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

Abstract

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.

Assessing the influence of cover crop on soil water dynamics using soil moisture measurements and hydrus‐1D simulations

“…For example, using continuously measured data, Basche et al (2016) have observed an improved soil water storage because of the winter CC in a corn-soybean cropping system as compared to no cover crop (NCC). Using soil moisture sensors to the depth of 30 cm, Rankoth et al (2021) also observed higher volumetric water content for soil that had winter CC as compared to the NCC system. Alfonso et al (2020) showed that evapotranspiration in soybean that followed CC was reduced, and water productivity was increased as compared to the NCC system.…”

“…Using soil moisture sensors to the depth of 30 cm, Rankoth et al. (2021) also observed higher volumetric water content for soil that had winter CC as compared to the NCC system. Alfonso et al.…”

“…However, according to a survey (SARE‐CTIC, 2020), the non‐users of CC were concerned about the water availability for the following cash crop as CC might use too much soil moisture. Actively transpiring CC may create a negative water balance for the following cash crop (Mitchell et al., 2015); however, soil water storage may improve because of the improved soil hydro‐physical parameters with the continuous use of CCs and their timely termination (Rankoth et al., 2021). As literature reports both positive and negative impacts of CC on soil water storage, the use of CC among the producers might improve if the soil water status is measured for the entire growing season of a cash crop that followed winter CC.…”

Effect of Aluminum Sulfate and Cover Crops on Some Chemical and Physical Properties of Degraded Soil

“…A study was conducted by [26] showed establishment of cover crops has been contributed to increase in aggregate stability by improving soil structure, decreasing bulk density, increasing the soil's water-holding capacity by increasing the total porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) as well as increasing the proportion of medium and coarse pores in which water may move easily through the dispersive soil. Other study was carried out by [27] reported that one of the most important advantages of planting cover crops was to increases in the enzymatic and microbial activity of the soil which is an essential source of organic matter. This has a major role in the diversity of soil microorganisms and associated with increase in nitrogen fixation [27].…”

Effects of cover crops on soil thermal properties of a corn cropping system

“…al. et al., 2019), crop yields (Abdalla et al., 2019), nutrient retention (Janegitz et al., 2017; Muhammad et al., 2019; Rimski‐Korsakov et al., 2015; Sharma et al., 2018; Weerasekara et al., 2017), and water quality and soil moisture conservation (Delgado & Gantzer, 2015; Rankoth et al., 2021). Findings indicate that perennial vegetation, biomass crops, ground cover, commodity crops, and soil parameters affected soil thermal properties.…”