Cover Crop Effects on Cash Crops in Northern Great Plains No-till Systems Are Annually Variable and Possibly Delayed

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Bee Khim Chim ◽  
Shannon L. Osborne ◽  
R. Michael Lehman ◽  
Sharon K. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
No Till

Organic zero-till in the northern US Great Plains Region: Opportunities and obstacles

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M. Carr ◽  
Randy L. Anderson ◽  
Yvonne E. Lawley ◽  
Perry R. Miller ◽  
Steve F. Zwinger
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
No Till ◽  
The Us

AbstractThe use of killed cover crop mulch for weed suppression, soil erosion prevention and many other soil and crop benefits has been demonstrated in organic no-till or zero-till farming systems in eastern US regions and in Canada. Implements have been developed to make this system possible by terminating cover crops mechanically with little, if any, soil disturbance. Ongoing research in the US northern Great Plains is being conducted to identify cover crop species and termination methods for use in organic zero-till (OZ) systems that are adapted to the crop rotations and climate of this semi-arid region. Current termination strategies must be improved so that cover crop species are killed consistently and early enough in the growing season so that subsequent cash crops can be grown and harvested successfully. Delaying termination until advanced growth stages improves killing efficacy of cover crops and may provide weed-suppressive mulch for the remainder of the growing season, allowing no-till spring seeding of cash crops during the next growing season. Excessive water use by cover crops, inability of legume cover crops to supply adequate amounts of N for subsequent cash crops and failure of cover crops to suppress perennial weeds are additional obstacles that must be overcome before the use of killed cover crop mulch can be promoted as a weed control alternative to tillage in the US northern Great Plains. Use of vegetative mulch produced by killed cover crops will not be a panacea for the weed control challenges faced by organic growers, but rather one tool along with crop rotation, novel grazing strategies, the judicious use of high-residue cultivation equipment, such as the blade plow, and the use of approved herbicides with systemic activity in some instances, to provide organic farmers with new opportunities to incorporate OZ practices into their cropping systems. Emerging crop rotation designs for organic no-till systems may provide for more efficient use of nutrient and water resources, opportunities for livestock grazing before, during or after cash crop phases and improved integrated weed management strategies on organic farms.

scholarly journals Late-seeded cover crops in a semiarid environment: overyielding, dominance and subsequent crop yield

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
John R. Hendrickson ◽  
Mark A. Liebig ◽  
David W. Archer ◽  
Marty R. Schmer ◽  
Kristine A. Nichols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Yield ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Relative Yield ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Precipitation Timing

Abstract Interest in cover crops is increasing but information is limited on integrating them into crop rotations especially in the relatively short growing season on the northern Great Plains. A 3-yr research project, initiated in 2009 near Mandan, North Dakota, USA, evaluated (1) what impact cover crops may have on subsequent cash crops yields and (2) whether cover crop mixtures are more productive and provide additional benefits compared to cover crop monocultures. The study evaluated 18 different cover crop monocultures and mixtures that were seeded in August following dry pea (Pisum sativum L.). The following year, spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.) and field pea were seeded into the different cover crop treatments and a non-treated control. A lack of timely precipitation in 2009 resulted in a low cover crop yield of 17 g m2 compared to 100 and 77 g m2 in 2008 and 2010, respectively. Subsequent cash crop yield was not affected by late-seeded cover crops. Cool-season cover crop monocultures were more productive than warm-season monocultures and some mixtures in 2008 and 2010. Relative yield total did not differ from one in any cover crop mixture suggesting that overyielding did not occur. Species selection rather than species diversity was the most important contributor to cover crop yield. Cover crops can be grown following short-season cash crops in the northern Great Plains, but precipitation timing and species selection are critical.

Revegetating Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)-Infested Rangeland with Native Tallgrasses

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Masters ◽  
Scott J. Nissen
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Plant Residue ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Big Bluestem ◽  
Perennial Weed ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
No Till

Degradation of Great Plains rangelands can be linked to past management practices that reduced native species diversity and accelerated establishment and expansion of exotic weeds and less desirable native species. Leafy spurge is an exotic perennial weed that infests more than 1 million ha in the northern Great Plains and reduces rangeland carrying capacity by competing with desirable forages and causing infested areas to be undesirable to cattle and wildlife. Research was conducted to determine the feasibility of using herbicides to suppress leafy spurge and other resident vegetation, which facilitated planting and establishment of native tallgrasses. Four experiments were conducted where 0.28, 0.56, and 0.84 kg ai/ha imazapyr and 0.1 kg ai/ha sulfometuron were applied alone and in combination and 0.84 kg ai/ha glyphosate was applied to leafy spurge-infested range sites in fall 1991 near Ainsworth, NE, and in fall 1991, 1992, and 1993 near Ansley, NE. Research areas were burned about 200 d after herbicide application to reduce plant residue. Monoculture stands of big bluestem and switchgrass were then no-till planted in each experiment and indiangrass was no-till planted in experiments initiated at Ansley in 1992 and 1993. Yields of the planted grasses, leafy spurge, and other vegetation were measured in August at each location starting the year after planting. Imazapyr was an essential component of treatments applied before planting to facilitate establishment of highly productive stands of the tallgrasses. Generally, yields were maximized by fall treatments of 0.28 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for big bluestem, 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr for indiangrass, and 0.84 kg/ha imazapyr + 0.1 kg/ha sulfometuron for switchgrass. Yields of the planted grasses were frequently four times greater where these herbicides were applied compared to where glyphosate or no herbicide were applied. Leafy spurge yields were usually reduced in areas where tallgrass yields were greatest. The sequential combination of suppressing vegetation with fall-applied herbicides, burning standing dead plant residue, then no-till planting desirable native tallgrasses in the spring increased productivity of these leafy spurge-infested range sites.

Weed Community and Species Response to Crop Rotation, Tillage, and Nitrogen Fertility

1998 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 531-536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy L. Anderson ◽  
Don L. Tanaka ◽  
Al L. Black ◽  
Edward E. Schweizer
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Common Lambsquarters ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Species Response ◽  
Alternative Crop ◽  
No Till ◽  
Green Foxtail ◽  
Tillage System

Producers in the northern Great Plains are exploring alternative crop rotations, with the goal of replacing spring wheat-fallow. We characterized the weed associations occurring with tillage system and nitrogen level in two rotations, spring wheat (SW)-fallow (F) and SW-winter wheat (WW)-sunflower (SUN). Weed density was measured 10 yr after initiation of the study. With both rotations, weed community density was highest with no-till. For SW-F, green foxtail, yellow foxtail, and fairy candelabra comprised 99% of the weed community, whereas 13 species were observed in SW-WW-SUN. Fairy candelabra, a rangeland species, was observed only in the no-till system of SW-F. In SW-WW-SUN, no-till favored kochia, Russian thistle, and foxtails, whereas common lambsquarters and annual sowthistle were more common in tilled systems. Nitrogen fertilizer increased crop competitiveness in SW-WW-SUN with no-till, subsequently reducing weed density. Cultural strategies that disrupt weed associations will aid producers in managing weeds.

scholarly journals Farmer Interest in and Willingness to Grow Pennycress as an Energy Feedstock

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2066
Author(s):  
Xia Vivian Zhou ◽  
Kimberly L. Jensen ◽  
James A. Larson ◽  
Burton C. English
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Risk Averse ◽  
Us States ◽  
Renewable Biomass ◽  
Cash Crops ◽  
Row Crop ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover Crop

Pennycress can be used as a renewable biomass because its harvested seeds can be converted into biofuel, supplying, for example the aviation industry. Pennycress can be adopted as a winter cover crop to make extra profit in addition to summer cash crops. This study ascertains influences on row crop farmers’ interest in growing pennycress to supply a biofuels industry. The study uses data from a survey of row-crop farmers in seven US states. Effects of farm and farmer attributes on acceptance of a farmgate pennycress price are measured. Nearly 58% were interested in growing pennycress if profitable. Among those interested, 54.4% would accept the farmgate pennycress price offered. Positive influences on interest included farm size, education, and familiarity with pennycress, while concern about knowledge on growing pennycress, and use of no-till practices had negative influences. Farmers aged 40 to 65 were more likely to accept the price, while share of rented hectares and no debt had positive influences. More risk-averse farmers and those using no-till were less likely to accept. Results suggest that the majority of row crop farmers would be interested in growing pennycress if profitable, while the overall willingness to accept the farmgate price was when it was at $0.28/kg.

scholarly journals Effect of Previous Crop Roots on Soil Compaction in 2 Yr Rotations under a No-Tillage System

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Jay D. Jabro ◽  
Brett L. Allen ◽  
Tatyana Rand ◽  
Sadikshya R. Dangi ◽  
Joshua W. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Tillage System

Compacted soils affect global crop productivity and environmental quality. A field study was conducted from 2014 to 2020 in the northern Great Plains, USA, to evaluate the effect of various rooting systems on soil compaction in 2 yr rotations of camelina (Camelina sativa L.), carinata (Brassica carinata A.) and a cover crop mix planted in place of fallow with durum (Triticum durum D.). The study was designed as a randomized complete block with three replications in a no-tillage system. The soil was classified as Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls) derived from glacial till parent material. Three measurements of soil penetration resistance (PR) were taken with a penetrometer to a depth of 0–30 cm within each plot. Soil moisture contents were determined using a TDR sensor at the time of PR measurements. Both measurements were monitored prior to planting in spring and after harvest. Initial PR results from spring 2014 showed that all plots had an average of 2.244 MPa between the 8–20 cm depth, due to a history of tillage and wheel traffic caused by various field activities. Covariance analysis indicated that soil PR was not significantly affected by crop type and moisture content. After one cycle of the 2 yr rotation, the 2016 measurements indicated that the compacted layer existed at the same initial depths. However, after two and three cycles, soil PR values were reduced to 1.480, 1.812, 1.775, 1.645 MPa in spring 2018 and 1.568, 1.581, 1.476, 1.458 MPa in 2020 under camelina, carinata, cover crop mix, and durum treatments, respectively. These findings indicate that previous cover crop roots could effectively improve soil compaction by penetrating the compacted layer, decompose over time and form voids and root channels. Although these results are novel and significant, further research is needed on different soils and under cover crops with different root systems to support our findings prior to making any conclusion.

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.

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