Cover Crop Effects on Corn Plant Sap Flow Rates and Soil Water Dynamics

Rankoth, Lalith M.; Udawatta, Ranjith P.; Gantzer, Clark J.; Jose, Shibu; Nelson, Kelly A.

doi:10.2135/cropsci2019.04.0234

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The VWC of CC soil was 7, 9, and 5% greater at 10‐, 20‐, and 30‐cm depths, respectively, compared with NCC. Similarly, Rankoth, Udawatta, Gantzer, Jose, & Nelson (2019) reported 9, 8, and 4% greater VWC at the 0‐to‐10‐, 10‐to‐20‐, and 20‐to‐30‐cm depths, respectively, in CC soil compared with NCC in Mexico silt loam soil (fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Epiaqualfs). Another study in Iowa, USA, reported 0.041 and 0.033 m 3 m −3 greater volumetric soil moisture at 10‐ and 20‐cm depths, respectively, under CC compared with NCC (Daigh et al., 2014), indicating the ability of CC soil to hold more soil water compared to NCC.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics for a corn–soybean rotation

Rankoth

Udawatta

Anderson

et al. 2021

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Crop production is reduced by insufficient and/or excess soil water, which can significantly decrease plant growth and development. Therefore, conservation management practices such as cover crops (CCs) are used to optimize soil water dynamics, since CCs can conserve soil water. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CCs on soil water dynamics on a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation at three soil depths over 3 yr. The study was conducted at the Chariton County Cover Crop Soil Health Research and Demonstration Farm (CCSH) in Missouri. Initial CC establishment occurred in 2012. Volumetric soil water content (VWC) was monitored at 15-min intervals with calibrated Waterscout SM100 soil moisture sensors (Spectrum Technologies) at three depths (10, 20, and 30 cm) in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Cover crop soils maintained numerically higher VWC values compared with no CC (NCC) at both 10-and 20-cm depths throughout the study period where the differences were significant in some weeks. The subsurface soil water recharge was greater in CC soils at both 10-and 20-cm depths compared with NCC in March 2017. The results imply that CC soils have maintained higher VWC levels during vegetative period of the CC growth where the differences were significant in some weeks compared with NCC at all three soil depths. These findings can be used to promote CC adoption for better soil water storage and develop CC management plans for corn-soybean rotations on claypan soils.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics for a corn–soybean rotation

Rankoth

Udawatta

Anderson

et al. 2021

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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“…Embraced as a volunteer cover crop itself, however, red sprangletop may be able to provide ecosystem services in regional cropping systems including organic systems. These services could include reducing high summer soil temperatures, decreasing surface water runoff and controlling erosion, sequestering carbon and nutrients in the soil, and reducing soil compaction (Blanco‐Canqui et al., 2012; Mubvumba et al., 2021; Rankoth et al., 2019; Steele et al., 2012). Sprangletop species have been reported to be palatable to livestock (Pitman & Holt, 1983) and thus could also provide an opportunity for grazing, potentially bringing added economic benefit to an organic system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic transition in dual‐purpose wheat systems: Agronomic performance and soil nitrogen dynamics

et al. 2022

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The Southern Great Plains (SGP) region of the United States is widely known for its dryland dual-purpose winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systemsintegrated systems that provide both livestock grazing and grain production. Few of these systems are organic, however, and no relevant research had been conducted on this topic. A large-scale (41 ha) systems research study was conducted for 3 yr (2018-2021) to compare a transitional organic dual-purpose wheat system with a conventional one, with system management components customized to the ecological region. Organic wheat yield was 20% lower than conventional in the first season of organic transition, but there was no yield difference by the third year.The yield improvement in the organic system may be attributed to N fixation by a legume-based cash crop the previous winter season, exogenous nutrients from application of composted manure, and appropriate wheat cultivar selection. Because of limited moisture, relying on annual establishment of summer cover crops to fix N and deliver other ecosystem services in the organic system was not feasible in most years. Grain protein concentration (GPC) of the transitional organic wheat ranged from 91 to 103 g kg −1 , below the 120 g kg −1 threshold for a food market organic price premium. More intensive N management, including in-season application of a more available form of N that is organic approved, could be an effective strategy to increase GPC. This proof-of-concept study shows that organic dual-purpose wheat systems can be a viable enterprise in the SGP, though additional research is needed to address challenges identified herein. INTRODUCTIONAmong all grain crops, more acreage of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been produced organically in the United States since 1995 than all other countries (McBride et al.

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“…increased soil porosity and these changes in pore size distribution are reflected in significant increases in transmission pores. Additionally, Rankoth et al (2019) evaluated the effects of CC on soil moisture and sapflow of corn ( Zea mays ) with and without CC and found that, at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths, CC plots had 14%, 12% and 4%, respectively, greater soil water content compared with NCC plots. These authors concluded that plots under CC management maintained greater soil moisture conditions and provided more moisture to the commodity crops for a longer period compared with NCC plots.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of cover crops on soil hydraulic properties during commodity crop growing season

Haruna

Ritchey

Mosley

et al. 2022

Soil Use and Management

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Cover crops (CCs) can improve soil hydraulic properties prior to termination, but their effects on soil hydraulic properties during the growing season are less known. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of no‐till CC on the soil hydraulic properties during the commodity crop growing season in Murfreesboro, USA. The CCs included hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), winter peas (Lathyrus hirsutus L.), oats (Avena sativa), triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). The cash crop grown was corn (Zea mays). Soil samples were collected using a cylindrical core (55 mm inside diameter, 60 mm long) at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths during April (prior to CC termination), May, June and July. Results showed that soil bulk density (Db) was 23%, 12%, 11% and 10% higher under no cover crop (NCC) compared with CC management during April – July, respectively. This suggests a lower rate of soil consolidation under CC management even after several rainfall events. Four months after CC termination, macroporosity and total porosity were 306 and 50% higher, respectively, under CC compared with NCC management. Therefore, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) during July was two times higher under CC management compared with NCC management and this can affect increase water infiltration and conservation during the growing season. Due to CC root‐induced improvement in macroporosity, CCs had 64% higher volumetric water content (θ) at saturation during July compared with NCC management. Cover crops can improve soil hydraulic properties and these benefits can persist for up to four months after termination.

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Cover Crop Effects on Corn Plant Sap Flow Rates and Soil Water Dynamics

Cited by 12 publications

References 33 publications

Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics for a corn–soybean rotation

Cover crop influence on soil water dynamics for a corn–soybean rotation

Organic transition in dual‐purpose wheat systems: Agronomic performance and soil nitrogen dynamics

Effects of cover crops on soil hydraulic properties during commodity crop growing season

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