No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Core Ideas Faba bean cover crops sown on 1 August accumulated up to 192 kg N ha–1.Better synchrony between faba bean residue decomposition and N uptake by sweet corn was achieved under NT management.Sweet corn yielded higher under NT vs. CT system.On average, faba bean provided approximately 50 kg ha–1 of subsequent sweet corn N requirements. The N release trend of winter‐killed faba bean (Vicia faba L.) residues has not been previously investigated. A 2‐yr experiment was conducted in 2013–2015 to investigate potential N accumulation in fall‐grown faba bean as cover crop and N contribution to subsequent sweet corn under no‐till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. Faba bean biomass prior to winter‐kill was reduced linearly with delayed planting. The amount of reduced biomass estimated approximately 180 and 210 kg ha−1 d−1 in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Faba bean sown on 1 August accumulated as much as 192 kg N ha−1 vs. 67 kg N ha−1 when planted on 14 August. Under CT, 50% of N was released from residues by the end of May however NT system delayed 50% N release until end of June, thus providing better synchrony with N uptake by sweet corn. Averaged over two years, sweet corn planted into the residues of the earliest sown faba bean produced 19% more marketable ears, 23% higher fresh ear weight, and 39% less unfilled ear tip compared with sweet corn grown in plots lacking a prior faba bean cover crop. Both number of marketable ears and fresh ear yield of sweet corn were significantly higher in NT compared with CT systems. On average, sweet corn seeded in faba bean residues and amended with an additional 50 kg N ha−1, yielded similarly to sweet corn received 100 kg N ha−1 with no prior faba bean cover crop.

No abstract

Shortage of irrigation water in arid and semi-arid regions has forced forage producers to look for drought-tolerant species for silage production. To evaluate silage yield and nutritive value of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] intercrops as influenced by intercropping ratios and N rates, a 2-yr field experiment was conducted using split-plot lay out on a randomized complete block (RCB) design. Main plots consisted of 0, 37, and 74 kg N ha -1 (N 0 , N 37 , and N 74 , respectively) and intercropping ratios of millet and soybean (50%M:50%S; 60%M:40%S; and 40%M:60%S) along with monocultures were assigned to subplots. Increasing N resulted in 9.9 and 17.6% silage yield increase at N 37 and N 74 levels compared with N 0 . Nitrogen also increased organic acids and ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N) content. Silage pH was lower (4.23) where no fertilizer was applied compared with the fertilized plants (4.33). The highest crude protein (CP) content (170 g kg -1 dry matter [DM]) and dry mass (248 g DM kg -1 fresh weight) was at the N 74. Silage produced by the millet-soybean mixtures was well fermented indicated by low pH and high lactic acid. Also, intercropping ratios had less acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than monocultures. Although all of the intercropping ratios had characteristics of well-fermented silage, a mixture of 60% millet and 40% soybean could be superior because of higher silage yield and CP. ¶ Means of intercropping ratios in the same column followed by different letters differ significantly at P = 0.05 by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. # M and S represent millet and soybean, respectively. (I) and (II) represent one and two rows of each plant species at 50:50 ratio, respectively. † † Level of significance. * Significant at P ≤ 0.05. ** Significant at P ≤ 0.01.† Polynomial regression. ‡ Quadratic (Q) and linear (L) regression. § Means of intercropping ratios in the same column followed by different letters differ significantly at P = 0.05 by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test. ¶ M and S represent millet and soybean, respectively. (I) and (II) represent one and two rows of each plant species at 50:50 ratio, respectively. # Level of significance. † † ns, not significant.

No abstract