scholarly journals Influence of cover crop and tillage management practices on soil physical and hydraulic properties

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Samuel Idoko Haruna
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Research Center ◽  
No Till ◽  
Biofuel Crops ◽  
Over Time

Several agricultural land management practices, such as cover crops and tillage, can influence soil physical and hydraulic properties, soil health indicators and crop productivity. This study evaluated the influence of cover crops, tillage and perennial biofuel crops on soil physical and hydraulic properties. The objectives of this study included: (i) evaluate hydraulic properties for soils managed by cover crops and tillage, (ii) assess the influence of cover crops and tillage management on in situ water infiltration parameters, and (iii) evaluate thermal conductivity ([lambda]), volumetric heat capacity (C[subscript v]) and thermal diffusivity (D) for soils managed by perennial biofuel and cover crops. Two field sites were used for the study; the first and second objectives were conducted at Lincoln University's Freeman Research Center while the third objective was conducted at University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. The cover crop grown at Freeman Research Center was Cereal rye (Secale cereal L.), while Cereal rye, Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa subsp. villosa) and Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) were grown at Bradford Research Center. The perennial biofuel crops at Bradford Research Center included giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x gigantus J.M. Geef and Deuter ex Hodkinson and Renvoize) and switchgrass (Panicum vergatum L.). The tillage treatments at Freeman Research Center included tillage using a moldboard plow to a depth of 15 cm and no-till. The soil at Bradford Research Center was managed with no-till. Intact soil samples (76 by 76 mm) were collected for objectives one and three with samples taken in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Infiltrometers were used to measure infiltration rates for objective two during 2014 and 2015. The physically-based Parlange and Green-Ampt infiltration models were fit to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity (K[subscript s]) and sorptivity (S) parameters. Results showed that bulk density values for tillage were 13% lower compared with no-till management right after tillage. At the 0-10 cm soil depth, water content was significantly higher at the 0.0 and -0.4 kPa pressures for tillage compared with no-till management, right after spring tillage. However, this effect did not persist over time probably due to soil consolidation after some rainfall events. Tillage improved coarse mesopores by 32% compared with no-till; and this effect resulted in 87% higher saturated hydraulic conductivity values in tillage compared with no-till management, right after spring tillage. Cover crops improved macropores by 24% compared with no cover crop; this can potentially increase water infiltration and reduce runoff. As a result of higher macroporosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity was higher in the cover crop compared with no cover crop management. This study demonstrated that the effects of tillage in improving some soil hydraulic properties may not persist over time. The Parlange and Green-Ampt model appeared to fit measured infiltration data well with coefficient of variation (r[superscript 2]) ranging from 0.92 to 0.99. The K[subscript s] parameter value estimated from the Parlange and Green-Ampt models in 2014 were 42% and 54% higher in no-till compared with tillage management, respectively. In 2015, the S parameter values estimated from the Parlange and Green-Ampt models were 82% and 90% higher in cover crop management compared to no cover crop management, respectively. This study showed that cover crops can improve water infiltration and may reduce water and nutrient runoff which can lead to enhanced agricultural productivity. Results of the third objective showed that perennial biofuel crops (giant miscanthus and switchgrass) had 11% higher C[subscript V] at saturation compared to row crops (cover crops and no cover crops). Cover crops compared to no cover crop had 18% higher volumetric water content at saturation and 26% higher soil organic carbon; this led to 13% higher C[subscript v] compared to no cover crops. Row crops had significantly higher [lambda] and D compared to perennial biofuel crops. This study showed that perennial biofuel and cover crops can change soil thermal properties by reducing [lambda] and D and increasing C[subscript v]; this indicates that these management systems can improve the ability of the soil to buffer against rapid heat change and better handle a more variable climate. Results from these studies showed that tillage may influence some soil properties temporarily; however, these influences may diminish over time. Cover crops can improve soil physical and hydraulic properties and soil health indicators and this can lead to improved productivity. However, longer-term studies are needed to evaluate these effects over time, especially with an increasingly changing climate.

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

2022 ◽  
pp. 112-120
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Mitchell ◽  
Anil Shrestha ◽  
Lynn Epstein ◽  
Jeffery A. Dahlberg ◽  
Teamrat Ghezzehei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
San Joaquin Valley ◽  
Agricultural Water Use ◽  
No Till ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Crop System

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.

Investigating tarps to facilitate organic no-till cabbage production with high-residue cover crops

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie P Lounsbury ◽  
Nicholas D Warren ◽  
Seamus D Wolfe ◽  
Richard G Smith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Crop Biomass

AbstractHigh-residue cover crops can facilitate organic no-till vegetable production when cover crop biomass production is sufficient to suppress weeds (>8000 kg ha−1), and cash crop growth is not limited by soil temperature, nutrient availability, or cover crop regrowth. In cool climates, however, both cover crop biomass production and soil temperature can be limiting for organic no-till. In addition, successful termination of cover crops can be a challenge, particularly when cover crops are grown as mixtures. We tested whether reusable plastic tarps, an increasingly popular tool for small-scale vegetable farmers, could be used to augment organic no-till cover crop termination and weed suppression. We no-till transplanted cabbage into a winter rye (Secale cereale L.)-hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mulch that was terminated with either a roller-crimper alone or a roller-crimper plus black or clear tarps. Tarps were applied for durations of 2, 4 and 5 weeks. Across tarp durations, black tarps increased the mean cabbage head weight by 58% compared with the no tarp treatment. This was likely due to a combination of improved weed suppression and nutrient availability. Although soil nutrients and biological activity were not directly measured, remaining cover crop mulch in the black tarp treatments was reduced by more than 1100 kg ha−1 when tarps were removed compared with clear and no tarp treatments. We interpret this as an indirect measurement of biological activity perhaps accelerated by lower daily soil temperature fluctuations and more constant volumetric water content under black tarps. The edges of both tarp types were held down, rather than buried, but moisture losses from the clear tarps were greater and this may have affected the efficacy of clear tarps. Plastic tarps effectively killed the vetch cover crop, whereas it readily regrew in the crimped but uncovered plots. However, emergence of large and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) appeared to be enhanced in the clear tarp treatment. Although this experiment was limited to a single site-year in New Hampshire, it shows that use of black tarps can overcome some of the obstacles to implementing cover crop-based no-till vegetable productions in northern climates.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Management Practices Rather Than Composition of Cover Crop Mixtures Affect Bacterial Communities in No-Till Agroecosystems

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sana Romdhane ◽  
Aymé Spor ◽  
Hugues Busset ◽  
Laurent Falchetto ◽  
Juliette Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
No Till

scholarly journals Temporal Change of Soil Carbon on a Long-Term Experimental Site with Variable Crop Rotations and Tillage Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Laamrani ◽  
Paul R. Voroney ◽  
Aaron A. Berg ◽  
Adam W. Gillespie ◽  
Michael March ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
No Till

The impacts of tillage practices and crop rotations are fundamental factors influencing changes in the soil carbon, and thus the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to compare soil carbon status and temporal changes in topsoil from different 4 year rotations and tillage treatments (i.e., no-till and conventional tillage). Rotation systems were primarily corn and soy-based and included cereal and alfalfa phases along with red clover cover crops. In 2018, soil samples were collected from a silty-loam topsoil (0–15 cm) from the 36 year long-term experiment site in southern Ontario, Canada. Total carbon (TC) contents of each sample were determined in the laboratory using combustion methods and comparisons were made between treatments using current and archived samples (i.e., 20 year and 9 year change, respectively) for selected crop rotations. Overall, TC concentrations were significantly higher for no-till compared with conventional tillage practices, regardless of the crop rotations employed. With regard to crop rotation, the highest TC concentrations were recorded in corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations with red clover cover crop in both cereal phases. TC contents were, in descending order, found in corn–corn–alfalfa–alfalfa (CCAA), corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) with 1 year of seeded red clover, and corn–corn–corn–corn (CCCC). The lowest TC concentrations were observed in the corn–corn–soybean–soybean (CCSS) and corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations without use of cover crops, and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We found that (i) crop rotation varieties that include two consecutive years of soybean had consistently lower TC concentrations compared with the remaining rotations; (ii) TC for all the investigated plots (no-till and/or tilled) increased over the 9 year and 20 year period; (iii) the no-tilled CCOB rotation with 2 years of cover crop showed the highest increase of TC content over the 20 year change period time; and (iv) interestingly, the no-till continuous corn (CCCC) rotation had higher TC than the soybean–soybean–corn–corn (SSCC) and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We concluded that conservation tillage (i.e., no-till) and incorporation of a cover crop into crop rotations had a positive effect in the accumulation of TC topsoil concentrations and could be suitable management practices to promote soil fertility and sustainability in our agricultural soils.

Cover crop effects on horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) density and size inequality at the time of herbicide exposure

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Wallace ◽  
William S. Curran ◽  
David A. Mortensen
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Integrated Weed Management ◽  
Crop Response ◽  
Herbicide Resistant ◽  
No Till ◽  
Erigeron Canadensis ◽  
Size Inequality ◽  
Herbicide Exposure ◽  
Response Traits

AbstractProactive integrated weed management (IWM) is critically needed in no-till production to reduce the intensity of selection pressure for herbicide-resistant weeds. Reducing the density of emerged weed populations and the number of larger individuals within the population at the time of herbicide application are two practical management objectives when integrating cover crops as a complementary tactic in herbicide-based production systems. We examined the following demographic questions related to the effects of alternative cover-cropping tactics following small grain harvest on preplant, burndown management of horseweed (Erigeron canadensis L.) in no-till commodity-grain production: (1) Do cover crops differentially affect E. canadensis density and size inequality at the time of herbicide exposure? (2) Which cover crop response traits are drivers of E. canadensis suppression at time of herbicide exposure? Interannual variation in growing conditions (study year) and intra-annual variation in soil fertility (low vs. high nitrogen) were the primary drivers of cover crop response traits and significantly affected E. canadensis density at the time of herbicide exposure. In comparison to the fallow control, cover crop treatments reduced E. canadensis density 52% to 86% at the time of a preplant, burndown application. Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) alone or in combination with forage radish (Raphanus sativus L.) provided the most consistent E. canadensis suppression. Fall and spring cover crop biomass production was negatively correlated with E. canadensis density at the preplant burndown application timing. Our results also show that winter-hardy cover crops reduce the size inequality of E. canadensis populations at the time of herbicide exposure by reducing the number of large individuals within the population. Finally, we advocate for advancement in our understanding of complementarity between cover crop– and herbicide-based management tactics in no-till systems to facilitate development of proactive, herbicide-resistant management strategies.

Behavior of sulfentrazone in the soil as influenced by cover crop before no-till soybean planting

Weed Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 673-680
Author(s):  
Gabrielle de Castro Macedo ◽  
Caio Antonio Carbonari ◽  
Edivaldo Domingues Velini ◽  
Giovanna Larissa Gimenes Cotrick Gomes ◽  
Ana Karollyna Alves de Matos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glycine Max ◽  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Forage Sorghum ◽  
Crop Straw ◽  
No Till

AbstractMore than 80% of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in Brazil is cultivated in no-till systems, and although cover crops benefit the soil, they may reduce the amount of residual herbicides reaching the soil, thereby decreasing herbicide efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate sulfentrazone applied alone, sequentially after glyphosate, and in a tank mixture with glyphosate before planting no-till soybean. Experiments were performed in two cover crop systems: (1) pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] and (2) forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. bicolor]. The treatments tested were: glyphosate (720 g ae ha−1) at 20 d before sowing (DBS) followed by sulfentrazone (600 g ai ha−1) at 10 DBS; glyphosate + sulfentrazone (720 g ae ha−1 + 600 g ai ha−1) for cover crop desiccation at 10 DBS; and sulfentrazone alone at 10 DBS without a cover crop. The accumulation of straw was 31% greater using sorghum rather than pearl millet. In the sorghum system, the concentration of sulfentrazone at 0 to 10 cm was 57% less with sequential application and 92% less with the tank mixture compared with the treatment without cover crop straw at 1 d after application (DAA). The same occurred in the pearl millet system, where the reduction was 33% and 80% for the sequential application and tank mixture, respectively. The absence of a cover crop resulted in greater sulfentrazone concentrations in the top layer of the soil when compared with the sequential application or tank mixture. At 31 and 53 DAA, the concentration of sulfentrazone at 10 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm did not differ among treatments. Precipitation of 90 mm was enough to remove the herbicide from the cover crop straw at 31 DAA when using sequential application. An additional 90-mm precipitation was necessary to promote the same result when using the tank mixture.

Timing of Cover-Crop Management Effects on Weed Suppression in No-Till Planted Soybean using a Roller-Crimper

Weed Science ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 380-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Mirsky ◽  
W. S. Curran ◽  
D. M. Mortenseny ◽  
M. R. Ryany ◽  
D. L. Shumway
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Biomass Accumulation ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Termination Date ◽  
Crop Biomass

Integrated weed management tactics are necessary to develop cropping systems that enhance soil quality using conservation tillage and reduced herbicide or organic weed management. In this study, we varied planting and termination date of two cereal rye cultivars (‘Aroostook’ and ‘Wheeler’) and a rye/hairy vetch mixture to evaluate cover-crop biomass production and subsequent weed suppression in no-till planted soybean. Cover crops were killed with a burn-down herbicide and roller-crimper and the weed-suppressive effects of the remaining mulch were studied. Cover-crop biomass increased approximately 2,000 kg ha−1from latest to earliest fall planting dates (August 25–October 15) and for each 10-d incremental delay in spring termination date (May 1–June 1). Biomass accumulation for cereal rye was best estimated using a thermal-based model that separated the effects of fall and spring heat units. Cultivars differed in their total biomass accumulation; however, once established, their growth rates were similar, suggesting the difference was mainly due to the earlier emergence of Aroostook rye. The earlier emergence of Aroostook rye may have explained its greater weed suppression than Wheeler, whereas the rye/hairy vetch mixture was intermediate between the two rye cultivars. Delaying cover-crop termination reduced weed density, especially for early- and late-emerging summer annual weeds in 2006. Yellow nutsedge was not influenced by cover-crop type or the timing of cover-crop management. We found that the degree of synchrony between weed species emergence and accumulated cover-crop biomass played an important role in defining the extent of weed suppression.

Cover-Crop Roller–Crimper Contributes to Weed Management in No-Till Soybean

Weed Science ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam S. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Yield Loss ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Rate Variation ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Weed Interference ◽  
No Till

Termination of cover crops prior to no-till planting of soybean is typically accomplished with burndown herbicides. Recent advances in cover-crop roller–crimper design offer the possibility of reliable physical termination of cover crops without tillage. A field study within a no-till soybean production system was conducted in Urbana, IL, from 2004 through 2007 to quantify the effects of cover crop (cereal rye, hairy vetch, or bare soil control), termination method (chemical burndown or roller–crimper), and postemergence glyphosate application rate (0, 1.1, or 2.2 kg ae ha−1) on soybean yield components, weed–crop interference, and soil environmental variables. Biomass of weeds surviving management within a soybean crop following either a vetch or rye cover crop was reduced by 26 and 56%, respectively, in the rolled system compared to the burndown system. Soybean yield loss due to weed interference was unaffected by cover-crop termination method in soybean following a rye cover crop, but was higher in the rolled than burndown treatment in both hairy vetch and bare soil treatments. In soybean following a rye cover crop, regardless of termination method, yield loss to weed interference was unaffected by glyphosate rate, whereas in soybean following a vetch cover crop or bare soil, yield loss decreased with glyphosate rate. Variation in soybean yield among cover crops and cover-crop termination treatments was due largely to differences in soybean establishment, rather than differences in the soil environment. Use of a roller–crimper to terminate a cover crop preceding no-till soybean has the potential to achieve similar yields to those obtained in a chemically terminated cover crop while reducing residual weed biomass.

Soil hydraulic properties of an Orthic Black Chernozem under long-term tillage and residue management

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baldev Singh ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
W. B. McGill
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Pore Size ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Soil Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Transmission Characteristics ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
No Till ◽  
Soil Hydraulic

The effects of tillage on soil hydraulic properties are unclear from the literature and residue effects are little reported. The hydraulic properties of an Orthic Black Chernozem under three tillage-residue systems in central Alberta — tillage with straw incorporated (till+straw) or removed (till−straw) — and no tillage with straw on the surface (no till+straw) — were studied for 2 yr. Measurements began in the 9th year of continuous barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).Plant-available water capacity differed among treatments only in the 0–2.5 cm layer, due to differences in water retention at −1500 kPa. Pore size partitioning revealed relatively high macroporosities (14–18% of total porosity) and residual porosity (34–41% of total porosity), but no treatment differences in the tillage layer. Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration at 1 h followed the trend: no till+straw > till+straw > till−straw. Infiltration characteristics and hydraulic conductivity had considerable temporal variation. Interestingly, field and laboratory measurements gave the same order of magnitude of transmission characteristics. The common similarity of the no till+straw and the till+straw treatments and their usual difference from the till−straw treatment, especially in the water transmission characteristics, indicate the importance of the return of residue to the soil. The influence of straw on soil hydraulic properties does not appear to depend on whether it was incorporated or not. Key words: tillage, straw, residue, soil hydraulic properties, infiltration, pore size distribution

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Cover Crop Termination Methods on No-Till Cantaloupe

Agriculture ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Ted S. Kornecki ◽  
Corey M. Kichler
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Termination Rate ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
No Till ◽  
Crop Planting

In a no-till system, there are many different methods available for terminating cover crops. Mechanical termination, utilizing rolling and crimping technology, is one method that injures the plant without cutting the stems. Another popular and commercially available method is mowing, but this can cause problems with cover crop re-growth and loose residue interfering with the planter during cash crop planting. A field experiment was conducted over three growing seasons in northern Alabama to determine the effects of different cover crops and termination methods on cantaloupe yield in a no-till system. Crimson clover, cereal rye, and hairy vetch cover crops were terminated using two different roller-crimpers, including a two-stage roller-crimper for four-wheel tractors and a powered roller-crimper for a two-wheel walk-behind tractor. Cover crop termination rates were evaluated one, two, and three weeks after termination. Three weeks after rolling, a higher termination rate was found for flail mowing (92%) compared to lower termination rates for a two-stage roller (86%) and powered roller-crimper (85%), while the control termination rate was only 49%. There were no significant differences in cantaloupe yield among the rolling treatments, which averaged 38,666 kg ha−1. However, yields were higher for cereal rye and hairy vetch cover crops (41,785 kg ha−1 and 42,000 kg ha−1) compared to crimson clover (32,213 kg ha−1).

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