Skip to main content
Article
Soil moisture dynamics and plant transpiration under contrasting annual-perennial cover types
Leopold Center Completed Grant Reports
  • Matt Helmers, Iowa State University
  • Heidi Asbjornsen, Iowa State University
  • Amy L. Kaleita, Iowa State University
Project ID
E2008-17
Abstract
Soil moisture dynamics are influenced by land cover, thus different land covers would be expected to have different soil moisture behavior. This project tested various land covers and crops to see whether and how moisture was retained or depleted.
Key Question
How does a range in vegetation types influence soil moisture dynamics?
Findings
These results show that diversified LEI systems can produce yields and profits that match or exceed those obtained from conventionally managed corn-soybean systems. Additionally, we learned that ecological processes such as weed seed consumption by rodents and insects can promote effective weed control in LEI systems, while allowing substantial reductions in herbicide use. Weed seed losses to rodents and insects can be enhanced by delaying tillage operations to leave seeds on the soil surface for as long as possible.
Principal Investigator(s)
Matt Helmers
Co-Investigator(s)
Heidi Asbjornsen, Amy Kaleita
Year of Grant Completion
2012
Citation Information
Matt Helmers, Heidi Asbjornsen and Amy L. Kaleita. "Soil moisture dynamics and plant transpiration under contrasting annual-perennial cover types" (2012)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matthew_helmers/161/