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Landscape Position and Cover Crops Affects Crop Yields in a Terrace-Tiled Field
Agricultural Water Management
  • Harpreet Kaur
  • Kelly A. Nelson
  • Gurbir Singh
  • Gurpreet Kaur
  • Katherine R. Grote, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

Cover Crops (CC) Provide Soil Ecosystem Benefits Including Reduced Soil Erosion, Improved Soil Health, and Nutrient Cycling. However, the Effect of CCs on Rotational Commodity Crop Grain Yields and Nutrient Uptake May Vary at Different Landscape Positions and under Different Soil Moisture Dynamics. the Objectives of This Study Were to Determine the Influence of CCs in a Terraced Field on Soil Moisture at Crop Emergence and Reproductive Stages of Corn (Zea Mays L) and Soybean (Glycine Max L. Merr.) Development, and Evaluate CCmix (Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Radish (Raphanus Raphanistrum Subsp. Sativus), and Turnip (Brassica Rapa Subsp. Rapa)) and Cereal Rye (Secale Cereale L.) Effect on Corn and Soybean Grain Yield and Plant Nutrient Concentration, respectively. a Randomized Complete Block Design with Two Treatments Including Cover Crop (CC) and No Cover Crop (No CC) and Three Replications Was Used. in This 4-Year Study, Cereal Rye Produced 1.0–1.6 Mg Ha−1 Higher Aboveground Biomass Compared to the CCmix Species. Nutrient Uptake in the CCmix Biomass Was Greater Than Cereal Rye. Soybean Yield Following Cereal Rye Termination Was Not Influenced by the CC Treatment (P = 0.3229). Dry Climatic Conditions during the Soybean Growing Period and Landscape Positions Influenced Grain Yield and Nutrient Uptake. Average Soybean Yield at Different Landscape Positions Was Ranked as Shoulder (4.8 Mg Ha−1) > Backslope (4.4 Mg Ha−1) > Footslope (3.9 Mg Ha−1) > Channel (3.6 Mg Ha−1). in 2021, Corn Yield Was Reduced 29% Following the CCmix Compared to No CC Control, indicating a Yield Penalty When Corn Was Preceded with the CCmix Species. in This Study, Higher CC Biomass Production Exacerbated Soil Wetness in a Wet Year (2021), Resulting in Uneven Corn Germination and Excess Soil Water Stress on Plant Growth. Increased Soil Wetness at Channel and Footslope Positions in 2019 and 2021 Reduced Corn Yield 45–70%. This Study Suggests that CCs in Terraced Fields Can Have a Neutral or Negative Effect on the Following Commodity Crop Yield Depending on the Weather Conditions.

Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Publication Status
Open Access
Keywords and Phrases
  • corn-soybean yield,
  • Cover crops,
  • Landscape position,
  • Soil water potential
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
11-1-2023
Publication Date
01 Nov 2023
Citation Information
Harpreet Kaur, Kelly A. Nelson, Gurbir Singh, Gurpreet Kaur, et al.. "Landscape Position and Cover Crops Affects Crop Yields in a Terrace-Tiled Field" Agricultural Water Management Vol. 289 (2023) ISSN: 1873-2283; 0378-3774
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/katherine-grote/18/