No-tillage sorghum and garbanzo yields match or exceed standard tillage yields

To meet the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, there is a critical need for crop production strategies with less reliance on irrigation from surface and groundwater sources. One strategy for improving agricultural water use efficiency is reducing tillage and maintaining residues on the soil surface. We evaluated high residue no-till versus standard tillage in the San Joaquin Valley with and without cover crops on the yields of two crops, garbanzo and sorghum, for 4 years. The no-till treatment had no primary or secondary tillage. Sorghum yields were similar in no-till and standard tillage systems while no-till garbanzo yields matched or exceeded those of standard tillage, depending on the year. Cover crops had no effect on crop yields. Soil cover was highest under the no-till with cover crop system, averaging 97% versus 5% for the standard tillage without cover crop system. Our results suggest that garbanzos and sorghum can be grown under no-till practices in the San Joaquin Valley without loss of yield.

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Single- versus Double-Species Cover Crop Effects on Soil Health and Yield in Mississippi Soybean Fields

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11112334 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2334

Author(s):

Heather L. Tyler

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Health ◽

Trifolium Incarnatum ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

No Till ◽

Secale Cereale L ◽

Species Cover

Conservation management practices can improve soil health while minimizing deleterious effects of agriculture on the environment. However, adoption of these practices, particularly cover crops, is not widespread, as they often reduce crop yields compared to traditional management practices. The purpose of the current study was to determine if a two-species cover crop treatment of rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) could increase soil health parameters and maximize soybean (Glycine max L.) yield greater than rye only in tilled and no-till Mississippi field soils. Enhanced microbial biomass and organic matter input from cover crops increased the activities of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and phosphatase in surface soils. Rye plus clover tended to elicit higher activities than rye only in no-till plots. Both cover crop treatments inhibited soybean yield in tilled plots by 11–25%. These results indicate that tillage exacerbates yield inhibition by cover crops in soybean and that double-species cover crop treatments were more consistent in increasing activities linked to nutrient cycling. Further study examining different combinations of cover crops in no-till systems is necessary to gain a better understanding of how they can be implemented to enhance soil health while maximizing crop yield.

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Ground Predator Activity-Density and Predation Rates Are Weakly Supported by Dry-Stack Cow Manure and Wheat Cover Crops in No-Till Maize

Environmental Entomology ◽

10.1093/ee/nvaa136 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth K Rowen ◽

John F Tooker

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Plant Cover ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Alternative Prey ◽

Cow Manure ◽

No Till ◽

Activity Density ◽

Soil Mite

Abstract Because it keeps land in production, conservation programs that focus on in-field habitat manipulations may help farmers better support predators than by building predator habitat around fields. We investigated two in-field habitat manipulations that benefit producers and soil quality: fertilizing with dry-stack cow manure and planting a wheat cover crop. We hypothesized that, compared with inorganic fertilizer and fallow plots, both treatments augment habitat and residue and support more small arthropods that can serve as alternative prey for larger predators. As a result, we expected manure and the cover crop to increase ground-active predators. In turn, these predators could provide biological control of pests. Each year in a 3-yr field experiment, we applied manure and in 2 yr planted a wheat cover crop. We found that both planting a cover crop and applying dry-stack manure increased the plant cover in May. In the last year, this translated to greater soil mite (Acari) density. At the end of the experiment, however, neither manure nor the wheat cover crop had increased residue on the soil surface. As a result, our treatments had inconsistent effects on predator activity-density, especially for carabids and spiders. We observed strong edge effects from neighboring grass alleys on carabid activity-density. Regardless of treatment, we observed high predation of sentinel prey. We conclude that even without cover crops or organic fertilizer, the stability of no-till maize and increased weeds in fallow treatments generate sufficient habitat complexity and alternative prey to support robust predator communities.

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Cover Crops and N Rates Influence Sweetpotato Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.611e ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 611e-611

Author(s):

D.C. Sanders ◽

G.D. Hoyt ◽

J.C. Gilsanz ◽

J.M. Davis ◽

J.T. Garrett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Crop Cover ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

No Till ◽

Loam Soil ◽

N Rates ◽

Winter Fallow

`Jewel' sweetpotato was no-till planted into crimson clover, wheat, or winter fallow. Then N was applied at 0, 60, or 120 kg·ha–1 in three equal applications to a sandy loam soil. Each fall the cover crop and production crop residue were plowed into the soil, beds were formed, and cover crops were planted. Plant growth of sweetpotato and cover crops increased with N rate. For the first 2 years crimson clover did not provide enough N (90 kg·ha–1) to compensate for the need for inorganic N. By year 3, crimson clover did provide sufficient N to produce yields sufficient to compensate for crop production and organic matter decomposition. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 1 m at the time of planting of the cover crop and production crop. Cover crops retained the N and reduced N movement into the subsoil.

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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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Synergy between a shallow root system with a DRO1 homologue and localized P application improves P uptake of lowland rice

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89129-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aung Zaw Oo ◽

Yasuhiro Tsujimoto ◽

Mana Mukai ◽

Tomohiro Nishigaki ◽

Toshiyuki Takai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root System ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Surface ◽

P Uptake ◽

Ore Deposits ◽

Root Surface Area ◽

Genetic Traits ◽

P Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

P Application

AbstractImproved phosphorus (P) use efficiency for crop production is needed, given the depletion of phosphorus ore deposits, and increasing ecological concerns about its excessive use. Root system architecture (RSA) is important in efficiently capturing immobile P in soils, while agronomically, localized P application near the roots is a potential approach to address this issue. However, the interaction between genetic traits of RSA and localized P application has been little understood. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) and their parent of rice (qsor1-NIL, Dro1-NIL, and IR64, with shallow, deep, and intermediate root growth angles (RGA), respectively) were grown in flooded pots after placing P near the roots at transplanting (P-dipping). The experiment identified that the P-dipping created an available P hotspot at the plant base of the soil surface layer where the qsor1-NIL had the greatest root biomass and root surface area despite no genotyipic differences in total values, whereby the qsor1-NIL had significantly greater biomass and P uptake than the other genotypes in the P-dipping. The superior surface root development of qsor1-NIL could have facilitated P uptakes from the P hotspot, implying that P-use efficiency in crop production can be further increased by combining genetic traits of RSA and localized P application.

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Effects of Cover Crops, Compost, and Vermicompost on Strawberry Yields and Nitrogen Availability in North Carolina

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech03447-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 604-613 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

John E. Beck ◽

Michelle S. Schroeder-Moreno ◽

Gina E. Fernandez ◽

Julie M. Grossman ◽

Nancy G. Creamer

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Organic Production ◽

Organic N ◽

N Availability ◽

Soil N

Summer cover crop rotations, compost, and vermicompost additions can be important strategies for transition to organic production that can provide various benefits to crop yields, nitrogen (N) availability, and overall soil health, yet are underused in strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production in North Carolina. This study was aimed at evaluating six summer cover crop treatments including pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pearl millet/soybean combination, pearl millet/cowpea combination, and a no cover crop control, with and without vermicompost additions for their effects on strawberry growth, yields, nutrient uptake, weeds, and soil inorganic nitrate-nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen in a 2-year field experiment. Compost was additionally applied before seeding cover crops and preplant N fertilizer was reduced by 67% to account for organic N additions. Although all cover crops (with compost) increased soil N levels during strawberry growth compared with the no cover crop treatment, cover crops did not impact strawberry yields in the first year of the study. In the 2nd year, pearl millet cover crop treatments reduced total and marketable strawberry yields, and soybean treatments reduced marketable strawberry yields when compared with the no cover crop treatment, whereas vermicompost additions increased strawberry biomass and yields. Results from this study suggest that vermicompost additions can be important sustainable soil management strategies for transitional and certified organic strawberry production. Summer cover crops integrated with composts can provide considerable soil N, reducing fertilizer needs, but have variable responses on strawberry depending on the specific cover crop species or combination. Moreover, these practices are suitable for both organic and conventional strawberry growers and will benefit from longer-term studies that assess these practices individually and in combination and other benefits in addition to yields.

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173 Grazing Cover Crops: Effects of Cattle Removal Date on Forage Production and Cattle Performance

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 94-94

Author(s):

Russell C Carrell ◽

Sandra L Dillard ◽

Mary K Mullenix ◽

Audrey Gamble ◽

Russ B Muntifering

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Forage Production ◽

Cool Season ◽

Total Gain ◽

Cattle Performance

Abstract Use of cool-season annual cover crops through grazing has been shown to be a potential tool in extending the grazing season, while still mitigating environmental risks associated with warm-season row crop production. Although data describing the effects of grazing on soil health are not novel, effects of grazing length on animal performance and cover crop production are limited. The objective was to determine cattle performance and forage production when grazing a cool-season annual cover-crop. Twelve, 1.2-ha pastures were established in a four species forage mix and randomly allocated to be grazed through either mid-February (FEB), mid-March (MAR), or mid-April (APR) with a non-grazed control (CON). Three tester steers were randomly placed in each paddock and a 1:1 forage allowance was maintained in each paddock using put-and-take steers. Animals were weighed every 30 d for determination of average daily gain (ADG). Forage was harvested bi-weekly and analyzed for forage production, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Fiber fractions were measured using an ANKOM fiber analyzer (ANKOM Tech, Macedon, NY). All data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Differences in forage mass were detected between CON and FEB (3,694.75 vs. 2,539.68 kg/ha; P < 0.003), CON and MAR (3,694.75 vs. 1,823.45 kg/ha; P < 0.001), and CON and APR (3,694.75 vs. 1,976.23 kg/ha; P < 0.001). Differences in total gain/acre were detected between APR and MAR (212.24 vs. 101.74 kg/ha; P < 0.0001), APR and FEB (212.24 vs 52.65 kg/ha; P < 0.0001), and FEB and MAR (101.74 vs. 52.65 kg/ha; P < 0.003). No differences were detected for tester ADG (1.23 kg/day, P = 0.56), NDF (44.9%, P = 0.99), or ADF (27.2%, P = 0.92) among treatments. These results indicate that cattle removal date effected forage yield and total gain/hectare.

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Cover crop effects on soil temperature in a clay loam soil in southwestern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.1139/cjss-2021-0070 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

X.M. Yang ◽

W.D. Reynolds ◽

C.F. Drury ◽

M.D. Reeb

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Environmental Performance ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Clay Loam ◽

Near Surface ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Surface Soil Temperature

Although it is well established that soil temperature has substantial effects on the agri-environmental performance of crop production, little is known of soil temperatures under living cover crops. Consequently, soil temperatures under a crimson clover and white clover mix, hairy vetch, and red clover were measured for a cool, humid Brookston clay loam under a corn–soybean–winter wheat/cover crop rotation. Measurements were collected from August (after cover crop seeding) to the following May (before cover crop termination) at 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm depths during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. Average soil temperatures (August–May) were not affected by cover crop species at any depth, or by air temperature at 60 cm depth. During winter, soil temperatures at 15, 30, and 45 cm depths were greater under cover crops than under a no cover crop control (CK), with maximum increase occurring at 15 cm on 31 January 2019 (2.5–5.7 °C) and on 23 January 2020 (0.8–1.9 °C). In spring, soil temperatures under standing cover crops were cooler than the CK by 0.1–3.0 °C at 15 cm depth, by 0–2.4 °C at the 30 and 45 cm depths, and by 0–1.8 °C at 60 cm depth. In addition, springtime soil temperature at 15 cm depth decreased by about 0.24 °C for every 1 Mg·ha−1 increase in live cover crop biomass. Relative to bare soil, cover crops increased near-surface soil temperature during winter but decreased near-surface soil temperature during spring. These temperature changes may have both positive and negative effects on the agri-environmental performance of crop production.

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Redistribution of phosphorus in soil through cover crop roots

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology ◽

10.1590/s1516-89132004000300007 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 381-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Júlio C. Franchini ◽

Marcos A. Pavan ◽

Mário Miyazawa

Keyword(s):

Pisum Sativum ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Lupinus Albus ◽

Growth Period ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Phosphate Fertilizer ◽

Vicia Sativa ◽

Crop Species ◽

Soil P

The objective of this study was to evaluate if cover crops can absorb P from the upper layers and transport it in their roots to subsoil layers. Samples of an Oxisol were placed in PVC columns. Super phosphate fertilizer was applied to the 0-10 cm soil surface layers. The cover crops tested were: Avena strigosa, Avena sativa, Secale cereale, Pisum sativum subsp arvense, Pisum sativum, Vicia villosa, Vicia sativa, Lupinus angustifoliu, Lupinus albus, and Triticum aestivum. After a growth period of 80 days the cover crop shoots were cut off and the soil was divided into 10cm layers and the roots of each layer were washed out. The roots and shoots were analyzed separated for total P contribution to the soil. Considerable amount of P was present in the roots of cover crops. Vicia sativa contained more than 60% of total plant P in the roots. The contribution of Vicia sativa to soil P bellow the fertilized zone was about 7 kg ha-1. It thus appeared that there existed a possibility of P redistribution into the soil under no tillage by using cover crops in rotation with cash crops. Vicia sativa was the most efficient cover crop species as P carrier into the roots from superficial layer to lower layers.

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Influence of Weed Management Practices and Crop Rotation on Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed (Conyza canadensis) Population Dynamics and Crop Yield-Years III and IV

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-09-006.1 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 417-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Vince M. Davis ◽

Kevin D. Gibson ◽

Thomas T. Bauman ◽

Stephen C. Weller ◽

William G. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Plant Density ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Management Systems ◽

No Till

Horseweed is an increasingly common and problematic weed in no-till soybean production in the eastern cornbelt due to the frequent occurrence of biotypes resistant to glyphosate. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual non-glyphosate herbicides, and preplant application timing on the population dynamics of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted from 2003 to 2007 in a no-till field located at a site that contained a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2). The experiment was a split-plot design with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying in-field horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Horseweed densities were collected at the time of postemergence applications, 1 mo after postemergence (MAP) applications, and at the time of crop harvest or 4 MAP. Viable seedbank densities were also evaluated from soil samples collected in the fall following seed rain. Soybean–corn crop rotation reduced in-field and seedbank horseweed densities vs. continuous soybean in the third and fourth yr of this experiment. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season-long in-field horseweed densities and protecting crop yields since the growth habit of horseweed in this region is primarily as a summer annual. Management systems also influenced the GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotype population structure after 4 yr of management. The most dramatic shift was from the initial GR : GS ratio of 3 : 1 to a ratio of 1 : 6 after 4 yr of residual preplant herbicide use followed by non-glyphosate postemergence herbicides.

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