed to contrast conservation benefits and management tradeoffs between interseeding and post-harvest establishment methods.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Effectiveness Varies in Cover Crop-Based Rotational Tillage Organic Soybean Systems Depending on Species and Environment

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Vincent-Caboud ◽  
Léa Vereecke ◽  
Erin Silva ◽  
Joséphine Peigné
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Crop Biomass

Organic farming relies heavily on tillage for weed management, however, intensive soil disturbance can have detrimental impacts on soil quality. Cover crop-based rotational tillage (CCBRT), a practice that reduces the need for tillage and cultivation through the creation of cover crop mulches, has emerged as an alternative weed management practice in organic cropping systems. In this study, CCBRT systems using cereal rye and triticale grain species are evaluated with organic soybean directly seeded into a rolled cover crop. Cover crop biomass, weed biomass, and soybean yields were evaluated to assess the effects of cereal rye and winter triticale cover crops on weed suppression and yields. From 2016 to 2018, trials were conducted at six locations in Wisconsin, USA, and Southern France. While cover crop biomass did not differ among the cereal grain species tested, the use of cereal rye as the cover crop resulted in higher soybean yields (2.7 t ha−1 vs. 2.2 t ha−1) and greater weed suppression, both at soybean emergence (231 vs. 577 kg ha−1 of weed biomass) and just prior to soybean harvest (1178 vs. 1545 kg ha−1). On four out of six sites, cover crop biomass was lower than the reported optimal (<8000 kg ha−1) needed to suppress weeds throughout soybean season. Environmental conditions, in tandem with agronomic decisions (e.g., seeding dates, cultivar, planters, etc.), influenced the ability of the cover crop to suppress weeds regardless of the species used. In a changing climate, future research should focus on establishing flexible decision support tools based on multi-tactic cover crop management to ensure more consistent results with respect to cover crop growth, weed suppression, and crop yields.

Winter Annual Weed Suppression in Rye–Vetch Cover Crop Mixtures

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 818-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary D. Hayden ◽  
Daniel C. Brainard ◽  
Ben Henshaw ◽  
Mathieu Ngouajio
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Winter Annual ◽  
Winter Annual Weeds ◽  
Annual Weeds

Winter annual weeds can interfere directly with crops and serve as alternative hosts for important pests, particularly in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were conducted on loamy sand soils at two sites in Holt, MI, between 2008 and 2011 to evaluate the relative effects of cereal rye, hairy vetch, and rye–vetch mixture cover crops on the biomass and density of winter annual weed communities. All cover crop treatments significantly reduced total weed biomass compared with a no-cover-crop control, with suppression ranging from 71 to 91% for vetch to 95 to 98% for rye. In all trials, the density of nonmustard family broadleaf weeds was either not suppressed or suppressed equally by all cover crop treatments. In contrast, the density of mustard family weed species was suppressed more by rye and rye–vetch mixtures than by vetch. Cover crops were more consistently suppressive of weed dry weight per plant than of weed density, with rye-containing cover crops generally more suppressive than vetch. Overall, rye was most effective at suppressing winter annual weeds; however, rye–vetch mixtures can match the level of control achieved by rye, in addition to providing a potential source of fixed nitrogen for subsequent cash crops.

Weed Suppression in Cover Crop Monocultures and Mixtures

Weed Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Baraibar ◽  
Mitchell C. Hunter ◽  
Meagan E. Schipanski ◽  
Abbe Hamilton ◽  
David A. Mortensen
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Cereal Rye

Interest in planting mixtures of cover crop species has grown in recent years as farmers seek to increase the breadth of ecosystem services cover crops provide. As part of a multidisciplinary project, we quantified the degree to which monocultures and mixtures of cover crops suppress weeds during the fall-to-spring cover crop growing period. Weed-suppressive cover crop stands can limit weed seed rain from summer- and winter-annual species, reducing weed population growth and ultimately weed pressure in future cash crop stands. We established monocultures and mixtures of two legumes (medium red clover and Austrian winter pea), two grasses (cereal rye and oats), and two brassicas (forage radish and canola) in a long fall growing window following winter wheat harvest and in a shorter window following silage corn harvest. In fall of the long window, grass cover crops and mixtures were the most weed suppressive, whereas legume cover crops were the least weed suppressive. All mixtures also effectively suppressed weeds. This was likely primarily due to the presence of fast-growing grass species, which were effective even when they were seeded at only 20% of their monoculture rate. In spring, weed biomass was low in all treatments due to winter kill of summer-annual weeds and low germination of winter annuals. In the short window following silage corn, biomass accumulation by cover crops and weeds in the fall was more than an order of magnitude lower than in the longer window. However, there was substantial weed seed production in the spring in all treatments not containing cereal rye (monoculture or mixture). Our results suggest that cover crop mixtures require only low seeding rates of aggressive grass species to provide weed suppression. This creates an opportunity for other species to deliver additional ecosystem services, though careful species selection may be required to maintain mixture diversity and avoid dominance of winter-hardy cover crop grasses in the spring.

Integration of cover crops with postemergence herbicides in no-till corn and soybean

Weed Science ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 995-1001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Gallagher ◽  
John Cardina ◽  
Mark Loux
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
No Till ◽  
Full Rate ◽  
Postemergence Herbicides ◽  
Corn Grain

The integration of cover crops with selected postemergence herbicides was evaluated on the basis of weed control and grain yields in no-till soybean and corn. Soybean was planted into wheat residue, whereas corn was planted into hairy vetch residue. Full, half, and quarter rates and sequential herbicide applications were made. The wheat cover crop did not increase weed suppression but increased soybean grain yields. Half rates of thifensulfuron plus quizalofop-P as single or split applications were as effective as full rates in reducing weed weight in soybean. Soybean grain yields were similar in the half- and full-rate treatments in 1994, but yield was highest in the full-rate treatment in 1995. The hairy vetch cover crop did not increase weed suppression but lowered corn stands and grain yields in 1995 and enhanced corn grain yields in 1996. Full, half, and quarter rates (1996 only) of nicosulfuron plus primisulfuron were equally effective in reducing weed weight. Corn grain yields were similar at all herbicide rates in 1995 but were inversely related to herbicide rate in 1996. Split herbicide applications did not improve weed suppression over single applications of the same herbicide rate in either crop. Results indicate that cover crops can improve crop productivity and reduced rates of environmentally benign herbicides can minimize the herbicide requirements in no-till corn and soybean.

Utilizing Cover Crops for Weed Suppression within Buffer Areas of 2,4-D-Resistant Soybean

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-40
Author(s):  
Connor L. Hodgskiss ◽  
Bryan G. Young ◽  
Shalamar D. Armstrong ◽  
William G. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Percentage Point Increase ◽  
Point Increase ◽  
Giant Ragweed ◽  
Similar Yield

Cover crops can be utilized to suppress weeds via direct competition for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients. Research was conducted to determine if cover crops can be used in label mandated buffer areas in 2,4-D-resistant soybean cropping systems. Delaying termination of cover crops containing cereal rye to at, or after, soybean planting resulted in a 25 to over 200 percentage point increase in cover crop biomass compared to a control treatment. Cover crops generally improved horseweed control when 2,4-D was not used. Cover crops reduced grass densities up to 54% at four of six site-years when termination was delayed to after soybean planting. Cover crops did not reduce giant ragweed densities. Cover crops reduced waterhemp densities by up to 45%. Cover crops terminated at, or after planting were beneficial within buffer areas for control of grassess and waterhemp, but not giant ragweed. Yield reductions of 14 to 41% occurred when cover crop termination was delayed to after soybean planting at three of six site-years. Terminating the cover crops at planting time provided suppression of grasses and waterhemp within buffer areas and had similar yield to the highest yielding treatment in five out of six site-years.

Evaluating cereal rye and crimson clover for weed suppression within buffer areas in dicamba-resistant soybean

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Connor L. Hodgskiss ◽  
Bryan G. Young ◽  
Shalamar D. Armstrong ◽  
William G. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Herbicide Resistant ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Emergence Patterns ◽  
Crop Biomass

Abstract As herbicide-resistant weeds become more problematic, producers will consider the use of cover crops to suppress weeds. Weed suppression from cover crops may be especially in the label-mandated buffer areas of dicamba-resistant soybean where dicamba use is not allowed. Three cover crops terminated at three timings with three herbicide strategies were evaluated for their effect on weed suppression in dicamba-resistant soybean. Delaying termination to at soybean planting, or after, and using a cereal rye or cereal rye + crimson clover increased cover crop biomass by at least 40% compared to terminating early or using a crimson clover only cover crop. Densities of problematic weed species were evaluated in early-summer prior to a blanket POST application. Plots with cereal rye had 75% less horseweed compared to crimson clover at two of four site-years. Cereal rye or the mix cover crop terminated at, or after soybean planting reduced waterhemp densities by 87% compared to early termination timings of crimson clover and the earliest termination timing of the mix at one of two site-years. Cover crops were not as effective in reducing waterhemp densities as they were in reducing horseweed densities. This difference is due to a divergence in emergence patterns; waterhemp emergence generally peaks after termination of the cover crop while horseweed emergence coincides with establishment and rapid vegetative growth of cereal rye. Cover crops alone were generally not as effective as using a high biomass cover crop combined with herbicide strategy that contained dicamba and residual herbicides. However, within label-mandated buffer areas where dicamba cannot be used, a cover crop containing cereal rye with delayed termination to at soybean planting combined with residual herbicides could be utilized to improve suppression of horseweed and waterhemp.

Effect of cereal rye and canola on winter and summer annual weed emergence in corn

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 787-793
Author(s):  
Stephanie A. DeSimini ◽  
Kevin D. Gibson ◽  
Shalamar D. Armstrong ◽  
Marcelo Zimmer ◽  
Lucas O.R. Maia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Giant Ragweed ◽  
Corn Grain ◽  
Corn Grain Yield

AbstractField experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 at two locations in Indiana to evaluate the influence of cover crop species, termination timing, and herbicide treatment on winter and summer annual weed suppression and corn yield. Cereal rye and canola cover crops were terminated early or late (2 wk before or after corn planting) with a glyphosate- or glufosinate-based herbicide program. Canola and cereal rye reduced total weed biomass collected at termination by up to 74% and 91%, in comparison to fallow, respectively. Canola reduced horseweed density by up to 56% at termination and 57% at POST application compared to fallow. Cereal rye reduced horseweed density by up to 59% at termination and 87% at POST application compared to fallow. Canola did not reduce giant ragweed density at termination in comparison to fallow. Cereal rye reduced giant ragweed density by up to 66% at termination and 62% at POST application. Termination timing had little to no effect on weed biomass and density reduction in comparison to the effect of cover crop species. Cereal rye reduced corn grain yield at both locations in comparison to fallow, especially for the late-termination timing. Corn grain yield reduction up to 49% (4,770 kg ha–1) was recorded for cereal rye terminated late in comparison to fallow terminated late. Canola did not reduce corn grain yield in comparison to fallow within termination timing; however, late-terminated canola reduced corn grain yield by up to 21% (2,980 kg ha–1) in comparison to early-terminated fallow. Cereal rye can suppress giant ragweed emergence, whereas canola is not as effective at suppressing large-seeded broadleaves such as giant ragweed. These results also indicate that early-terminated cover crops can often result in higher corn grain yields than late-terminated cover crops in an integrated weed management program.

Rolled Mixtures of Barley and Cereal Rye for Weed Suppression in Cover Crop–based Organic No-Till Planted Soybean

Weed Science ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Liebert ◽  
Antonio DiTommaso ◽  
Matthew R. Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Lower Cover ◽  
Crop Biomass

Maximizing cereal rye biomass has been recommended for weed suppression in cover crop–based organic no-till planted soybean; however, achieving high biomass can be challenging, and thick mulch can interfere with soybean seed placement. An experiment was conducted from 2012 to 2014 in New York to test whether mixing barley and cereal rye would (1) increase weed suppression via enhanced shading prior to termination and (2) provide acceptable weed suppression at lower cover crop biomass levels compared with cereal rye alone. This experiment was also designed to assess high-residue cultivation as a supplemental weed management tool. Barley and cereal rye were seeded in a replacement series, and a split-block design with four replications was used with management treatments as main plots and cover crop seeding ratio treatments (barley:cereal rye, 0:100, 50:50, and 100:0) as subplots. Management treatments included high-residue cultivation and standard no-till management without high-residue cultivation. Despite wider leaves in barley, mixing the species did not increase shading, and cereal rye dominated cover crop biomass in the 50:50 mixtures in 2013 and 2014, representing 82 and 93% of the biomass, respectively. Across all treatments, average weed biomass (primarily common ragweed, giant foxtail, and yellow foxtail) in late summer ranged from 0.5 to 1.1 Mg ha−1in 2013 and 0.6 to 1.3 Mg ha−1in 2014, and weed biomass tended to decrease as the proportion of cereal rye, and thus total cover crop biomass, increased. However, soybean population also decreased by 29,100 plants ha−1for every 1 Mg ha−1increase in cover crop biomass in 2013 (P=0.05). There was no relationship between cover crop biomass and soybean population in 2014 (P=0.35). Soybean yield under no-till management averaged 2.9 Mg ha−1in 2013 and 2.6 Mg ha−1in 2014 and was not affected by cover crop ratio or management treatment. Partial correlation analyses demonstrated that shading from cover crops prior to termination explained more variation in weed biomass than cover crop biomass. Our results indicate that cover crop management practices that enhance shading at slightly lower cover crop biomass levels might reduce the challenges associated with excessive biomass production without sacrificing weed suppression in organic no-till planted soybean.

Evaluation of weed control provided by three winter cereals in conservation-tillage soybean

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Price ◽  
D. Wayne Reeves ◽  
Michael G. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
Input System ◽  
Chlorimuron Ethyl ◽  
Winter Fallow

Information is needed on the role of cover crops as a weed control alternative due to the high adoption of conservation tillage in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. Field experiments were conducted from fall 1994 through fall 1997 in Alabama to evaluate three winter cereal cover crops in a high-residue conservation-tillage, soybean production system. Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), rye (Secale cereale L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated for their weed-suppressive characteristics compared to a winter fallow system. Three herbicide systems were utilized: no herbicide, a mixture of two pre-emergence (PRE) herbicides, or PRE plus post-emergence (POST) herbicides. The PRE system contained pendimethalin plus metribuzin. The PRE plus POST system contained pendimethalin plus a prepackage of metribuzin and chlorimuron ethyl applied PRE, followed by an additional chlorimuron ethyl POST application. No cover crop was effective in controlling weeds without a herbicide. However, when black oat or rye was utilized with only PRE herbicides, weed control was similar to the PRE plus POST input system. Thus, herbicide reductions may be attained by utilizing cover crops that provide weed suppression. Rye and black oat provided more effective weed control in the PRE only herbicide input system than wheat in conservation-tillage soybean. The winter fallow, PRE plus POST herbicide input system yielded significantly less soybean one out of three years when compared to systems that included a winter cover crop.

Organic and conventional farmers differ in their perspectives on cover crop use and breeding

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Wayman ◽  
Lisa Kissing Kucek ◽  
Steven B. Mirsky ◽  
Victoria Ackroyd ◽  
Stéphane Cordeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Crop Breeding ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Organic Farmers

AbstractCover crops play an important role in agricultural sustainability. Unlike commodity cash crops, however, there has been relatively little cover crop breeding research and development. We conducted an online survey to evaluate: (a) the perspectives of organic and conventional farmers in the USA who use cover crops and (b) the specific cover crop traits that are important to farmers. We recruited participants from both organic and conventional agriculture networks and 69% of respondents reported that they farmed organic land. In addition to demographic data and information on management practices, we quantified farmer perspectives on four winter annual cover crops: (1) Austrian winter pea, (2) crimson clover, (3) hairy vetch and (4) cereal rye. Overall, respondents represented a wide range of states, farm sizes, plant hardiness zones and cash crops produced. Of the 417 full responses received, 87% of respondents reported that they used cover crops. The maximum amount farmers were willing to spend on cover crop seed varied by farmer type: 1% of conventional farmers versus 19% of organic farmers were willing to spend over US$185 ha−1 (US$75 acre−1). Organic and conventional farmers differed in terms of the reasons why they grew cover crops, with organic farmers placing greater value on the ecosystem services from cover crops. More organic (63%) than conventional (51%) farmers agreed that participatory breeding was important for cover crop variety development (P = 0.047). Both groups shared strong support for cover crop research and considered many of the same traits to be important for breeding. For the legume cover crops, nitrogen fixation was considered the most important trait, whereas winter hardiness, early vigor, biomass production and weed suppression were the most important traits for cereal rye. Our results illustrate common interests as well as differences in the perspectives between organic and conventional farmers on cover crops and can be used to inform nascent cover crop breeding efforts.

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