Abstract
Rye cover crops can have multiple environmental benefits, such as erosion control, reduced nitrate leaching, soil organic matter increases, moisture savings in summer, and supplemental weed control. Recent research suggests that late killing of a rye cover crop is possible without corn yield losses. We planted corn 7-10 days after killing a rye cover crop in early and late boot stage, and compared the results with a control (no rye cover crop) in central Pennsylvania. We also investigated the benefits of in-row cultivation (zone-tillage), and compared weed control with full and half rates of pre-emergence herbicides as well as a complete post-emergence herbicide program. In this study we determined that approximately 4 times more rye biomass can be expected if rye cover crop kill is delayed from early to late boot stage. We did not observe a benefit to zone-tillage in recently killed rye cover crop. The root system of the rye was still completely intact at the time of zone-till, which made preparation of the zones with the coulter system challenging. This problem was exacerbated in late-killed rye. Weed control programs did not differ in efficacy, showing it may be possible to reduce reliance on pre-emergence herbicides in no-till if weed pressure is low. We observed no significant differences between corn yields with or without a cover crop or due to planting date if straight no-till was used. The use of late-killed rye cover crop seems therefore possible without a yield penalty in no-till. Multiple environmental benefits would be accompanying the higher rye biomass production in this system that may pay off in the long run. They include: better erosion control, higher residue input for organic matter increases, and reduced bulk density due to high rye root biomass input. INTRODUCTION Rye is the most common cover crop in Pennsylvania because of its ability to withstand low winter temperatures (Duiker and Curran, 2003). Rye helps reduce erosion, especially after low-residue crops such as soybean and corn silage, and protects nitrate from leaching (Brandi-Dohrn et al. 1997, Kessavalou and Walters, 1997). The addition of above and below ground rye residue contributes to increases in soil organic matter and soil aggregation (Oades 1984; Tisdall and Oades, 1982). Moisture conservation by a dead rye mulch cover can help alleviate main crop moisture stress in the summer. Rye cover crops have been found to reduce weed populations and weed growth (Reddy, 2003). Because of its multiple benefits, many producers are already using rye as a cover crop and environmental organizations are actively promoting it to protect water quality. Most rye is followed by corn in Pennsylvania. The Penn State Cooperative Extension Service recommends farmers in the center of the state to finish corn planting by the 10 of May, which allows for limited rye biomass accumulation (Roth and Beegle, 2003). A threat associated with high rye biomass production is surface moisture depletion, which might harm the corn crop (Ebelhar, et al., 1984; Raimbault et al., 1991). In a recent study in Maryland, however, late kill of rye was not found to be detrimental to corn yield and beneficial for moisture conservation (Clark et al., 1997).
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Delaying rye cover crop kill from early to late boot stage gave about 4 times more rye biomass.
- Taxon
- rye
Secale cerealee2 - Treatment
- rye cover crop kill is delayed from early to late boot stagee2
- Outcome
- rye biomasse2
- Direction
- moree2
- Value
- approximately 4 timese2
- Comparator
- earlye2
- Setting
- central Pennsylvaniae1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“We planted corn 7-10 days after killing a rye cover crop in early and late boot stage, and compared the results with a control (no rye cover crop) in central Pennsylvania”
e2“In this study we determined that approximately 4 times more rye biomass can be expected if rye cover crop kill is delayed from early to late boot stage”
Claim · model-written summary
Zone-tillage gave no observed benefit in recently killed rye cover crop.
- Taxon
- ryeSecale cerealee3
- Treatment
- zone-tillagee3
- Outcome
- benefite3
- Direction
- did not observee3
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“We did not observe a benefit to zone-tillage in recently killed rye cover crop”
Claim · model-written summary
The intact rye root system at zone-till made preparation of the zones with the coulter system challenging.
- Taxon
- ryeSecale cerealee4
- Outcome
- preparation of the zones with the coulter systeme4
- Qualifier
- root system of the rye was still completely intact at the time of zone-tille4
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“The root system of the rye was still completely intact at the time of zone-till, which made preparation of the zones with the coulter system challenging”
Claim · model-written summary
Weed control programs did not differ in efficacy in corn.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Treatment
- Weed control programse5
- Outcome
- efficacye5
- Direction
- did not differe5
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Rye cover crop management in corn”
e5“Weed control programs did not differ in efficacy, showing it may be possible to reduce reliance on pre-emergence herbicides in no-till if weed pressure is low”
Claim · model-written summary
Corn yields did not differ significantly with or without a rye cover crop in straight no-till.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- cover crope6
- Outcome
- corn yieldse6
- Direction
- no significant differencese6
- Qualifier
- if straight no-till was usede6
- Comparator
- without a cover crope6
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Rye cover crop management in corn”
e6“We observed no significant differences between corn yields with or without a cover crop or due to planting date if straight no-till was used”
Claim · model-written summary
Corn yields did not differ significantly due to planting date in straight no-till.
- Taxon
- cornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- planting datee6
- Outcome
- corn yieldse6
- Direction
- no significant differencese6
- Qualifier
- if straight no-till was usede6
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Rye cover crop management in corn”
e6“We observed no significant differences between corn yields with or without a cover crop or due to planting date if straight no-till was used”
Claim · model-written summary
Late-killed rye cover crop seems possible in no-till without a yield penalty.
- Taxon
- ryeSecale cerealee7
- Outcome
- yield penaltye7
- Qualifier
- in no-tille7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“The use of late-killed rye cover crop seems therefore possible without a yield penalty in no-till”
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