Why grow cover crops?

Transcription

1 Why grow cover crops? Reducing soil erosion Increasing soil health/quality (organic carbon, compaction, aggregation, water infiltration, soil microbes) Nutrient management N addition (legumes) N scavenging/preventing leaching (grasses, brassicas) 1

2 Why grow cover crops? Suppressing weeds Conserve soil water Improve crop yields Forage How much cover crop biomass do we need to get benefits? Spring cover crop biomass thresholds: 1,000 kg/ha of cereal rye reduces soil nitrate (N leaching) Hively et al., ,100 to 2,000 kg/ha for wind and water erosion USDA, Duiker et al., Farsad et al, ,500 kg/ha for 100% weed suppression Finney et al.,

3 Spring cover crop biomass at Mead Spring cover crop biomass at Haskell Ag Lab (northeast NE)

4 What have we learned so far? Spring cover crop biomass reached 1,000 to 2,000 lb/a when rye was used and when planted early (at half-milk stage of corn) Cover crops growing before soybeans were able to produce twice as much as those before corn (2 week longer growing period) 4

5 Cropping system Relative ease of establishment Probability of biomass production success Wheat Very easy Very high Hybrid seed corn Corn/Sorghum (silage) Very easy Easy Very high High Soybean Easy/Difficult High/Low Corn/Sorghum (grain) Difficult/Impossible Low/Moderate Crop Production Clinics 2016 Option 1: Interseeding Cover Crops Canopy Closure Full Reproductive Physiological Maturity 5

6 Option 1: Interseeding Cover Crops but How my cash crop is going to be affected? Will it be Water, Nitrogen and Light competition between main crop and cover crops? How can I control weeds? Is the broadcast planting effective in cover crops? Cover Crops broadcast at Corn Planting Date Corn + C. Rye Corn + Mix June 17 July 10 (Rainfed) July 15 (Irrigated) 6

7 Cover Crops broadcast at R5 & R6 Corn (Mid Aug vs Mid Sep) Corn + C. Rye Corn + Mix R5 R5 R6 R6 Pictures taken on 10/22/15 Pictures taken on 10/22/15 Corn + Radish Corn + H. Vetch R5 R6 Pictures taken on 10/22/15 Pictures taken on 10/22/15 7

8 Option 1: Interseeding Cover Crops Results* No detrimental effect on corn when cover crops are planted after canopy closure Weed control is a challenge if pre-emergence herbicides are not used Fall cover crop was reduced, Spring cover crop biomass was higher when cover crops are planted at R6 corn stage *One year results Option 2: Different Crop Maturity Delay cover crop termination by planting late cash crop Planting cover crops after harvest (longer growing season) January February March April May June July August September October November December 8

9 Option 2: Using different Crop Maturity but How my cash crop is going to be affected? What is the impact of planting date at different maturities? Corn Yield as affected by planting date and hybrid maturity* *One year results 9

10 Cover Crop Biomass as affected by planting date 2-Oct 21-Oct 21-Oct 2-Oct 12/8/ /14/2016 Cover Crop Biomass as affected by planting date* Rye was drilled; fall biomass was collected on 12/8/2015 and spring biomass was collected on 04/14/2016. *One year results 10

11 Option 2: Corn Maturity Results* Early planting is necessary for late-season hybrids Late planting perfoms better for the short-season hybrids No yield differences between 115 and 112 RM hybrids but yield was reduced with earlier RM hybrids Biomass production was positively affected by cover crop planting date *One year results 11

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14 Light Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 14

15 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 1. Choose a hybrid with earlier and/or faster senescence? Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 1. Choose a hybrid with earlier and/or faster senescence? 15

16 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 1. Choose a hybrid with earlier and/or faster senescence? Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 1. Choose a hybrid with earlier and/or faster senescence? 16

17 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 17

18 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 18

19 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops 19

20 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Hairy Vetch Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops 20

21 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Perennial Ryegrass Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops 21

22 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Red Clover Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops 22

23 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Austrian Winter Pea (semi-tolerant) Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops 23

24 Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops Camelina sativa (semi-tolerant) Two (additional) ways to gain more light resources: 2. Use shade tolerant cover crops USDA NRCS A Comprehensive Guide to Cover Crop Species Used inthe Northeast United States. ons/nypmcpu10645.pdf 24

25 Senario 1- Field Corn Accuron applied at planting 28 April Diflexx Duo applied June 10 Can I plant? Cereal Rye Crimson Clover 1 Oct. Can I graze? 25

26 Senario 2 Seed Corn Calisto applied at planting 28 April Status applied June 10 Cereal Rye, turnip, pea planted following male row destruct 15 July Can I graze? 26