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Soybean Yield as Affected by Biomass and Nitrogen Uptake of Cereal Rye in Winter Cover Crop Rotations
Author(s) -
Ruffo Matías L.,
Bullock Donald G.,
Bollero Germán A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2004.0800
Subject(s) - secale , vicia villosa , agronomy , cover crop , crop rotation , biology , interception , crop , ecology
The inclusion of cereal rye ( Secale cereale L.) as winter cover crop (WCC) following corn ( Zea mays L.) has been suggested as a valuable nutrient management tool in the typical corn–soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation of the U.S. Midwest. However, little information is available on the effects of rye WCC on the soybean crop. The objectives of this study were to quantify biomass and nitrogen (N) uptake of rye WCC and to evaluate the effect of rye WCC on soybean yield. The effects of four rotations (corn/soybean, hairy vetch–corn/rye–soybean, rye–corn/rye–soybean, and hairy vetch + rye biculture–corn/rye–soybean) on soil residual NO 3 –N content, rye biomass, N content, and C/N ratio, soil residue cover, soybean light interception, and grain yield were investigated at Urbana and Brownstown, IL. Rye N content was highly correlated with soil residual NO 3 –N content ( r = 0.64, p < 0.0001). Rotations that only included hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa L.) reached maximum N content at lower corn N rates compared with rotations with rye. Soybean light interception at R1, R4, and R6 growth stages and grain yield were not affected by the treatments. Rye WCC planted after corn appears to take up a significant proportion of residual NO 3 –N without affecting soybean grain yield, providing an environmental service to the agroecosystem.