Field Studies on the Effect of Rye Cover Crop on Soybean Root Disease and Productivity

Cover crops improve soil and water quality in annual cropping systems, but knowledge of their impact on soybean (Glycine max L.) seedling and root diseases is limited. The effects of winter rye cover crops (Secale cereale L.) on soybean population, biomass, root morphology, seedling and root diseases, pathogen incidence, canopy reflectance, and yield were assessed over two years in Iowa and Missouri, USA. Plots without a rye cover crop were compared to plots with early-kill rye and late-kill rye cover crops, which were terminated 34 to 49 days or 5 to 17 days before soybean planting, respectively. Soybean shoot dry weight, root rot severity, and incidence of Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. on roots were not influenced by the treatments. Soybean grain yield and plant population were reduced in the presence of rye in two site-years, increased in one site-year, and not changed in the remaining site-years. Soybean canopy reflectance was measured at 810 nm and measurements were first made at 70 to 80 days after planting (DAP). At least five measurements were obtained at 7- to 15- day intervals, ending at 120 to 125 DAP. Measurements at approximately 120 to 125 DAP differed by treatments but were not consistently associated with the presence or absence of a rye cover crop. Our field studies suggest that Iowa and Missouri soybean farmers can use winter rye as a cover crop in soybean fields with low seedling disease pressure without increasing the risk of seedling and root diseases or suppressing yield.

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Influence of spatial planting arrangement of winter rye cover crop on corn seedling disease and corn productivity

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-04-21-0764-re ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Maria Kurtz ◽

Jyotsna Acharya ◽

Thomas C. Kaspar ◽

Alison E Robertson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Winter Rye ◽

Field Plot ◽

Seedling Disease ◽

Shoot Dry Weight ◽

No Till ◽

Clade B ◽

Corn Seedling ◽

On Farm

Despite numerous environmental benefits associated with cover crop (CC) use, some farmers are reluctant to include CCs in their production systems because of reported yield declines in corn. There are numerous potential reasons for this yield decline, including seedling disease. A winter rye CC can serve as a ‘green bridge’ for corn seedling pathogens. We hypothesized that proximity of corn seedling roots to decaying rye CC roots contributes to corn seeding disease. An experimental field plot and an on-farm study were conducted over two years to evaluate growth, development, and disease severity of corn seedlings planted at various distances from decaying winter rye CC plants. The experimental field plot study was conducted in a no-till corn-soybean rotation with five replications of a winter rye CC treatments seeded as (i) no CC control, (ii) broadcast, (iii) 19-cm drilled rows, and (iv) 76-cm drilled rows. The on-farm study was no-till corn-soybean rotation with four replications of a winter rye cover crop seeded as 38-cm drilled rows, 76-cm drilled rows, and no CC control. The corn was planted on 76-cm rows shortly after rye was terminated. With multiple seeding arrangements of winter rye, corn was planted at different distances from winter rye. Corn radicle root rot severity and incidence, shoot height, shoot dry weight, corn height and chlorophyll at VT, ear parameters, and yield were collected. Soil samples were taken in the corn row and the interrow at winter rye termination, corn planting, and corn growth stage V3 to estimate the abundance of Pythium clade B members present in soil samples. Our results showed that increased distance between winter rye residue and corn reduced seedling disease and Pythium clade B populations in the radicles and soil, and increased shoot dry weight, leaf chlorophyll, plant height, and yield. This suggests that physically distancing the corn crop from the winter rye CC is one way to reduce the negative effects of a winter rye CC on corn.

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Soil Nitrogen in Response to Interseeded Cover Crops in Maize–Soybean Production Systems

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10091439 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1439

Author(s):

Yesuf Assen Mohammed ◽

Swetabh Patel ◽

Heather L. Matthees ◽

Andrew W. Lenssen ◽

Burton L. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Management Strategies ◽

N Leaching ◽

Winter Rye ◽

Soil N ◽

N Accumulation ◽

Poor Growth ◽

The Impact

Improved agronomic management strategies are needed to minimize the impact that current maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production practices have on soil erosion and nutrient losses, especially nitrogen (N). Interseeded cover crops in standing maize and soybean scavenge excess soil N and thus reduce potential N leaching and runoff. The objectives were to determine the impact that pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) (PC), winter camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) (WC), and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) (WR) cover crops have on soil N, and carbon (C) and N accumulation in cover-crop biomass. The cover crops were interseeded in maize at the R5 growth stage and in soybean at R7 in four replicates over two growing seasons at four locations. Soil and aboveground biomass samples were taken in autumn and spring. Data from the maize and soybean systems were analyzed separately. The results showed that cover crops had no effect on soil NH4+-N under both systems. However, winter rye decreased soil NO3−-N up to 76% compared with no-cover-crop treatment in the soybean system. Pennycress and WC scavenged less soil N than WR. Similarly, N and C accumulation in PC and WC biomass were less than in WR, in part because of their poor growth performance under the interseeding practice. Until PC and WC varieties with improved suitability for interseeding are developed, other agronomic practices may need to be explored for improving N scavenging in maize and soybean cropping systems to reduce nutrient leaching and enhance crop diversification.

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Cover Crops for San Joaquin Valley Row Crop Production Systems

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.494e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 494e-494

Author(s):

J.P. Mitchell ◽

T.S. Prather ◽

K.J. Hembree ◽

P.B. Goodell ◽

D.M. May ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Late Summer ◽

Dry Weight ◽

San Joaquin Valley ◽

Crop Species ◽

Windows Of Opportunity

There is currently considerable interest in the use of cover crops to improve the productivity and sustainability of agroecosystems in California. Adoption of cover crops into San Joaquin Valley row cropping systems has been slow, however, largely because growth characteristics of potentially suitable cover crop species and mixtures have not been identified for the tight windows of opportunity that exist within the region's intensive rotations, and because of uncertainy about the amount of water required to grow a cover crop. In 1995–96 and 1997–98, we screened 15 potential late-summer and winter cover crop species and mixtures planted monthly from 1 Aug. through 1 Nov. and harvested at 30-day intervals through March. In 1995–96, Sorghum-sudan produced 36,543 lb dry matter/acre and was the highest-producing late-summer species in a December-harvested August planting. Triticale and Merced rye were highest-producing winter species, yielding 19,277 and 10,155 lb dry weight/acre, respectively, during the 5-month period from October to March.

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

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11050441 ◽

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.

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Influence of legume cover crops and conservation tillage on soil populations of selected fungal genera

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m88-038 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 201-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

C. S. Rothrock ◽

W. L. Hargrove

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Field Studies ◽

Macrophomina Phaseolina ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Legume Cover Crops ◽

Legume Cover Crop

The influence of winter legume cover crops and of tillage on soil populations of fungal genera containing plant pathogenic species in the subsequent summer sorghum crop were examined in field studies. Legume cover crops significantly increased populations of Pythium spp. throughout the sorghum crop compared with a rye cover crop or no cover crop. This stimulation of the populations of Pythium spp. was not solely due to colonization of cover-crop residue, as populations were significantly greater at the time the legume cover crop was desiccated. Removal of aboveground residue generally decreased populations of Pythium spp. in soil. Incorporation of residue by tillage increased populations of Pythium spp. at some sampling dates. Legumes differed in the magnitude of stimulation, with hairy vetch stimulating Pythium spp. more than crimson clover. Cover crop treatments did not consistently influence soil populations of Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia-like binucleate fungi, or Macrophomina phaseolina. Macrophomina phaseolina populations were significantly greater under no tillage.

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

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162007000200012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 181-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

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.

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Sorghum Accessions for Use as Cover Crops and Biofuel Feedstocks

Journal of Agricultural Studies ◽

10.5296/jas.v3i2.8114 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 258

Author(s):

Abram Jared Bicksler ◽

John B Masiunas

Keyword(s):

Discriminant Analysis ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Germplasm Collection ◽

Field Studies ◽

Canonical Discriminant Analysis ◽

Tiller Number ◽

Canonical Variates ◽

Growth Habits ◽

Landrace Accessions

Phenotypes of sorghum species (Sorghum sp.) have characteristics making them valuable summer annual cover crops and/or biofuel feedstocks for temperate climates. In field studies conducted at Urbana, IL, USA, fourteen USDA sorghum landrace accessions and three commercial sorghum accessions were evaluated for their growth habits and regrowth potential. In Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) analysis, the first two canonical variates were significant and accounted for 86% of the among-accession variability. Unmown tiller number, regrowth tiller number, and regrowth biomass best discriminated between accessions in CDA and scattergrams. The accessions clustered into three subgroups. Three multi-stemmed accessions (two commercial varieties and one USDA accession) with an ability to regrow clustered away from the bulk of the USDA sorghums. Multi-stemmed accessions are useful for breeding improved summer annual cover crops that are tall, produce copious amounts of biomass, and rapidly regrow after defoliation; although propensity to lodging and poor germination of accessions will need attention. Additionally, landrace sorghum accessions in the USDA germplasm collection are useful for breeding cover crop and biofuel feedstocks, due to their great height and biomass production, although it will be necessary to select for improved regrowth potential. Crosses between USDA landraces and the commercially available multi-stemmed accessions could lead to a sorghum cover crop and biofuel plant with great biomass and height and ability to regrow following defoliation.

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Use of Crop Rotations, Cover Crops and Green Manures for Disease Suppression in Potato Cropping Systems

Global Journal of Agricultural Innovation Research & Development ◽

10.15377/2409-9813.2021.08.12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 153-168

Author(s):

Robert P. Larkin

Keyword(s):

Disease Control ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Green Manure ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Green Manures ◽

Rotation Crops

Crop rotations and the inclusion of cover crops and green manures are primary tools in the sustainable management of soil-borne diseases in crop production systems. Crop rotations can reduce soil-borne disease through three general mechanisms: (1) serving as a break in the host-pathogen cycle; (2) by altering the soil physical, chemical, or biological characteristics to stimulate microbial activity and diversity; or (3) directly inhibiting pathogens through the release of suppressive or toxic compounds or the enhancement of specific antagonists. Brassicas, sudangrass, and related plant types are disease-suppressive crops well-known for their biofumigation potential but also have other effects on soil microbiology that are important in disease suppression. The efficacy of rotations for reducing soil-borne diseases is dependent on several factors, including crop type, rotation length, rotation sequence, and use of the crop (as full-season rotation, cover crop, or green manure). Years of field research with Brassica and non-Brassica rotation crops in potato cropping systems in Maine have documented the efficacy of Brassica green manures for the reduction of multiple soil-borne diseases. However, they have also indicated that these crops can provide disease control even when not incorporated as green manures and that other non-biofumigant crops (such as barley, ryegrass, and buckwheat) can also be effective in disease suppression. In general, all crops provided better disease control when used as green manure vs. as a cover crop, but the addition of a cover crop can improve control provided by most rotation crops. In long-term cropping system trials, rotations incorporating multiple soil health management practices, such as longer rotations, disease-suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, and green manures, and/or organic amendments have resulted in greater yield and microbial activity and fewer disease problems than standard rotations. These results indicate that improved cropping systems may enhance productivity, sustainability, and economic viability.

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

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170518000509 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 227-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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Allelopathic Influence of Germinating Seeds and Seedlings of Cover Crops on Weed Species

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500094376 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 579-584 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Melinda L. Hoffman ◽

Leslie A. Weston ◽

John C. Snyder ◽

Emilie E. Regnier

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Petri Dish ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weed Species ◽

Allelopathic Potential ◽

Below Ground ◽

Allelopathic Interference ◽

Radicle Length

Bioassays using binary mixtures that included a cover crop with known allelopathic potential and a weed species were employed to determine the importance of allelopathy compared to resource competition as interference mechanisms. Responses of weed species germinated with cover crops in a petri dish were measured. Interference between weed and cover crop seedlings was determined in a greenhouse experiment using the additive design, which included partitions to reduce above- and below-ground competition and used capillary mat subirrigation to control moisture and fertilizer availability. Germinating sorghum reduced radicle length of weeds, whereas germinating rye tended to increase weed radicle length. Methods limited above-ground competition, so likely interference mechanisms were below-ground competition and allelopathy. Germination with a cover crop had little effect on germination and shoot length of weeds. Increased density of rye but not of sorghum reduced growth of barnyardgrass seedlings. Reduced number of barnyardgrass leaves in the presence of rye was likely due to allelopathy. Suppression of barnyardgrass dry weight attributed to allelopathic interference by rye was successfully separated and compared to the combined effects of competition and allelopathy.

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