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Managing Winter Rye For Improving Corn Production Nitrogen Use And Farm Profit
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Book Synopsis Managing Winter Rye for Improving Corn Production, Nitrogen Use, and Farm Profit by : Christian D. Kessler
Download or read book Managing Winter Rye for Improving Corn Production, Nitrogen Use, and Farm Profit written by Christian D. Kessler and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops are often planted during the fallow periods of cash crop harvests to cover the soil and reduce erosion but also to provide other ecosystem benefits including capturing residual nutrients and thus, reducing environmental losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in agroecosystems. Among these cover crops, winter rye (Secale cereale) is popular due to its winter hardiness and relatively cheap seed costs. However, growers in the Midwest, USA are reluctant to use winter rye prior to corn (Zea mays L.) due to the potential yield penalty in corn. This thesis introduces two strategies that could minimize winter rye's effect on corn while providing nutrient loss reduction benefits are precision planting and reducing the seeding rate of winter rye ahead of corn. One study evaluates whether precision planting (planting winter rye strategically to avoid intersecting zones with corn) of winter rye at low seeding rate (37.5 kg ha-1) could produce similar cover crop biomass and quality to normal planted winter rye (50 kg ha-1) and if precision planting can improve performance and N requirement of corn (Chapter 1). The study was conducted in central Indiana during 2020-2021 (CIN21), and southern Illinois during 2021-2022 (SIL22), and 2022-2023 (SIL23) growing seasons. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with split plot arrangement. Main plots were three cover crops (a no-cover crop control (NoCC), conventional planted winter rye (CR), and precision planted winter rye (PR). Subplots were six rates of N fertilizer that ranged from 0-280 kg ha-1 for the CIN21 and 0-359 kg ha-1 for SIL22 and SIL23. Our results indicated that shifting from normal planting to precision planting resulted in similar cover crop biomass production with limited effect on winter rye quality [N concentration, Carbon (C):N ratio] and N and C accumulation. In CIN21, the nocover crop control had higher yield and lower N requirements which was consistent with those of SIL22. The economic optimum rate of N (EORN) was below the typical recommended range for central Indiana and was above the recommended range for southern Illinois. Precision planting resulted in a slight increase in corn yield and N requirement, but overall was more profitable than normal planting due to a reduction in the number of seeds required and higher corn to fertilizer prices. Therefore, we recommend that (i) decision support tools for N management in corn should be revised for addition of cover crops in the Midwest, and (ii) precision planting should be implemented instead of normal planting for greater economic benefit. Future research should evaluate ecosystem services of precision vs. normal planting of winter rye over time. The other study evaluates whether planting method of winter rye (precision vs. conventional) at medium and low seeding rates of winter rye influence cover crop biomass production, N and C concentrations and accumulations, and corn performance (Chapter 2). A trial was conducted in 7 site-yrs in Indiana and Illinois during 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022- 2023 growing seasons. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Cover crops [conventional planting (CR) and precision planting (PR)] were factorially arranged with two seeding rates (18.75 vs. 37.5 kg ha-1) for PR and (25 vs. 50 kg ha-1) for CR. Two extra treatments were included as control which were no-cover crop with zero-N and a 224 kg N ha-1 addition to corn. Cover crop biomass, C, N, their uptake, and C:N ratio were evaluated along with corn plant population, and corn grain yield. Our results indicated that winter rye had similar aboveground biomass, N uptake, and C accumulation regardless of planting method and seeding rate suggesting a precision planting at low seeding rate is most economical for cover crop establishment. Corn plant population was only affected by winter rye in one site-yr (CIL23) in which precision planting did not help with minimizing the negative effect of winter rye on corn population. In this study, lack of N fertilization did not decrease corn population but significantly reduced corn grain yield in all site-yrs. Corn grain yield was similar among cover crop treatments (with exception of no cover crop no N) but in one of the site-yrs, precision planting at 18.75 kg ha-1 resulted in greater corn yield than the no-cover crop with 224 N ha-1. We concluded that growers that plant winter rye prior to corn could use precision planting at a seeding rate of 18.75 kg ha-1 to take up residual soil N with limited interference with corn production at a reduced cost compared to conventional winter rye management.
Book Synopsis Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. ) by : Andy Clark
Download or read book Managing Cover Crops Profitably (3rd Ed. ) written by Andy Clark and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.
Book Synopsis Winter Cereal Cover Crops and Nitrogen Management Practices for Increasing Farm Profit and Minimizing Nitrogen Losses in Corn-soybean Agroecosystems by : Oladapo Adeyemi
Download or read book Winter Cereal Cover Crops and Nitrogen Management Practices for Increasing Farm Profit and Minimizing Nitrogen Losses in Corn-soybean Agroecosystems written by Oladapo Adeyemi and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winter cereal cover crops (WCCCs) could provide extra profit by being harvested as forage or for biofuel purposes, could benefit soil, and the following cash crops, and are considered an effective practice in reducing the nitrate-N (NO3-N) leaching especially in corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) fields. The extend at which WCCCs and their residue management (e.g. harvesting vs. terminating at different times) improve farm profit, influence the following cash crop, especially corn is less studied. Also, literature is scant on the residue management effects on NO3-N leaching potential and its tradeoff with soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions especially in Alfisols with claypans. Two trials (chapter 1-2) were conducted to evaluate the time of harvest of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or winter cereal rye (WCR; Secale cereale L.) to determine the best time of harvest for maximizing profit through improving biomass production at high quality. In chapter 1, a five site-yr trial was conducted in Colorado (CO) and Illinois (IL) to evaluate the effect of harvest date on WCR forage yield, quality, and its economic performance. From March to April, WCR dry matter (DM) yield increased exponentially in CO and linearly in IL. The DM yield at DOY 112-116 in CO was 6.9, 5.0, and 5.2 Mg ha-1 in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively compared to 4.7 and 2.7 Mg ha-1 in IL in 2019 and 2020. Delayed harvesting increased acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations and decreased crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative feed quality (RFQ). Yield-quality trade-off showed that forage yield increased rapidly but forage quality declined after DOY 105-108. Economic analysis, including cost of nutrient removal and 10% corn yield penalty following WCR production revealed harvesting WCR biomass as forage was economically feasible in four out of five site-yrs at hay price over 132 $ Mg-1. Eliminating corn yield penalty indicated profitability in four site-yrs at hay price of ≥110 $ Mg-1 and removing nutrient removal costs made all site-yrs profitable at hay price of ≥110 $ Mg-1. It was concluded that harvesting WCR biomass can be a profitable and effective strategy for sustainable intensification that can offer environmental stewardship and economic benefit. In chapter 2, a four-year trial was conducted in the 2017-2018, 2018-2029, 2019-2020, and 2020- 2021 growing seasons to evaluate the effect of harvesting time (late-March to mid-May considering the growth stage) on winter wheat biomass yield, quality, and farm profit in single season corn vs. wheat-corn rotation. A delay in harvest of wheat resulted in increased DM biomass and lower CP and RFQ. The RFQ that was suitable for dairy production occurred at GDD of 1849 in which the DM biomass was 6.2 Mg ha-1 leading to $1526.46 ha-1 income. The RFQ for heifer production was 126 at 2013 GDD in which the DM biomass was 6.8 Mg ha-1 leading to $1290.85 ha-1 income. These results suggested that wheat-corn rotation could provide extra income while covering the soil year-round. A series of trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of cover crop (CC) and nitrogen (N) management on (i) corn growth, (ii) grain yield and yield components, (iii) the economic optimum N rate (EONR) for corn and farm profit, (iv) N removal, and balances, (v) N use metrics, (vi) soil NO3-N and ammonium-N (NH4-N), along with (vii) N2O emissions and factors associated with it. In chapter 3, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement and four replicates to study winter wheat cover crop management practices on corn growth, production, N requirement, soil N, and farm profit. The main plots were four CC treatments: no CC (control), early terminated wheat CC (four weeks to corn planting; ET), late terminated wheat CC (just prior to corn planting; LT), and harvested wheat CC (residue removal; RR), and the subplots were six N fertilizer application rates (0-280 kg N ha-1 ) for 2018 and 2019 and seven N fertilizer application rates (0-336 kg N ha-1 ) for 2020 and 2021. Wheat cover crop management influenced corn grain yield where fallow was consistently high yielding while RR decreased corn grain yield drastically due to its negative effects on the corn plant population. All cover crop treatments immobilized N as shown by lower corn grain yields at zero-N control compared to the fallow treatment. The EONR generally ranged from 151.4 kg ha-1 to 206.4 kg ha-1 in fallow, 192.8 kg ha-1 to 275.8 kg ha-1 in ET, 225 kg ha-1 to 325 kg ha-1 in LT, and 175.3 kg ha-1 to 257.5 kg ha-1 in RR. At the EONR, corn grain yields ranged from 12.2 Mg ha-1 to 13.7 Mg ha-1 in the fallow treatment, 9.7 Mg ha-1 to 13.0 Mg ha-1 in the ET, 9.51 Mg ha-1 to 13.3 Mg ha-1 in the LT, and 8.2 Mg ha-1 to 10.5 Mg ha-1 in the RR treatment. Adding N beyond EONR resulted in a drastic increase in end of season soil N which could be subject to leaching emphasizing targeting EONR is critical for avoiding high N leaching and that if N is applied at rates beyond EONR, then cover cropping becomes even a more critical practice to avoid N losses. In chapter 4 and 5, we evaluated whether splitting N fertilization along with the two (no-cover crop vs. early termination; ET) (chapter 4) or four above-mentioned cover crops treatments (chapter 5) could improve corn production and farm profit through improved N use efficiency (NUE). Therefore, for chapter 4, a two-yr field trail was implemented at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application to corn changes N use efficiency (NUE) in no-cover crop vs. following an early terminated (ET) wheat cover crop. A four-replicated randomized completed block design with split plot arrangements were used. Main treatments were a no cover crop (control) vs. ET and subplots were five N timing applications to succeeding corn: (1) 168 kg N ha-1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha-1 at planting + 112 kg N ha-1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha-1 at planting + 56 kg N ha-1 at sidedress (4) 168 kg N ha-1 at sidedress, and (5) zero kg N ha-1 (control). Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. Grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control indicating corn yield penalty when wheat was planted prior to corn. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no differences among N application timing while in 2019, delaying the N addition improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses. Overall, our findings elucidate necessity of revisiting guidelines for current N management practices in Midwestern United States and incorporating cover crop component into MRTN prediction tool. For chapter 5, a four-year trial conducted with a split plot arrangement and four replicates. Main plots were four cover crop management [no cover crop control (fallow); ET, late termination (LT), and residue removal at late termination (RR) and five N fertilizer application timings (all at planting, most at planting + sidedress; half-half; less at planting and more at sidedress; and all sidedress). Our results indicated that RR resulted in corn population and grain yield reduction compared to other treatments. Fallow was consistently high-yielding and 112-56 N management during the first two years for fallow worked the best (10.1 Mg ha-1 ). In 2020 and 2021, both applying all N upfront or sidedressing yielded similar for fallow giving growers options with N timing. For both ET and LT, in all years, delaying the N addition to sidedress timing resulted in high yields (9.1 - 11.7 Mg ha-1 ). Some N addition upfront plus sidedressing the rest (56-168) resulted in the highest yield in ET in 2021 (11.6 Mg ha-1 ). For RR, split application of N (56-112 or 56-168) was consistently most productive in all years (8.7 Mg ha-1 ) suggesting that there is an advantage to sidedressing than upfront N application in cover crop systems. The high productive N management practices generally resulted in higher NUE (24.0 - 38.6 kg grain kg N-1 ) and lower N balance (20.6 - 50.2 kg ha-1 for 2018-2019, and 74 - 106.4 kg ha-1 for 2020-2021) which are critical to achieve not only for farm profit but also minimizing environmental footprints. Except for N0, N balance was positive in all treatments in all years indicating the inefficiency of fertilizer N that was corroborated by low NUE and PFP data. We concluded that to optimize corn production and reducing nutrient loss, split N addition or sidedressing N is most suitable especially in cover cropping systems. For chapter six, a four-times replicated randomized complete block design trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of winter wheat cover crop management practices (ET, LT, and RR) vs. a no-cover crop control (fallow) on corn grain yield, N removal and balances, soil N dynamics, soil volumetric water content (VWC) and temperature dynamics, N2O-N emissions, yield-scaled N2O-N emissions, and factors that drive N2O-N and corn grain yield in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 growing seasons in a silt loam soil with clay and fragipans. Our results indicated that corn grain yield decreased by both ET and RR as compared to the fallow and LT. Soil temperature was similar among all treatments, but soil VWC was higher in LT and ET than fallow and RR. The LT treatment always had lower soil NO3-N than the other treatments in both years. In 2021, the ET also had less soil nitrate-N than fallow and RR. Averaged over the two years, cumulative soil N2O-N was higher in LT (14.85 kg ha-1 ) and ET (12.85 kg ha-1 ) than RR (11.10 kg ha-1 ) and fallow (7.65 kg ha-1 ) indicating while these treatments are effective in reducing NO3-N leaching, they could increase soil N2O-N emissions. Principal component analysis indicated that higher N2O-N emissions in LT and ET was related to higher VWC suggesting at optimal N management scenarios, other factors than soil N drive N2O-N emissions. In this study, fallow had the least yield-scaled N2O-N emissions followed by RR. The yield-scaled emissions were similar between ET and LT. These results indicate the importance of evaluating N2O-N emissions in cereal cover crops prior to corn for informing best management practice for winter cereal cover crop adoption. Future studies should focus on manipulating cover crop management to capture residual N without creating microclimates with high VWC to avoid increase of N2O-N emissions. While a lot is known about CC effects on the following cash crop, less is known about rotational benefits of late terminated (planting green) wheat and nitrogen (N) management on the following WCR and soybean in rotation. Therefore, for chapter 7, a trial was conducted with a split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design set up. The main plots were two cover crop treatments (a no cover crop control vs. LT) and the subplots were three N rates [0 (N0), 224 (N224), and 336 (N336) kg N ha-1 ). Each treatment was replicated four times and rye and soybean was planted in all of the plots in rotation. Our results indicated wheat, when terminated late, can uptake 50-80 kg N ha-1 and result in belowground:aboveground ratio of 0.18 in which belowground had much higher C:N than the aboveground biomass. The soil NO3-N was affected by wheat presence and often reduced due to wheat N uptake and also N immobilization negatively affecting the following corn especially at both N0 and N224. Nitrogen fertilization at 336 kg N ha-1 resulted in high end of season N, reduced NUE, increased N balance, and thus, potential for N loss especially in the fallow treatment. The end of season N was lower and NUE was higher in LT which was coincided with reduced rye N uptake in LT suggesting wheat effect lingers longer than just during the corn season and could potentially reduce N loss potential during the fallow period following corn harvest. Soybean yields were higher in LT than the fallow which could be due to (i) higher rye biomass in fallow or (ii) positive legacy effect of wheat in rotation. Improved soybean yields could offset some of the economic loss during the corn phase and push growers in the Midwestern USA to be willing to adopt cover cropping to minimize N loss while protecting soil and stay profitable. Our results from chapter 3-7, indicate a need to change in cover crop management strategy to make it more user friendly with lower costs. In general, in the Midwestern USA, growers are reluctant to plant WCR especially prior to corn due to N immobilization and establishment issues. Precision planting of WCR or --Skipping the corn row‖ (STCR) can minimize some issues associated with WCR ahead of corn while reducing cover crop seed costs. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of --STCR‖ vs. normal planting of WCR at full seeding rate (NP) on WCR biomass, nutrient uptake, and composition in three site-yrs (ARC2019, ARC2020, BRC2020). Our results indicated no differences in cover crop dry matter (DM) biomass production between the STCR (2.40 Mg ha-1 ) and NP (2.41 Mg ha-1 ) supported by similar normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) and plant height for both treatments. Phosphorus, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) accumulation in aboveground biomass was only influenced by site-yr and both STCR and NP removed similar amount of P, K, Ca, and Mg indicating STCR could be as effective as NP in accumulating nutrients. Aboveground carbon (C) content (1086.26 kg h-1 average over the two treatments) was similar between the two treatments and only influenced by site-yr differences. Lignin, lignin:N, and C:N ratios were higher in STCR than NP in one out of three site-years (ARC2019) indicating greater chance of N immobilization when WCR was planted later than usual. Implementing STCR saved 8.4 $ ha-1 for growers and could incentivize growers to adopt this practice. Future research should evaluate corn response to STCR compared with NP and assess if soil quality declines by STCR practice over time.
Book Synopsis Harvest and Nitrogen Manangement of Winter Cereal Rye as Forage and Cover Crop by : Kelsey Vaughn
Download or read book Harvest and Nitrogen Manangement of Winter Cereal Rye as Forage and Cover Crop written by Kelsey Vaughn and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainability of dairy production depends on their production of feed and finding ways to increase profitability through dairy production or even carbon (C) crediting and adding C inputs into the soil to sequester C. To increase farm profitability, dairy producers in Illinois, has intensified their feed production through integrating winter cereals such as winter cereal rye (Secale cereale) (WCR) into single season corn for silage (double cropping). Intensified cropping system allows for increased feed production, covering the soil year-round, and adding C inputs while minimizing nutrient loss mainly through runoff or leaching. Two management practices that improve the sustainability of corn silage - WCR double crop are harvesting date and nitrogen (N) management during the WCR phase of the production. This thesis has two main chapters. Chapter 1 evaluates the effect of harvesting date (five weekly harvest from late-March to early-May) with and without optimum N addition (0 vs. 47 kg N ha-1). Our objective was to evaluate harvesting date and spring N fertilization effect on WCR morphology, forage yield, nutrient removal, and quality. A quadratic model best explained an increase in WCR biomass in response to GDD (growing degree days) accumulation (R2 = 0.81). Increase in GDD linearly decreased WCR relative forage quality (RFQ). Benchmarking RFQ at 150 for dairy milk production indicates that WCR should be harvested at a GDD of 543 at which WCR plant height was 31.8 cm and dry matter (DM) biomass was 0.77 Mg ha-1. Benchmarking RFQ at 125 for heifer production indicated that harvest should occur at a GDD of 668 at which the WCR was 71 cm tall and its DM yield was 2.25 Mg ha-1. Nitrogen balances were negative at the no-N control treatment indicating a need for some N to maximize WCR yield. We found that a rate between 21 and 42 kg N ha-1 maximizes yields reflecting on slightly positive balances. Our results suggest that harvesting date can be predicted by GDD and should be adjusted for RFQ. We conclude that smaller than 42 kg N ha-1 N fertilizer is required for WCR production in soils with manure history and high soil organic matter (>30 g kg-1). Chapter 2 hypothesized that N fertilization of WCR as cover crop can increase nutrient recycling and C sequestration which offers C trading benefits to growers. We evaluated the effects of N fertilizer application in fall (0 vs. 56 kg N ha-1), and N fertilizer rates in spring (0, 23, 47, and 71 kg ha-1) on WCR dry matter (DM) biomass and cover crop quality. Results indicated that fall N fertilization had no effect on WCR biomass or quality reflecting on loss of applied N in the fall. Spring N application did not affect WCR biomass yield but increased N, P, and K concentrations, their uptake, C concentration, and decreased C:N and lignin:N ratios. We concluded that only spring N fertilization improves WCR cover crop benefits. Overall, we suggest that for high-quality forage, (RFQ at 150) WCR should be harvested at a GDD of 543 at which WCR plant height was 31.8 cm and dry matter (DM) biomass was 0.77 Mg ha-1. For RFQ of 125 (for heifer production), harvest should occur at a GDD of 668 at which the WCR was 71 cm tall and its DM yield was 2.25 Mg ha-1. Neither in fall nor in spring, N fertilization increase WCR C accumulation. Spring N fertilization reduces WCR C:N and lignin:N which are desirable for crop production.
Book Synopsis Some effects of the management of a rye winter cover crop on the nitrogen by : Gladston Winston Morgan
Download or read book Some effects of the management of a rye winter cover crop on the nitrogen written by Gladston Winston Morgan and published by . This book was released on 1961 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis On-farm Evaluations of Nitrogen Management for Corn Production with Precision Farming Technologies by : Bradley Wilbert Van De Woestyne
Download or read book On-farm Evaluations of Nitrogen Management for Corn Production with Precision Farming Technologies written by Bradley Wilbert Van De Woestyne and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Guidelines, or recommendations, for nitrogen (N) management in the Corn Belt are important to corn producers because fertilizer N must be applied for profitable corn production, because profit margins are narrow, and because N fertilization has been linked to local and regional water quality problems. Producers rely on these recommendations because it has been impractical for individuals to identify optimal rates, times, and methods of N fertilization for corn. Precision farming technologies, however, enable organized networks of crop producers to evaluate management practices used on their farms and within regions. These technologies and on-farm trials were used to assess optimal rates of spring-applied and sidedressed N, assess the benefits of using a nitrification inhibitor, and assess the ability of injected liquid swine manure to supply N needed for corn growth. The results showed optimal rates of N were less than currently recommended rates, nitrification inhibitors did not increase profits for producers in central Iowa, and injected liquid swine manure at normal rates supplied adequate amounts of N for plant growth. The results suggest that current recommendations could be substantially improved. The results document that organized networks of producers working together can evaluate and improve nitrogen management and thereby increase their profits while reducing environmental problems associated with N fertilization.
Book Synopsis Winter Cover Crops Impact on the Distribution of Soil Inorganic Nitrogen and Subsequent Crop Uptake and Yield Following Fall Applied Anhydrous Ammonium by : William T. Deppe
Download or read book Winter Cover Crops Impact on the Distribution of Soil Inorganic Nitrogen and Subsequent Crop Uptake and Yield Following Fall Applied Anhydrous Ammonium written by William T. Deppe and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 165 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The pairing of cover crops with spring application of nitrogen has shown improved nitrogen efficiency in corn production systems. However, studies have shown that only 50% of central Illinois farmers practice spring application of nitrogen. Furthermore, the literature demonstrates that in years with above average rainfall, fall applied N management systems are more susceptible to N loading relative to spring systems. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the efficacy of winter cover crops to impact the distribution of soil inorganic N following fall applied anhydrous ammonium. The experimental site is located at the Illinois State University Research and Teaching Farm in Lexington, IL. The treatments consisted of a control, daikon radish, cereal rye and a cereal rye/daikon radish mixture. All treatments received a fall application of 200 kg N ha-1 in the form of anhydrous ammonia. Soil samples were collected in the spring at four separate depths and were analyzed for inorganic N. At the 0-5cm depth, we determined that tillage radish resulted in 18% greater soil NO3- relative to the control. In the environmental depth of 20-80cm, we observed that fall applying N into a living cover crop resulted in 35% (cereal rye) and 22% (daikon radish) less soil NO3- when compared to the control. In 2014 and 2015, each treatment was further divided into three nitrogen rate subplots: 200, 145 and 90 kg N ha-1. However, no obvious trend within the rate applied (90, 145 and 200 kg ha-1) was observed. After four consecutive years of established cover crops, corn uptake and yield data was collected. On average the addition of daikon radish at 200 kg N ha-1 increased total crop uptake by 20%; while the inclusion of cereal rye despite application rate significantly (P= 0.0021) increased total N at R6. Consequently, sampling at harvest (2014) demonstrated the capacity of the cover crops (cereal rye, P= 0.0323) despite rate to increase the crop yielding potential 3-6%. Over a four year period, winter cover crops reduced nitrate leaching and stabilized a greater concentration of soil NO3- in the agronomic depths following fall applied N, relative to the control. The results of this study also suggest that cover crop inclusion into a fall applied system has the potential to advance nitrogen use efficiency, yield and profitability.
Author :Charles L. Mohler Publisher :Natural Resource Agriculture and Engineering Service (Nraes) ISBN 13 :9781933395210 Total Pages :156 pages Book Rating :4.3/5 (952 download)
Book Synopsis Crop Rotation on Organic Farms by : Charles L. Mohler
Download or read book Crop Rotation on Organic Farms written by Charles L. Mohler and published by Natural Resource Agriculture and Engineering Service (Nraes). This book was released on 2009 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Impact of a Winter Rye Cover Crop on Edge-of-Field Nutrient Losses and Corn Silage Production by : Keegan E. Griffith
Download or read book Impact of a Winter Rye Cover Crop on Edge-of-Field Nutrient Losses and Corn Silage Production written by Keegan E. Griffith and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops have the potential to reduce environmental impacts of corn production. The objective of this study was to quantify differences in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading between corn plots with or without a winter rye cover crop (Secale cerale). Four field plots (30 x 46 m) in Chazy, NY with edge-of-field monitoring were used for the study. Two plots were randomly assigned a rye cover crop treatment and planted with a grain drill at a rate of 112 kg ha-1 after corn silage harvest in 2015 and 2016. Continuous water flows were monitored from surface runoff and tile drain hydrologic pathways dur-ing runoff events. Soluble reactive P (SRP), total P (TP), nitrate-N, total N (TN), and to-tal suspended solids (TSS) concentrations were measured and multiplied by runoff vol-umes to estimate nutrient export. Surface runoff from rye plots had lower nutrient loss compared to control plots. Cumulative nitrate-N exports were similar between treatments (15.7 vs. 14.8 kg nitrate-N ha-1 for rye and control, respectively). Cumulative TN exports were numerically higher for control plots compared to rye plots, (18.8 vs. 21.4 kg TN ha-1). Cumulative TP and SRP exports (surface + tile) for rye were 2.2 and 3-fold greater than control plots, (0.51 vs. 1.19 kg TP ha-1 and 0.33 vs. 0.96 kg SRP ha-1). Total P and SRP loads in surface runoff were 3.0-fold greater for control plots compared to rye plots (0.36 vs. 1.12 kg TP ha-1 and 0.32 vs. 0.94 kg SRP ha-1). TSS load in surface runoff was numerically higher for control plots compared to rye (5.7 vs. 20.6 kg ha-1). Cumulative surface runoff was 1.8-fold greater in control plots compared to rye plots (112.6 mm vs. 207.7 mm), while cumulative tile runoff was numerically higher in rye plots compared to control (83.2 mm vs. 66.1mm). Snowmelt events contributed the majority of phosphorus losses (96% of SRP and 92% of TP), emphasizing the need to implement management techniques that reduce P transport risk during the non-growing season. Winter rye re-duced snowmelt TP export by 3-fold compared to the control plots (0.33 kg TP ha-1 and 1.03 kg TP ha-1). The winter rye cover crop planted after corn silage harvest effectively reduced erosion and P transport in surface water runoff compared to corn silage left fal-low after harvest. In addition to significantly reducing P exports, farms have the option of harvesting rye as a forage crop and double cropping with corn. In this way, more total forage is possible for the farm in addition to offering environmental conservation and wa-ter quality benefits.
Book Synopsis Cereal Rye as a Winter Cover Crop Preceding Corn in Illinois by : Stephanie Michelle Crandall
Download or read book Cereal Rye as a Winter Cover Crop Preceding Corn in Illinois written by Stephanie Michelle Crandall and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Sustainable Cropping Systems by : Jeffrey A. Coulter
Download or read book Sustainable Cropping Systems written by Jeffrey A. Coulter and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2020-05-21 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Global crop production must substantially increase to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. This is constrained by the availability of nutrients, water, and land. There is also an urgent need to reduce the negative environmental impacts of crop production. Collectively, these issues represent one of the greatest challenges of the twenty-first century. Sustainable cropping systems based on ecological principles are the core of integrated approaches to solve this critical challenge. This special issue provides an international basis for revealing the underlying mechanisms of sustainable cropping systems to drive agronomic innovations. It includes review and original research articles that report novel scientific findings on improvement in cropping systems related to crop yields and their resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors, resource use efficiency, environmental impact, sustainability, and ecosystem services.
Book Synopsis Building Soils for Better Crops by : Fred Magdoff
Download or read book Building Soils for Better Crops written by Fred Magdoff and published by Sare. This book was released on 2009 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "'Published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, with funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture."
Book Synopsis Novel Cover Crop Management Practices for Improving Farm Profit and Sustainability in Agroecosystems by : Garrett W. Williams
Download or read book Novel Cover Crop Management Practices for Improving Farm Profit and Sustainability in Agroecosystems written by Garrett W. Williams and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agroecosystem sustainability as a framework for agriculture production systems requires attention to detail to multiple facets of the underlying production system. Production systems must achieve optimal cash crop yields while remaining profitable. Likewise, production practices must be tailored to reduce its environmental footprint. Identifying practices that encourage improved soil physical and chemical properties while maintaining yields have largely been challenging. Cover crops have been an integral part of the conversation regarding practices that can generally improve those properties of soil responsible for overall soil health. Use of winter cereal cover crops (WCCC's) have shown promise as a tool for reducing soil and nutrient runoff, thereby reducing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nonpoint source pollution in the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB). However, corn-cash crop yield penalties are often incurred following the use of WCCC's such as winter cereal rye (Secale cereal) (WCR), as N is immobilized by cover crop residues in the decomposition processes. Additionally, traditional planting methods of cover crops have resulted in reductions of harvestable populations of corn and soybeans. These problems indicate a necessity for novel cover crop planting methods that reduce the consequential outcomes of implementing traditional cover crop practices. Using a method called "Skipping the corn row" (STCR), otherwise identified as "precision planted" cover crops, we aimed to reduce the cash crop yield-limiting interactions of cover crop residues within the cash crop row. We hypothesized that removing cover crop biomass from the subsequently planted cash crop row (chapter 1) could minimize N immobilization by residues, thereby increasing our subsequent yield potential and economic optimum return to N (EORN). In novel cover crop planting methods preceding soybeans (chapter 3), our hypothesis indicated that mixtures of WCR and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) would impact biomass accumulation of weed communities, while novel measures that allowed for reduced seeding rates would permit competitive soybean yields while reducing input costs for cover crop seed. Chapter 2 focused on interseeding mixtures of WCR and crimson clover, where we hypothesized that residual rates would marginally impact percent cover of WCR and crimson clover mixtures. Our results indicated, in chapter one, that reducing seeding rate by using STCR planting method did indeed drive seed cost savings while improving yield and EORN in comparison to a traditionally planted cover crop. Our results in chapter 3 also indicated reduced seeding rates found in novel planting methods improved the on-farm economics of using cover crops while maintaining healthy soybean yields. Lower-than-average rainfall accumulations later in the growing season coupled with cover crop residues likely influenced soil moisture retention, benefiting the cash crop during the dry spell, helping maintain yields. Interseeding methods, as studied in chapter 2, did not show any significant impact on corn grain yield or yield components. Subsequently, half- and full-rate residual herbicides did not impact percent cover of cover crops. However, use of residual herbicides should be consistent with all herbicide labels and laws, and producers should use label-recommended amounts to maintain maximum efficacy of herbicides and to prevent resistant weed populations. Also, interseeded cover crops failed to successfully establish, resulting in minimal cover crop biomass in later sampling dates.
Book Synopsis Conserving Nitrogen from Fall Dairy Manure Applications when Coupled with Winter Annuals Before Corn Silage by : Rachel Milliron
Download or read book Conserving Nitrogen from Fall Dairy Manure Applications when Coupled with Winter Annuals Before Corn Silage written by Rachel Milliron and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Pennsylvania, dairy farming is the largest agricultural industry in the state. On these farms as well as others in the Northeast, manure storage capabilities are limited, requiring farmers to empty storage multiple times throughout the year. Although manure is a valuable source of nutrients, it can lead to water quality impairment. Applying manure in the fall is inherently more risky due to a lack of vegetative growth and a long time delay before primary crop uptake. This thesis research focused on different management strategies that would protect water quality and conserve nitrogen for crop use when manure is applied in the fall. In a two-year field study conducted at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Farm, winter rye (Secale cereal L.) was planted before corn (Zea mays L.) in fields managed as a no-till system. Three different management strategies were evaluated: i) winter rye management (rye grown as a cover crop or harvested as silage); ii) method of manure application (broadcasted or injected); and iii) timing of manure application (applied early or late in the fall, in September or November respectively. In the first half of the study, effects of manure application strategies on nitrogen conservation for winter rye were evaluated by measuring ammonia volatilization, rye biomass, nitrogen content in aboveground rye, and soil-N to a depth of 90cm. Consistently in both years, ammonia volatilization was lower after early-injected manure than early-broadcasted. More nitrogen was conserved in the soil, and ryelage biomass was 48 and 38% higher after early-injected manure than after early-broadcasted manure in 2014 and 2015, respectively. After late-broadcasted and late-injected manure, there were no differences in ryelage biomass. However, late-injected manure resulted in 3.8 and 10.6% rye damage in 2014 and 2015, respectively. There were no differences in rye cover crop biomass due the method or time of manure application. Following rye, soil NO3-N tended to be higher after each of the following management practices: i) a rye cover crop compared to ryelage; ii) injected manure compared to broadcast manure; iii) a late manure application compared to early application; but differences were not always significant. In the second half of the study, previous management of manure and rye effects on manure-N availability from fall-applied manure for corn were assessed by: i) measuring pre-sidedress soil nitrate, corn yields, and total harvested corn and rye forage; ii) estimating adjusted N-recommendations and cost; and iii. calculating manure-N equivalency. In 2014 and 2015, pre-sidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) results were below 25mg kg-1 for all treatments, and N-recommendations tended to be lower after each of the following: i) a cover crop compared to ryelage, ii) injected manure compared to broadcast manure and iii) late applied manure compared to early applied manure. Manure N-equivalencies were highest after a rye cover crop with late-injected manure (57.4%) and lowest after ryelage with early-broadcasted manure (4.3%). Averaged over the two years, total harvested forage, (either corn silage only after a cover crop, or ryelage and corn silage dry matter), was 19% higher after ryelage than after a rye cover crop and 22% higher after injected manure than after broadcasted manure. Winter rye coupled with nitrogen conserving manure application strategies can provide Northeast dairy producers flexible field management strategies that can increase fall manure-N utilization for crop production, and reduce nitrogen loss to the environment.
Download or read book Steel in the Field written by Greg Bowman and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Alfalfa Management Guide by : D. J. Undersander
Download or read book Alfalfa Management Guide written by D. J. Undersander and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Alfalfa Management Guide is designed especially for busy growers, with to-the-point recommendations, useful images of diseased plants and pests, and quick-reference tables and charts. Revised in 2011, this edition of Alfalfa Management Guide covers the latest strategies for alfalfa establishment, production, and harvest-soil testing, fertilizing, integrated pest management, rotation, and more.
Book Synopsis Monthly Notes, Farm Management, and Farm Economics by :
Download or read book Monthly Notes, Farm Management, and Farm Economics written by and published by . This book was released on 1946 with total page 1648 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
