Author: Savanna Crossman Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
Agriculture in Kansas and the Great Plains faces many sustainability challenges. Cover cropping is a practice that can affect sustainability by improving soil health parameters in some environments, but more work is needed in the frame of no-till systems in eastern Kansas. Additionally, cash crop yield is an important consideration for production agriculture, but is only reported in less than one-third of soil health studies. Field experiments were conducted on long-term no-till (>10 years) farms in 2014-2017 near Burlington, Hutchinson, and Valley Falls, Kansas. Sites were selected in partnership with local extension, with typical cropping rotations for the area. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the impact of cover crops on soil health (ii) quantify biomass of established cover crops (iii) quantify yield impacts of cover crops on cash crop yield by comparing single species cover crop (CS), multiple species cover crop (CM), and no cover crop (NC) treatments. In addition, a tillage (T) treatment was included at the Burlington site. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Analysis of the soil property data largely found no consistent treatment effects (alpha = 0.05), though sporadic differences were detected. For example, infiltration significantly differed among treatments at the Burlington site in fall 2016, where the T and NC plots had significantly higher rates than the CS and CM plots, but it did not repeat in the 2017 samplings. The Burlington location was the only site to have differences in soil aggregate properties. The aggregates in the tillage plots were getting smaller over time likely from the mechanical breakdown of annual tillage. A significantly smaller mean weight diameter was observed for T as opposed to the other treatments in spring 2016. In 2015 and 2016 the NC treatment also began to show higher proportions of the 0.25mm WSA and less 4.75mm and 2.00mm WSA than the cover crop plots. Very few significant differences were found in the soil biological or chemical parameters, and those that were found lacked repeatability across years. Significantly higher dissolved organic carbon concentrations were observed in the mixed cover crop treatment at the Burlington location for the fall 2017 sampling time, and pH had sporadic instances of significance as well. In conclusion, during the first three years of this project, cover crops have had minimal short-term effects on soil dynamic properties, or cash crop yield, in long-term no-till in eastern Kansas. These results imply that cover crops are likely not a hindrance nor an enhancement to grain corn or soybean yields in eastern Kansas. Additionally, there may be an opportunity for growers to reduce seed costs by planting a single species cover crop as there was no short-term yield or soil health benefit to planting a multi-species mix.
Author: Andy Clark Publisher: DIANE Publishing ISBN: 1437903797 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 248
Book Description
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.
Author: Rafiq Islam Publisher: CRC Press ISBN: 100040711X Category : Science Languages : en Pages : 327
Book Description
This book will not serve as the "encyclopedia of cover crop management," but it’s close. The benefits of a wide range of individual cover crops and blends/mixes for specific agronomic crop rotations and geographic locations are included. Descriptions, photographs, and illustrations show how cover crops look in the field, including plant height, leaf architecture, and rooting patterns. Long term benefits are described for soil health, soil structure, water quality, nutrient contributions, soil biodiversity, air quality and climate change. In addition to the "whys" of cover crop use, the book includes details on the "hows:" how to choose cover crops for specific applications and locations; how (and when) to plant; how to manage and maintain the cover for maximum benefit; and how and when to terminate. Planting options include: drilling/planting between rows of an agronomic crop at planting time, or when the crop is short (i.e. corn in early June); "aerial" seeding with an airplane or high-clearance machine shortly before the crop reaches maturity; and drilling/planting immediately after harvest of the agronomic crop. Selected cover crops (blends) can help with pest and disease management. Cover crops are an economic input with an expected return on investment, similar to pesticides and fertilizer. As part of a continuous no-till system, cover crops provide long-term biological, chemical and structural benefits. The resulting increase in soil organic matter means the agronomic crop yields benefit from better water infiltration and water holding capacity, greater availability of nitrogen and other nutrients, deeper rooting, and increased soil microbial activity in the root zone.
Author: Logan M. Simon Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages : 0
Book Description
Integrating cover crops (CCs) into dryland cropping systems in the semi-arid central Great Plains could improve soil health and provide forage for livestock. Two experiments were conducted in western Kansas to examine the effects of CC management in place of fallow on soil properties in a no-till (NT) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench)-fallow (WSF) cropping system. A long-term study was initiated in 2007 near Garden City, KS to investigate CCs in a wheat-fallow (WF) rotation and was transitioned to WSF in 2012. Treatments included peas (Pisum sativum L.) for grain as well as one-, three-, and six-species CC mixtures compared to fallow. Half of each CC treatment was hayed to a height of 15 cm. A second study was initiated in 2015 near Brownell, KS, and treatments were oat (Avena sativa L.)/triticale (xTriticosecale Wittm.) CCs in place of fallow that were either hayed to a height of 15 cm, grazed by yearling heifers, or left standing. Forage accumulation and nutritive value were also determined in the experiment at Brownell. At Garden City, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks were greater with CCs compared to fallow in 2012 after three cycles of the WF rotation. In 2018, after two cycles of the WSF rotation, SOC was similar among treatments, likely because CC residue was less following a succession of drought years. However, SOC had increased in all treatments since 2012 mostly due to the residue contribution of grain sorghum (r2 = 0.35; P = 0.0025). Soil aggregation was greater with CCs compared to peas or fallow and was unaffected by CC diversity. Mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates (WSA) was greater with standing CCs (1.11 mm) compared to peas (0.77 mm), and standing and hayed CCs (3.59 mm) had greater MWD of dry aggregates compared to fallow (2.75 mm). Water infiltration were greater with CCs compared to peas. Findings suggest simple CC mixtures and CCs managed for forage provide similar soil health benefits as diverse CC mixtures and CCs left standing. At Brownell, results showed forage accumulation averaged 3546 kg ha−1 for standing CCs. Hayed and grazed CCs removed 73 and 26% of the available forage. Greater nutritive value with grazed CCs was observed because of differences in maturity at harvest. In 2019, SOC stocks with standing and hayed CCs (27.54 Mg ha−1) were greater than fallow (24.79 Mg ha−1) which was similar to grazed CCs (26.87 Mg ha−1). However, in 2020, SOC with hayed CCs (21.80 Mg ha−1) was less compared to grazed or standing CCs (24.27 Mg ha−1) which were similar to fallow (23.22 Mg ha−1). The MWD of WSA was greater with standing and grazed CCs (2.89 mm) compared to fallow (1.67 mm) in both years, and hayed CCs were greater than fallow in only one year. Findings suggest that CCs can replace fallow to produce forage while improving soil health. However, residue management is critical such that grazing is more desirable than haying to maintain soil properties when CC productivity is low.
Author: Charles L. Mohler Publisher: Natural Resource Agriculture and Engineering Service (Nraes) ISBN: 9781933395210 Category : Crop rotation Languages : en Pages : 156
Author: Yash P. Dang Publisher: Springer Nature ISBN: 3030464091 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 638
Book Description
This book is a comprehensive summary of current global research on no-till farming, and its benefits and challenges from various agronomic, environmental, social and economic perspectives. It details the characteristics and future requirements of no-till farming systems across different geographic and climatic regions, and outlines what is needed to increase the uptake of no-till farming globally. Over 35 chapters, this book covers in detail the agronomic and soil management issues that must be resolved to ensure the successful implementation of these systems. Important economic, environmental, social and policy considerations are discussed. It also features a series of case studies across a number of regions globally, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for no-till and how these may vary depending on climate and geopolitical location. This book is a remarkable compilation by experts in no-till farming systems. The promotion and expansion of no-till farming systems worldwide will be critical for food security, and resource and environmental sustainability. This is an invaluable reference for both researchers and practitioners grappling with the challenges of feeding the world’s rising population in an environment increasingly impacted by climate change. It is an essential reading for those seeking to understand the complexity of no-till farming systems and how best to optimise these systems in their region.
Author: Jerry L. Hatfield Publisher: John Wiley & Sons ISBN: 0891188533 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 432
Book Description
Degradation of soils continues at a pace that will eventually create a local, regional, or even global crisis when diminished soil resources collide with increasing climate variation. It's not too late to restore our soils to a more productive state by rediscovering the value of soil management, building on our well-established and ever-expanding scientific understanding of soils. Soil management concepts have been in place since the cultivation of crops, but we need to rediscover the principles that are linked together in effective soil management. This book is unique because of its treatment of soil management based on principles—the physical, chemical, and biological processes and how together they form the foundation for soil management processes that range from tillage to nutrient management. Whether new to soil science or needing a concise reference, readers will benefit from this book's ability to integrate the science of soils with management issues and long-term conservation efforts.
Author: Breanna Stout Publisher: ISBN: Category : Languages : en Pages :
Book Description
The world's population has passed 7 billion and is expected grow to more alarming numbers by the year 2050. The increase in human life on the planet ushers the need to responsibly and sustainably grow more food. In order to meet the demand necessary, it is crucial that soil remains healthy and crop yields continue to increase in efficiency. Irresponsible or ill-informed practices can lead to depleted resources and degradation of fertile soils that may limit a producers' ability to sustainably grow food. Cover crops are a tool that can be used to address issues the modern producer may face. Cover crops have been shown to increase cash crop productivity, improve soil health by improving soil physical and chemical properties as well as providing protection from soil erosion runoff or nutrient leaching. A study was conducted in 2014 to examine the short term effects associated with cover cropping systems. The effects of ryegrass, red clover and a cover crop cocktail (mixture of ryegrass, red clover and hairy vetch) compared to bare tilled and bare control plots were studied. The five treatments were replicated three times in a completely randomized study and analyzed. Soil physical health indicators such as bulk density and porosity were calculated. Soil and cover crop nutrient use, as well as, soil moisture content data was collected and analyzed using excel and ANOVA statistical procedures. In the short term, the study found that there was only statistically significant differences between cover cropping regimens, tilled and control plots in regards to biomass production and biomass nutrient concentrations ([alpha]=0.05). The cocktail mix provided more biomass, N and P than the ryegrass and clover plots alone. Observable differences in cover crop volumetric soil moisture and water used between plots demonstrated that cover crops utilize soil moisture in the short term, which must be considered in areas experiencing water stress. Although more long-term data is needed to truly quantify how cover crops effect various aspects of soil health, this study demonstrated how cover crops have the potential for providing numerous benefits such as increased erosion control, lower reliance on anthropogenically created nutrients and the reduction of weeds. Overall the benefits associated with cover crops are still being researched and while adoption of cover cropping systems has been slow, a push towards agricultural sustainability while increasing food production will increase the amount of producers utilizing cover crops in the coming years.
Author: Fred Magdoff Publisher: Sare ISBN: 9781888626131 Category : Humus Languages : en Pages : 294
Book Description
"'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."
Author: Savanna Crossman
Author: Andy Clark
Author: Rafiq Islam
Author: Logan M. Simon
Author: Charles L. Mohler
Author: Yash P. Dang
Author: Sterling Robertson Olsen
Author: Jerry L. Hatfield
Author: Breanna Stout
Author: Fred Magdoff