scholarly journals Cover Crop and Tillage Effects on Production and Nitrogen Nutrition of Sweet Corn

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 669d-669
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
Foliar N

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on sweet corn. Main plots received tillage or no tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus N fertilization. No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn yields were detected. Following corn not receiving inorganic N, vetch produced cover crop total N yields of 130 kg·ha–1 that were over three-times greater than those obtained with rye. Following rye winter covercrops, addition of ammonium nitrate to corn significantly (P < 0.05) increased corn yields and foliar N concentrations compared to treatments not receiving N. However, following vetch, corn yields and foliar N concentrations obtained without N fertilization equaled those obtained with N fertilization following rye or vetch. Available soil N was significantly (P < 0.05) greater following vetch compared to rye for ≈9 weeks after corn planting and peaked ≈4 weeks after planting. It was concluded that no-tillage sweet corn was successful and N fixed by vetch was able to sustain sweet corn production.

Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 476d-476
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on sweet corn in 1997. Main plots received tillage or no tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus N fertilization. Following watermelon not receiving inorganic N, vetch, and mix cover cropsproduced total N yields of ≈90 kg/ha that were more than four times greater than those obtained with rye. However, vetch dry weight yields (2.7 mg/ha) were only about 60% of those obtained in previous years due to winter kill. Following rye winter cover crops, addition of ammonium nitrate to corn greatly increased (P < 0.05) corn yields and foliar N concentrations compared to treatments not receiving N. Following vetch, corn yields obtained in tilled treatments without N fertilization equaled those obtained with N fertilization. However, yields obtained from unfertilized no-till treatments were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than yields of N-fertilized treatments. Available soil N was significantly (P < 0.05) greater following vetch compared to rye after corn planting. No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn plant densities or yields were detected. It was concluded that no-tillage sweet corn was successful, and N fixed by vetch was able to sustain sweet corn production in tilled treatments but not in no-till treatments.In previous years normal, higher-yielding vetch cover crops were able to sustain sweet corn in both tilled and no-till treatments.

scholarly journals 173 Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 472A-472
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on `Merit' sweet corn in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Main plots received tillage or no-tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus inorganic N fertilization. The shoot N contents of vetch and mix cover crops ranged from 100 to 150 kg/ha, whereas N contents of rye were usually <50 kg/ha. In 1994 and 1995, vetch shoot N contents were 150 kg/ha, and corn yields following vetch were not significantly affected by addition of inorganic N fertilizer. In 1996, vetch N contents only equaled 120 kg/ha, and corn yields were significantly increased by addition of inorganic N. Supplemental N was also required to obtain maximum yields following mix and rye cover crops in all years, even though the N contents of vetch and mix cover crops were normally similar. Measurements of corn foliar N and available soil N were in agreement with the yield results. No-tillage did not significantly affect corn yields following vetch. However, no-till corn yields were reduced with rye (1995) and the mix (1995 and 1996) as a result of reduced corn plant population densities. Reliable tillage results were not obtained for 1994. It was concluded that a vetch cover crop could adequately supply N to sweet corn if vetch N content was at least 150 kg/ha. Sweet corn following rye or vetch/rye mix cover crops required additional N for optimal yields. Significant N in the mix cover crop was probably immobilized as the rye component decomposed. No-till sweet corn was grown successfully following vetch, but yields were often reduced with the mix or rye cover crops.

scholarly journals Effects of a Legume Winter Cover Crop and Tillage on Production and Nitrogen Nutrition of Sweet Corn

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 892A-892
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Winter Cover Crop ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Treatments

A split-plot factorial experiment was conducted to examine effects of tillage and winter cover crops on sweet corn. Main plots received tillage or no tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix. Nitrogen treatments consisted of either adding or not adding NH4NO3 at recommended rates. No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn yields were detected, although yields with tillage were slightly greater. Following rye winter cover crops, adding NH4NO3 to corn significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased yields by 56% compared to treatments not receiving N. However, following vetch, corn yields obtained without N fertilization equaled those obtained with N fertilization following rye or vetch. It was concluded that 1) nontilled sweet corn was successful and 2) N2 fixed by vetch was able to sustain sweet corn production completely and was equivalent to a minimum of 70 kg N/ha.

scholarly journals Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Production and Nitrogen Nutrition of Watermelon

HortScience ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 611d-611
Author(s):  
Anthony F. Silvernail ◽  
Gary R. Cline
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Nutrition ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Treatments

Effects of tillage, winter cover crops, and inorganic N fertilization on watermelon production were examined in a split-plot factorial experiment. Main plots received tillage or no tillage, whereas cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix. Nitrogen treatments consisted of plus or minus addition of ammonium nitrate. Following melons not receiving inorganic N, vetch produced cover crop total N yields of ≈130 kg·ha–1, which were four times greater than those obtained with rye. Melon yields and foliar N concentrations obtained without inorganic N fertilization following vetch were similar to those obtained with N fertilization following rye. Available soil N in vetch treatments remained significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in rye treatments for ≈70 days after melon planting and was greater in tilled treatments. Tillage significantly (P < 0.05) reduced melon yields by 20% and also reduced soil temperatures compared with no-till treatments. We conclude that N fixed by vetch could sustain watermelon production and no tillage may be useful when soil erosion is a problem.

scholarly journals Effects of Cover Crops, Nitrogen, and Tillage on Sweet Corn

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
N Content ◽  
Foliar N ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

Effects of tillage, inorganic N, and winter cover crops on sweet corn (Zea mays) were examined in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Tillage treatments were tillage or no tillage, and N treatments were the addition of inorganic N at 0 (N0) or 200 (N+) kg·ha-1 (0 or 179 lb/acre). Winter cover crops included hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), winter rye (Secale cereale), and a vetch/rye biculture. In the N0, rye treatment, the soil was N deficient in 1994 and highly N deficient in 1995 and 1996. When vetch shoot N content was ≥150 kg·ha-1 (134 lb/acre) (1994 and 1995), addition of inorganic N did not increase corn yields, and it only increased corn foliar N concentrations by 8%. Reductions in corn yields (29%) and foliar N concentrations (24%) occurred when vetch shoot N content was only 120 kg·ha-1 (107 lb/acre) (1996) and inorganic N was not supplied. In 1994, the vetch/rye biculture supplied sufficient N for maximum corn yields, but addition of inorganic N increased yields by more than 50% in 1995 and 1996. Under tilled conditions, the vetch N contribution to corn appeared to equal (1996) or exceed (1994 and 1995) 82 kg·ha-1 (73 lb/acre) of N supplied as ammonium nitrate, whereas a mean value of 30 kg·ha-1 (27 lb/acre) was obtained for the biculture cover crop (1995 and 1996). No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn population densities were detected following vetch, but no-tillage significantly reduced corn population densities following rye (17%) or biculture (35%) cover crops compared to tillage. No-tillage did not reduce yields from emerged seedlings (per plant basis) for any cover crops. Vetch appeared to be a satisfactory N source for sweet corn when vetch N content was ≥150 kg·ha-1, and it could be used with no-tillage without yield reductions.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Management and Weed Suppression in No-tillage Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1262-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia M. Carrera ◽  
Aref A. Abdul-Baki ◽  
John R. Teasdale
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Biomass

Cover crops combined with conservation tillage practices can minimize chemical inputs and improve soil quality, soil water-holding capacity, weed suppression and crop yields. No-tillage production of sweet corn (Zea mays var. `Silver Queen') was studied for 2 years at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Md., to determine cover crop management practices that maximize yield and suppress weeds. Cover crop treatments were hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch mixture, and bare soil (no cover crop). There were three cover crop killing methods: mowing, rolling or contact herbicide paraquat. All plots were treated with or without atrazine and metolachlor after planting. There was a 23% reduction in sweet corn plant population in the rye-hairy vetch mixture compared to bare soil. Averaged over both years, sweet corn yield in hairy vetch treatments was 43% greater than in bare soil, whereas yield in the rye-hairy vetch mixture was 30% greater than in bare soil. There were no significant main effects of kill method or significant interactions between kill method and cover crop on yield. Sweet corn yields were not different for hairy vetch or rye-hairy vetch treatments with or without atrazine and metolachlor. However, yield in bare soil without the herbicides atrazine and metolachor were reduced by 63% compared to bare soil with these herbicides. When no atrazine and metolachlor were applied, weed biomass was reduced in cover crops compared to the bare soil. Regression analysis showed greater yield loss per unit of weed biomass for bare soil than for the vetch or rye-hairy vetch mixture. This analysis suggests that cover crops increased sweet corn yield in the absence of atrazine and metolachlor not only by reducing weed biomass, but also by increasing the competitiveness of corn to weeds at any given biomass.

scholarly journals Rolled Winter Rye and Hairy Vetch Cover Crops Lower Weed Density but Reduce Vegetable Yields in No-tillage Organic Production

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Leavitt ◽  
Craig C. Sheaffer ◽  
Donald L. Wyse ◽  
Deborah L. Allan
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Winter Annual

Winter annual cover crops, winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), can reduce weed density and build soil quality in organic production systems. There is interest in integrating cover crops and reduced tillage with organic vegetable production, but few studies have been conducted in regions with short growing seasons and cool soils such as the upper Midwest. We evaluated no-tillage production of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), and bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) planted into winter rye, hairy vetch, and a winter rye/hairy vetch (WR/HV) mixture that were mechanically suppressed with a roller–crimper at two locations in Minnesota. Average marketable yields of tomato, zucchini, and bell pepper in the rolled cover crops were reduced 89%, 77%, and 92% in 2008 and 65%, 41%, and 79% in 2009, respectively, compared with a no-cover control. Winter rye and the WR/HV mixture reduced average annual weed density at St. Paul by 96% for 8 to 10 weeks after rolling (WAR) and hairy vetch mulch reduced weeds 80% for 2 to 8 WAR, whereas at Lamberton, there was no consistent effect of cover treatments on weed populations. Winter rye and the WR/HV mixture had higher average residue biomass (5.3 and 5.7 Mg·ha−1, respectively) than hairy vetch (3.0 Mg·ha−1) throughout the season. Soil growing degree-days (SGDD) were lower in cover crop treatments compared with the no-cover control, which could have delayed early vegetable growth and contributed to reduced yields. All cover crop mulches were associated with low levels of soil nitrogen (N) (less than 10 mg·kg−1 N) in the upper 15 cm. Rolled winter annual cover crops show promise for controlling annual weeds in organic no-tillage systems, but additional research is needed on methods to increase vegetable crop yields in rolled cover crops.

scholarly journals Effect of 15n-labeled hairy vetch and nitrogen fertilization on maize nutrition and yield under no-tillage¹

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 1337-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Alan de Almeida Acosta ◽  
Telmo Jorge Carneiro Amado ◽  
Andreas de Neergaard ◽  
Mads Vinther ◽  
Leandro Souza da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Classification ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
N Release

This study evaluated the effect of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) as cover crop on maize nutrition and yield under no tillage using isotope techniques. For this purpose, three experiments were carried out: 1) quantification of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in hairy vetch; 2) estimation of the N release rate from hairy vetch residues on the soil surface; 3) quantification of 15N recovery by maize from labeled hairy vetch under three rates of mineral N fertilization. This two-year field experiment was conducted on a sandy Acrisol (FAO soil classification) or Argissolo Vermelho distrófico arênico (Brazilian Soil Classification), at a mean annual temperature of 18 ºC and mean annual rainfall of 1686 mm. The experiment was arranged in a double split-plot factorial design with three replications. Two levels of hairy vetch residue (50 and 100 % of the aboveground biomass production) were distributed on the surface of the main plots (5 x 12 m). Maize in the sub-plots (5 x 4 m) was fertilized with three N rates (0, 60, and 120 kg ha-1 N), with urea as N source. The hairy vetch-derived N recovered by maize was evaluated in microplots (1.8 x 2.2 m). The BFN of hairy vetch was on average 72.4 %, which represents an annual input of 130 kg ha-1 of atmospheric N. The N release from hairy vetch residues was fast, with a release of about 90 % of total N within the first four weeks after cover crop management and soil residue application. The recovery of hairy vetch 15N by maize was low, with an average of 12.3 % at harvest. Although hairy vetch was not directly the main source of maize N nutrition, the crop yield reached 8.2 Mg ha-1, without mineral fertilization. There was an apparent synergism between hairy vetch residue application and the mineral N fertilization rate of 60 kg ha-1, confirming the benefits of the combination of organic and inorganic N sources for maize under no tillage.

scholarly journals Spring-seeded Green Manures Continue to Demonstrate Variable Benefits on Sandy Soil

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
pp. 2031-2038
Author(s):  
Kate A. Ivancic ◽  
Matthew D. Ruark ◽  
Francisco J. Arriaga ◽  
Erin M. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Soil ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
N Yield ◽  
Split Plot ◽  
Berseem Clover ◽  
N Rates

Spring-planted green manure cover crops may provide a nitrogen (N) benefit to a subsequent sweet corn (Zea mays L.) crop, but spring growth and lack of consistent benefits documented in previous studies provide limitations to adoption. Berseem clover (BC; Trifolium alexandrinum) and chickling vetch (CV; Lathyrus sativus L.) are two legumes that could be beneficial when spring-seeded, but they have not been well studied in this context. The objectives of this study were to measure spring-seeded cover crop biomass and N yield, and the subsequent effects on sweet corn yield and response to N fertilizer. The study was conducted in 2014 and 2015, and the experimental design was a randomized complete block split-plot design with cover crop as whole-plot treatments [CV, BC, berseem clover and oat (Avena sativa) mixture (BC + O), oats, and no cover crop] and N rate as split-plot treatments. Cover crop growth and effects on sweet corn production varied greatly between years, with both cover crop and sweet corn biomass greater in 2015, although BC produced very little biomass (<0.7 Mg·ha–1) and thus is not recommended for spring seeding. In 2014, CV resulted in the lowest agronomically optimum N rates (AONRs) compared with no cover crop, suggesting a potential N credit when only having an N yield of 11.6 kg·ha–1, but this effect was not seen in 2015. There was also no evidence that oat would supply N to the subsequent crop. Overall, evidence is lacking that any spring-seeded cover crop will provide a consistent N benefit on sandy soil, and limitations to spring growth may preclude widespread adoption.

Cover crops and nitrogen fertilization effects on soil aggregation and carbon and nitrogen pools

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. M. Sainju ◽  
W. F. Whitehead ◽  
B. P. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Soil Aggregation ◽  
Total N ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
C And N

Cover crops and N fertilization rates may influence soil aggregation and associated C and N pools, thereby affecting soil quality and productivity. We compared the effects of legume [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)] and nonlegume [rye (Secale cereale L.)] cover crops and N fertilization rates {half N rate [HN: 90 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for 3 yr of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) followed by 80 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for eggplant (Solanum melogena L.)]} and full N rate [FN: 180 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for 3 yr of tomato followed by 160 kg N ha-1 yr-1 for eggplant]} on soil aggregation and C and N pools in whole-soil and aggregates. The pools were organic C, total N, potential C mineralization and potential N mineralization (PCM and PNM), microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N (MBC and MBN), and particulate organic C and particulate organic N (POC and PON). Field experiment was conducted in a Greenville fine sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Rhodic Kandiudults) from 1995 to 2000 in Fort Valley, Georgia, USA. While the amount of soil present in aggregates decreased with decreasing size class, the amount was greater with nonlegume and FN than with HN and legume cover crops in the 2.00- to 0.85-mm size class. Organic C, PCM, and MBC contents in whole-soil were greater with nonlegume, but MBN and PON were greater with legumes than in the control with no cover crop or N fertilization. Organic C and total N concentrations in aggregates were greater in 2.00- to 0.50-mm than in 4.75- to 2.00-mm, <0.25-mm, or <4.75-mm (whole-soil) size classes, but PNM and MBN were greater in <0.50- or <4.75-mm than in 4.75- to 2.00-mm size classes. As POC and PON decreased with decreasing aggregate-size class, POC in the <0.85-mm size class was greater with nonlegume and PON in the 2.00- to 0.85-mm size classes was greater with legumes than with the control and N rates. Nonlegume may increase soil aggregation, microbial activities, and C sequestration, but legumes may increase N mineralization in the soil compared with no cover crop. Nitrogen fertilization also may improve soil aggregation. Nitrogen mineralization and C and N sequestration may be greater in aggregates <2.00 mm diameter. Cover crops and N fertilization may improve soil quality and productivity, particularly in intermediate and small size (<2.00 mm) aggregates. Key words: Cover crop, nitrogen fertilization, soil aggregation, soil carbon, soil nitrogen

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