Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T01:06:45.118Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Small grain winter cover crops for conservation of residual soil nitrogen in the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

F.J. Coale ,
J.M. Costa ,
G.A. Bollero  and
S.P. Schlosnagle
F.J. Coale*
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management, Department of Natural Resource Sciences & Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
J.M. Costa
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Plant Breeding, Department of Natural Resource Sciences & Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
G.A. Bollero
Affiliation:
Agricultural Technician, Department of Natural Resource Sciences & Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
S.P. Schlosnagle
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Crop Science Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801.
*
Corresponding author is F.J. Coale ([email protected]).
Get access

Abstract

Cereal rye is an effective winter cover crop because it accumulates residual soil N and reduces nitrate leaching. Wheat, barley, and triticale are alternative winter small grain species that may be managed as winter cover crops and yet produce marketable commodities. The objectives of this research were to evaluate N recovery capacity and grain yields of wheat, barley, triticale, and cereal rye grown as winter cover crops. Field plots established in 1996 and 1997 at two different locations on Maryland's mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain were amended with annual spring applications of four rates of broiler litter in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Each manure rate plot was divided into four subplots by planting four winter small grain cover crops: wheat, barley, triticale, and cereal rye. Rye cover crop treatments were killed with herbicide when the plants were 30 to 50 cm tall, while the wheat, barley, and triticale treatments continued to grow until grain maturity. Barley, rye, triticale, and wheat cover crops exhibited similar capacities to accumulate soil N, and therefore, reduce the potential for NO3—N leaching to groundwater. At the time of rye kill-down, aerial biomass N accumulation ranged from 11 to 112 kg N ha−1 and soil NO3—N levels were low (<1.5 mg NO3—N kg−1) and relatively uniform across treatments. Average barley, triticale, and wheat grain yields increased with previous broiler litter application rate and initial soil NO3—N concentration. Potential income derived from the grain and straw produced could partially or completely offset cover crop production costs.

Keywords

barleycereal ryenitrate leachingtriticalewheat
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , June 2001 , pp. 66 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Alley, M.M., Brann, D.E., Stromberg, E.L., Hagood, E.S., Herbert, A., Jones, E.C., and Griffith, W.K.. 1993. Intensive soft red winter wheat production: A management guide. Publ./Virginia Coop. Ext. 424–803. Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension, Blacksburg.Google Scholar
2.Brandi-Dohrn, F.M., Dick, R.P., Hess, M., Kauffman, S.M., Hemphill, D.D. Jr., and Selker, J.S.. 1997. Nitrate leaching under a cereal rye cover crop. J. Environ. Qual. 26:181–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Costa, J.M., Bollero, G.A., and Coale, F.J.. 2000. Early season nitrogen accumulation in winter wheat. J. Plant Nutrition 23:773–783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Ditsch, D.C., and Alley, M.M.. 1991. Nonleguminous cover crop management for residual N recovery and subsequent crop yields. J. Fert. Issues 8:6–13.Google Scholar
5.Gregory, P.J., Crawford, D.V., and McGowan, M.. 1979. Nutrient relations in winter wheat: Accumulation and distribution of Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, S, and N. J. Agric. Sci. Cambridge 93:485–494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Hansen, E.M., Djurhuus, J., and Kristensen, K.. 2000. Nitrate leaching as affected by introduction or discontinuation of cover crop use. J. Environ. Qual. 29:1110–1116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Hignett, T.P. 1982. Fertilizer and our food. In The Fertilizer Handbook. The Fertilizer Institute, Washington, DC. p. 1–20.Google Scholar
8.Huntington, T.G., Grove, J.H., and Frye, W.W.. 1985. Release and recovery of nitrogen from winter annual cover crops in notill corn production. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 16:193–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Martinez, J., and Guiraud, G.. 1990. A lysimeter study of the effects of a rye grass cover crop, during winter wheat/maize rotation, on nitrate leaching and on the following crop. J. Soil Sci. 41:5–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.McCracken, D.V., Smith, M.S., Grove, J.H., MacKown, C.T., and Blevins, R.L.. 1994. Nitrate leaching as influenced by cover cropping and nitrogen source. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 58:1476–1483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.MDA (Maryland Dept. of Agriculture). 1999. Agriculture in Maryland Summary for 1998. Annapolis, MD.Google Scholar
12.Meisinger, J.J., Hargrove, W.L., Mikkelsen, R.L., Williams, J.R., and Benson, V.W.. 1991. Effects of cover crops on groundwater quality. In Hargrove, W.L. (ed.). Cover Crops for Clean Water. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA. p. 57–68.Google Scholar
13.Monks, C.D., Basden, T., Hatton, J.L., McFarland, M.L., Poland, S.M., and Rayburn, E.. 1997. Cover crop response to late-season planting and nitrogen application. J. Prod. Agric. 10:289–293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Rasse, D.P., Ritchie, J.T., Peterson, W.R., Wei, J., and Smucker, A.J.M.. 2000. Rye cover crop and nitrogen fertilization effects on nitrate leaching in inbred maize fields. J. Environ. Qual. 29:298–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.SAS Institute. 1990. SAS/STAT Users Guide Version 6.4th ed. Vol. 2. Cary, NC.Google Scholar
16.Shipley, P.R., Meisinger, J.J., and Decker, A.M.. 1992. Conserving residual corn fertilizer nitrogen with winter cover crops. Agron. J. 84:869–876.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Staver, K.W., and Brinsfield, R.B.. 1990. Patterns of soil nitrate availability in corn production systems: Implications for reducing groundwater contamination. J. Soil Water Conserv. 45:318–322.Google Scholar
18.Staver, K.W., and Brinsfield, R.B.. 1998. Using cereal grain winter cover crops to reduce groundwater nitrate contamination in the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. J. Soil Water Conserv. 53:230–240.Google Scholar
19.Staver, K.W., Brinsfield, R.B., and Magette, W.L.. 1991. Relating nitrogen uptake by cereal grain winter cover crops to changes in groundwater nitrate concentration. In Hargrove, W.L. (ed.). Cover Crops for Clean Water. Soil and Water Conservation Society, Ankeny, IA. p. 77–82.Google Scholar
20.Tollenaar, M., Mihajlovic, M., and Vyn, T.J.. 1993. Corn growth following cover crops: Influence of cereal cultivar, cereal removal, and nitrogen rate. Agron. J. 85:251–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar