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

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.

Download Full-text

Weed Populations, Sweet Corn Yield, and Economics Following Fall Cover Crops

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-10-00051.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 374-384 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Kelsey A. O'Reilly ◽

Darren E. Robinson ◽

Richard J. Vyn ◽

Laura L. Van Eerd

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Viable Seed ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Profit Margins ◽

Oilseed Radish ◽

Split Plot

The effectiveness of cover crops as an alternative weed control strategy should be assessed as the demand for food and fiber grown under sustainable agricultural practices increases. This study assessed the effect of fall cover crops on weed populations in the fall and spring prior to sweet corn planting and during sweet corn growth. The experiment was a split-plot design in a pea cover–cover crop–sweet corn rotation with fall cover crop type as the main plot factor and presence or absence of weeds in the sweet corn as the split-plot factor. The cover crop treatments were a control with no cover crop (no-cover), oat, cereal rye (rye), oilseed radish (OSR), and oilseed radish with rye (OSR+rye). In the fall, at Ridgetown, weed biomass in the OSR treatments was 29 and 59 g m−2lower than in the no-cover and the cereal treatments, respectively. In the spring, OSR+rye and rye reduced weed biomass, density, and richness below the levels observed in the control at Bothwell. At Ridgetown in the spring, cover crops had no effect on weed populations. During the sweet corn season, weed populations and sweet corn yields were generally unaffected by the cover crops, provided OSR did not set viable seed. All cover crop treatments were as profitable as or more profitable than the no-cover treatment. At Bothwell profit margins were highest for oat at almost Can$600 ha−1higher than the no-cover treatment. At Ridgetown, compared with the no-cover treatment, OSR and OSR+rye profit margins were between Can$1,250 and Can$1,350 ha−1and between Can$682 and Can$835 ha−1, respectively. Therefore, provided that OSR does not set viable seed, the cover crops tested are feasible and profitable options to include in sweet corn production and provide weed-suppression benefits.

Download Full-text

WINTER-KILLED LEGUMINOUS COVER CROPS FOR SWEET CORN

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.11.1161f ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (11) ◽

pp. 1161f-1161

Author(s):

Francis X. Mangan ◽

Stephen J. Herbert

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Field Research ◽

Corn Yield ◽

High Nitrogen ◽

Vicia Villosa ◽

Nitrogen Levels ◽

Nitrogen Treatments ◽

Legume Growth

Field research was conducted in Deerfield, Mass. to study the effects of leguminous cover crops on sweet corn yield. Oat was planted alone and in combination with four leguminous cover crops August 8, 1990. Cover crop residue was disked once and sweet corn seeded April 23, 1991. Each cover crop combination had three rates of nitrogen added in two applications. Sweet corn seeded into stands of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) yielded the highest of the cover crop combinations. All leguminous cover crop treatments yielded higher than oat alone or no cover crop when no synthetic nitrogen was added. Cover crop combinations were seeded again in the same field plots August 12, 1991. Oat biomass in November was greater where there had been leguminous cover crops or high rates of synthetic nitrogen. Legume growth was retarded in the plots that had previously received high nitrogen. It is thought that legume growth was reduced in the high nitrogen treatments due to increased oat growth and higher soil nitrogen levels which could inhibit root nodulation.

Download Full-text

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.6.1262 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 1262-1266 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

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.

Download Full-text

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.669d ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Use of Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) and Rye Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Sweet Corn

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-08-002.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 588-595 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Mayank S. Malik ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

A. Stanley Culpepper ◽

Melissa B. Riley ◽

William Bridges

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Wild Radish ◽

Raphanus Raphanistrum ◽

Full Rate ◽

Large Crabgrass

Field experiments were conducted near Blackville, SC, and Tifton, GA, in 2004 and 2005, to evaluate the effect of wild radish and rye cover crops on weed control and sweet corn yield when used in conjunction with lower-than-recommended herbicide rates. Cover crop treatments included wild radish, rye, and no cover crop, alone and in conjunction with half and full rates of atrazine (0.84 and 1.68 kg ai ha−1) plusS-metolachlor (0.44 and 0.87 kg ai ha−1) applied before sweet corn emergence. Florida pusley, large crabgrass, spreading dayflower, ivyleaf morningglory, and wild radish infested the test sites. Wild radish and rye cover crops without herbicides reduced total weed density by 35 and 50%, respectively, at 4 wk after planting (WAP). Wild radish in conjunction with the full rate of atrazine plusS-metolachlor controlled Florida pusley, large crabgrass, and ivyleaf morningglory better than rye or no cover crop treated with a full herbicide rate in 2004 at Blackville. In 2005, at Blackville, weed control in sweet corn following wild radish cover crop plots alone was not different from that following rye. Wild radish or rye in conjunction with a half or full rate of atrazine andS-metolachlor controlled > 95% Florida pusley, wild radish, and large crabgrass in sweet corn at Tifton during both years. Ten glucosinolates, potential allelopathic compounds, were identified in wild radish, including glucoiberin, progoitrin, glucoraphanin, glucoraphenin, glucosinalbin, gluconapin, glucotropaeolin, glucoerucin, glucobrassicin, and gluconasturtin. Sweet corn yields at Blackville and Tifton following wild radish or rye cover crops were similar between the half and full rates of atrazine plusS-metolachlor. Sweet corn in wild radish or rye cover crop plots without herbicides produced less-marketable ears than herbicide-treated plots, indicating that a combination of cover crops and herbicides are required to optimize yields and to obtain desirable weed control.

Download Full-text

Integration of Cover Crops and Strip-tillage Systems for Vegetable Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.3.539f ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 539F-540

Author(s):

John Luna ◽

Mary Staben ◽

Tim O'Brien

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Yield Reduction ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Tillage Systems ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Strip Tillage

Five on-farm trials were conducted in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon in 1996 to evaluate the potential for integrating winter-annual cover crops and rotary strip-tillage in vegetable productions systems. Two kinds of rotary strip tillers were used to till strips into killed winter cover crops or wheat stubble. Strip-tillage systems were compared to the “standard tillage” practices of the participating growers. In two sweet corn trials, yield of sweet corn was reduced ≈1 MT/ha in the strip-tillage treatments, compared to the standard tillage practices used by the growers. In these trials, the number of tillage operations was reduced by four to five passes with the strip-tillage system. In two other sweet corn trials, corn yield was reduced by ≈4.5 to 5.6 MT/ha in the strip-till treatments compared to the standard tillage treatments. In a transplanted broccoli trial, the strip-tillage and standard tillage treatments produced comparable yields. Possible factors reducing crop yield in the strip till systems include reduced soil temperature at planting and during early growth, soil moisture depletion in the undisturbed cover crop areas, soil compaction, nitrogen immobilization by the cover crop, weed competition, and possible glyphosate/microbiological interactions. Although an economic analysis of this project has not yet been completed, a rough estimate of tillage costs at $25/40 per pass per ha suggests that, in the field with only a 1 MT/ha yield reduction, the reduction in tillage costs would offset the yield reduction in corn (valued at about $88/MT). If yield reducing factors can be understood and a predictable, manageable system of strip-till vegetable production developed, there is a potential to dramatically reduce tillage costs and enhance soil quality through conservation of soil organic matter and biological diversity.

Download Full-text

173 Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.34.3.472a ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Nitrogen cycling, profit margins and sweet corn yield under fall cover crop systems

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss2011-065 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (2) ◽

pp. 353-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Kelsey A. O'Reilly ◽

John D. Lauzon ◽

Richard J. Vyn ◽

Laura L. Van Eerd

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Cycling ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Available N ◽

Profit Margins ◽

Cereal Rye

O'Reilly, K. A., Lauzon, J. D., Vyn, R. J. and Van Eerd, L. L. 2012. Nitrogen cycling, profit margins and sweet corn yield under fall cover crop systems. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 353–365. In order to improve N best management practices in southwestern Ontario vegetable farming, the effect of cover crops on N dynamics in the fall and spring prior to sweet corn planting and during sweet corn season was assessed. The experiment was a split plot design in a fresh green pea – cover crop – sweet corn rotation that took place over 2 site-years at Bothwell and Ridgetown in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, respectively. The main plot factor was fall cover crop type with five treatments including oat (Avena sativa L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), oilseed radish (OSR; Raphanus sativus L. var. oleoferus Metzg Stokes), mixture OSR plus cereal rye (OSR&rye) and a no cover crop control. Compared with no cover crop, sweet corn profit margins were higher by $450 ha−1 for oat at Bothwell and $1300 and $760 ha−1 for OSR and OSR&rye, respectively, at Ridgetown. By comparing plant available N over the cover crop season, the cover crops tested were more effective at preventing N loss at Bothwell than at Ridgetown likely due to higher precipitation and sandier soil at Bothwell. Despite differences in site characteristics, cover crops did not result in increased plant available N compared with no-cover during the sweet corn season at either site, indicating that these cover crops will not provide an N credit to the following crop and growers should not modify N fertilizer applications based on cover crops.

Download Full-text

627 PB 457 RELAY-INTERPLANTING COVER CROPS IN SWEET CORN

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.522c ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 522c-522

Author(s):

Tom TenPas ◽

John Luna

Keyword(s):

Zea Mays ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practices ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Weed Competition ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Significant Yield ◽

Block Experiment

The effect on corn yield of interplanting two different cover crops, Trifolium repens, and Lolium perens into sweet corn, Zea mays, at 4 different times from corn planting was examined. Sweet corn was planted in 30 inch rows, and the cover crop was planted 0, 7, 14, and 21 days afterwards. The study was designed as a complete randomized block experiment with 4 replications. Weed management practices included pre-emergent herbicides and cultivation only treatments. No significant yield differences in corn yields were detected (alpha=.05). Most of the plots had very little weed competition, including those with no herbicide treatment. Earlier planted cover crops were better established at time of corn harvest. Additional work is needed to examine this practice in conditions of greater weed competion.

Download Full-text

Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.476d ◽

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.

Download Full-text