Soybean Relative Maturity, Not Row Spacing, Affected Interseeded Cover Crops Biomass

Hans J. Kandel, Dulan P. Samarappuli, Kory L. Johnson and Marisol T. Berti
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Hans J. Kandel: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104, USA
Dulan P. Samarappuli: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104, USA
Kory L. Johnson: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104, USA
Marisol T. Berti: Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58104, USA

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Adoption of cover crop interseeding in the northwestern Corn Belt in the USA is limited due to inadequate fall moisture for establishment, short growing season, additional costs, and need for adapted winter-hardy species. This study evaluated three cover crop treatments—no cover crop, winter rye ( Secale cereale L.), and winter camelina ( Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz)—which were interseeded at the R6 soybean growth stage, using two different soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merr.) maturity groups (0.5 vs. 0.9) and two row spacings (30.5 vs. 61 cm). The objective was to evaluate these treatments on cover crop biomass, soil cover, plant density, and soybean yield. Spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield was also measured the following year. The early-maturing soybean cultivar (0.5 maturity) resulted in increased cover crop biomass and soil cover, with winter rye outperforming winter camelina. However, the early-maturing soybean yielded 2308 kg·ha −1 , significantly less compared with the later maturing cultivar (2445 kg·ha −1 ). Narrow row spacing had higher soybean yield, but row spacing did not affect cover crop growth. Spring wheat should not follow winter rye if rye is terminated right before seeding the wheat. However, wheat planted after winter camelina was no different than when no cover crop was interseeded in soybean. Interseeding cover crops into established soybean is possible, however, cover crop biomass accumulation and soil cover are limited.

Keywords: winter camelina; winter rye; soil cover; soybean cultivar; soybean maturity; wheat yield (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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