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Maize Residue Removal and Cover Crop Effects on Subsequent Soybean Crops
Author(s) -
Riedell Walter E.,
Osborne Shan L.,
Dagel Kurt J.
Publication year - 2017
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/agronj2017.05.0245
Subject(s) - agronomy , cover crop , crop residue , residue (chemistry) , silage , avena , vicia villosa , crop , biology , agriculture , ecology , biochemistry
Core Ideas Corn residue removal and cover crop effects on soybeans were measured. Treatments had no effects in years with average temperature and precipitation. Residue removal reduced soybean yield in years characterized by drought. Cover crops also reduced soybean yield in years characterized by drought.Residue management and cover crops are important cropping system components. Maize ( Zea mays L.) residue removal and cover crop effects on soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed moisture at harvest, grain yield, and seed mineral concentrations were examined. Maize residue removal treatments [low‐residue removal (LRR) (grain harvest only), medium‐residue removal (MRR) (stalks chopped and baled after grain harvest), and high‐residue removal (HRR) (stalks cut and removed as silage)] under no‐till maize/soybean rotations were established near Brookings, SD, in 2000. Subplot treatments, begun in 2005, were the absence or presence of the cover crops fall‐planted slender wheatgrass [ Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners] in maize and hairy vetch [ Vicia villosa (Roth)] plus oats ( Avena sativa L.) in soybean. Soybean data from 2009 through 2012 were evaluated. Across years and cover crops, LRR maintained 3587 ± 280 kg ha −1 preseason maize residue, MRR had 2269 ± 227 kg ha −1 , and HRR had 1414 ± 172 kg ha −1 . Grain moisture was greater ( P = 0.03) in LRR (119.6 ± 1.8 g kg −1 ) than MRR (114.0 ± 1.4 g kg −1 ) or HRR (114.7 ± 1.5 g kg −1 ). Grain N was less ( P = 0.04) under LRR (62.4 ± 0.5 g kg −1 ) than MRR (63.4 ± 0.6 g kg −1 ) or HRR (63.8 ± 0.5 g kg −1 ). Only during 2012, which had a warm and very dry summer, did MRR (3294 ± 88 kg ha −1 ) or HRR (3363 ± 141 kg ha −1 ) have less grain yield than LRR (3766 ± 145 kg ha −1 ). Cover crops reduced yield in 2012 (3233 ± 78 kg ha −1 with cover crops; 3716 ± 102 kg ha −1 without). Maize residue removal or cover crop cultivation reduced yield only during a growing season with a warm and very dry summer.