Cover crop rotations in no-till system: short-term CO2 emissions and soybean yield

The impacts of tillage practices and crop rotations are fundamental factors influencing changes in the soil carbon, and thus the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to compare soil carbon status and temporal changes in topsoil from different 4 year rotations and tillage treatments (i.e., no-till and conventional tillage). Rotation systems were primarily corn and soy-based and included cereal and alfalfa phases along with red clover cover crops. In 2018, soil samples were collected from a silty-loam topsoil (0–15 cm) from the 36 year long-term experiment site in southern Ontario, Canada. Total carbon (TC) contents of each sample were determined in the laboratory using combustion methods and comparisons were made between treatments using current and archived samples (i.e., 20 year and 9 year change, respectively) for selected crop rotations. Overall, TC concentrations were significantly higher for no-till compared with conventional tillage practices, regardless of the crop rotations employed. With regard to crop rotation, the highest TC concentrations were recorded in corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations with red clover cover crop in both cereal phases. TC contents were, in descending order, found in corn–corn–alfalfa–alfalfa (CCAA), corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) with 1 year of seeded red clover, and corn–corn–corn–corn (CCCC). The lowest TC concentrations were observed in the corn–corn–soybean–soybean (CCSS) and corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations without use of cover crops, and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We found that (i) crop rotation varieties that include two consecutive years of soybean had consistently lower TC concentrations compared with the remaining rotations; (ii) TC for all the investigated plots (no-till and/or tilled) increased over the 9 year and 20 year period; (iii) the no-tilled CCOB rotation with 2 years of cover crop showed the highest increase of TC content over the 20 year change period time; and (iv) interestingly, the no-till continuous corn (CCCC) rotation had higher TC than the soybean–soybean–corn–corn (SSCC) and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We concluded that conservation tillage (i.e., no-till) and incorporation of a cover crop into crop rotations had a positive effect in the accumulation of TC topsoil concentrations and could be suitable management practices to promote soil fertility and sustainability in our agricultural soils.

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Cover-Crop Roller–Crimper Contributes to Weed Management in No-Till Soybean

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-09-00040.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 300-309 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Adam S. Davis

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Rate Variation ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Weed Interference ◽

No Till

Termination of cover crops prior to no-till planting of soybean is typically accomplished with burndown herbicides. Recent advances in cover-crop roller–crimper design offer the possibility of reliable physical termination of cover crops without tillage. A field study within a no-till soybean production system was conducted in Urbana, IL, from 2004 through 2007 to quantify the effects of cover crop (cereal rye, hairy vetch, or bare soil control), termination method (chemical burndown or roller–crimper), and postemergence glyphosate application rate (0, 1.1, or 2.2 kg ae ha−1) on soybean yield components, weed–crop interference, and soil environmental variables. Biomass of weeds surviving management within a soybean crop following either a vetch or rye cover crop was reduced by 26 and 56%, respectively, in the rolled system compared to the burndown system. Soybean yield loss due to weed interference was unaffected by cover-crop termination method in soybean following a rye cover crop, but was higher in the rolled than burndown treatment in both hairy vetch and bare soil treatments. In soybean following a rye cover crop, regardless of termination method, yield loss to weed interference was unaffected by glyphosate rate, whereas in soybean following a vetch cover crop or bare soil, yield loss decreased with glyphosate rate. Variation in soybean yield among cover crops and cover-crop termination treatments was due largely to differences in soybean establishment, rather than differences in the soil environment. Use of a roller–crimper to terminate a cover crop preceding no-till soybean has the potential to achieve similar yields to those obtained in a chemically terminated cover crop while reducing residual weed biomass.

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Short-term effects of crop rotations and wood-residue amendments on potato yields and soil properties of a sandy loam soil

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss95-055 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 385-390 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Marc O. Gasser ◽

Marc R. Laverdière ◽

Adrien N’dayegamiye

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Short Term ◽

Rapid Changes ◽

Loam Soil ◽

Potato Yields

A 3-yr study (1988–1990) was conducted on a Beaurivage sandy loam soil located in St-Lambert, Québec, Canada, to evaluate the short-term effects of crop rotations and organic amendments on soil properties and potato yields (Solanum tuberosum, L.). Treatments consisted of yearly fall rye (Secale cereale, L.) as a green-manure cover crop, barley (Hordeum vulgare, L.) grown every 3-yr in potato crop rotation, partially humified bark residues and fresh tree clippings applied once at 100 m3 ha−1 in the beginning of the experiment, and continuous potato in monoculture used as check. Fertilizer rates were applied at 150, 100, 160 and 40 kg ha−1 rates for N, P2O5, K2O5 and Mg, respectively. Results indicated that more rapid changes of soil C content were observed with ligneous material incorporation than with fall rye and barley residue additions. Compared with fresh tree cuttings, partially humified bark induced rapid changes in soil organic C and cationic exchange capacity (CEC). A temporary soil structural stability improvement was observed in 1989 under fall rye cover crop. However soil bulk density increased significantly (P < 0.05) in these plots in 1990, and this was also related to low potato yields. Barley residues and ligneous amendments significantly improved soil water content during the critical flowering stage, and this increased potato yields and specific gravity (P < 0.05). In general, soil amendment would improve potato yields and quality through improved soil water content on a short-term. Key words: Barley, rye, rotation, cover crop, ligneous amendments, potato yields, soil physical and chemical properties

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Weed suppression and soybean yield in a no-till cover-crop mulched system as influenced by six rye cultivars

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170515000344 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 429-440 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M. Scott Wells ◽

Carrie M. Brinton ◽

S. Chris Reberg-Horton

Keyword(s):

Biomass Production ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Early Flowering ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Late Flowering ◽

No Till ◽

Termination Date

AbstractCover crop mulches have been successful in reducing weed severity in organic soybeans. This study examined six rye cultivars (SRCs) used as cover crops to determine which were most adapted for use with a roller–crimper in the southeastern U.S. To be an effective mulch, a rye cultivar must produce high biomass and reach reproductive growth stage to facilitate mechanical termination via the roller–crimper prior to soybean planting. Rye cultivars were planted at three locations in North Carolina over the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Each rye cultivar was mechanically terminated via a roller–crimper implement. Rye cover crops were terminated on two dates and soybeans were immediately no-till planted into the mulch. In 2009, all rye cultivars produced greater than 9000 kg ha−1 rye biomass dry matter (DM) with the exception of Rymin at Plymouth (2009), but in 2010 only the early flowering cultivars produced in excess of 9000 kg ha−1 DM. There were no detectable soybean yield differences between the SRCs and the weed-free checks, and weed control was excellent across all SRCs at both Plymouth and Salisbury (2009). After an unseasonably cold and wet winter in 2010, the late flowering rye cultivars were not fully controlled by the early termination date due to delayed maturation (less than 65% control at 2 WAP) whereas the early flowering cultivars were fully controlled (100% control at 2 WAP). Rye biomass production was below 9000 kg ha−1 DM for the late flowering and dough development rye cultivars. The early-terminated rye plots had greater weed coverage across all SRCs than those from the late termination date (P < 0.01). However, weeds did not impact soybean yield for either of the termination dates. Soybean yield in 2010 was modeled with rye biomass and soybean population used as covariates, and for both termination dates, soybean yield was proportional to rye biomass production. Early flowering rye cultivars offer producers the widest range of termination opportunities that best coincide with their cash crop planting dates.

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Soybean Yield as Affected by Biomass and Nitrogen Uptake of Cereal Rye in Winter Cover Crop Rotations

Agronomy Journal ◽

10.2134/agronj2004.0800 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Matías L. Ruffo ◽

Donald G. Bullock ◽

Germán A. Bollero

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Uptake ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover

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Effect of short-term maize–cover crop rotations on weed emergence, biomass and species composition under conservation agriculture

South African Journal of Plant and Soil ◽

10.1080/02571862.2019.1594419 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 329-337

Author(s):

Joyful T Rugare ◽

Petrus J Pieterse ◽

Stanford Mabasa

Keyword(s):

Species Composition ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Agriculture ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Short Term ◽

Weed Emergence

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Influence of Short-term Maize–Green Manure Cover Crop Rotations on Germinable Weed Seed Bank under Conservation Agriculture

Asian Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development ◽

10.18488/journal.ajard.2021.111.139.155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 139-155

Author(s):

Rugare Joyful Tatenda ◽

Pieterse Petrus Jacobus ◽

Mabasa Stanford

Keyword(s):

Seed Bank ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Seedling Emergence ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Second Phase ◽

Weed Seed ◽

Weed Species ◽

Short Term ◽

Bidens Pilosa

The effects of one- and two-year maize-cover crop rotations on weed seed bank density and species composition were evaluated in fields at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT, Harare) between 2014 and 2017. Nine cover crops were rotated, and maize and weed seed bank analyses were done using the seedling emergence method. Maize was used as the control. The results indicated that weed seed density was not significantly (p > 0.05) affected by cover crop mulch type across the seasons. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decline in weed density in the second maize phase of the rotation in UZ Field A. Bidens pilosa, Galinsoga parviflora, Amaranthus hybridus and Eleusine indica were the dominant weeds. B. pilosa density significantly decreased in the second season in UZ Field A but did not vary significantly among cover crops. Significant changes in weed species richness, evenness, and diversity were observed only in the second phase of the rotation in UZ Field A. The results suggest that maize-cover crop rotations could be effective in reducing seed bank size in the short term but have no short-term effect on weed species community composition.

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Cultural Strategies for Managing Weeds and Soil Moisture in Cover Crop Based No-Till Soybean Production

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-13-00142.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 501-511 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

M. Scott Wells ◽

S. Chris Reberg-Horton ◽

Steven B. Mirsky

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Water Evaporation ◽

Row Spacing ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Soybean Production ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

No Till ◽

Free Treatment

A four site-year study was conducted in North Carolina to evaluate the effects of soybean planting timing and row spacing on soil moisture, weed density, soybean lodging, and yield in a cover crop-based no-till organic soybean production system. Soybean planting timing included roll-kill/planting and roll-kill/delayed planting where soybean planting occurred either on the same day or approximately 2 wk later, respectively. Soybean row spacing included 19, 38, and 76 cm, and all treatments included a weedy check and weed-free treatment. Rye biomass production averaged above 10,000 kg ha−1dry matter, which resulted in good weed control across all sites. Despite having good weed control throughout all treatments, weed coverage was highest in the 76-cm row-space treatment when compared to both the 19-cm and 38-cm row spacing in two of the four site-years. Soybean lodging is a potential consequence of no-till planting of soybeans in high residue mulches, and of the three row spacings, the 19-cm spacing exhibited the greatest incidence of lodging. Row spacing also influenced soybean yield; the 19- and 38-cm row spacing out yielded the 76-cm spacing by 10%. Soil volumetric water content (VWC) was higher in the cereal rye mulch treatments compared to the no rye checks. Furthermore, delaying soybean planting lowered soil water evaporation. However, the increased soil VWC in the rolled-rye treatment did not translate into increased soybean yield. The rolled-rye treatment exhibited significant (P < 0.01) increases in soil VWC when compared to the no-rye treatment at three of the four site-years. These results highlight planting date flexibility and potential risk to lodging that producers face when no-till planting organic soybeans.

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