Crop Yield and Soil Organic Carbon in Conventional and No‐till Organic Systems on a Claypan Soil

Clark, Kerry; Boardman, Dara L.; Staples, Jill S.; Easterby, Steven; Reinbott, Timothy M.; Kremer, Robert J.; Kitchen, Newell R.; Veum, Kristen S.

doi:10.2134/agronj2016.06.0367

Cited by 39 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Strict no till systems currently rely massively on the use of glyphosate, with high risk of resistance appearance and environment pollution (Délye et al, 2013;Powles, 2008). Reducing tillage in organic systems is thus a current challenge, for which cover crops have been shown to be central (Clark et al, 2017;Mirsky et al, 2013). In this experiment, high infestation of rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros) rendered necessary the application of glyphosate after wheat harvest, however with low overall success.…”

Section: Cover Crops and Weedsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Importance of cover crops in alleviating negative effects of reduced soil tillage and promoting soil fertility in a winter wheat cropping system

Büchi

Wendling

Amossé

et al. 2018

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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A B S T R A C TReduction of soil tillage is of paramount importance for agricultural soil preservation. However, it is often accompanied by yield reduction and weed management problems. In this perspective, cover crops could play an important role to alleviate weed infestation and sustain yield. In this study, the results from a three-year experiment of cover crop cultivation in different soil tillage treatments is presented, together with results from DayCent simulations on the long term evolution of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. Eight cover crop treatments were set up as subtreatments in a long term experiment in Switzerland. Cover crops were cultivated for a short two-month period between two winter wheats. Substantial differences in cover crop growth were observed depending on cover crop species. In all tillage treatments, high cover crop biomass production allowed to supress weed biomass compared to the no cover crop control. Wheat grain yield was higher in the minimum tillage than in the plough treatment. In the no till treatment, wheat yield was notably low, except in the field pea treatments, where wheat yield reached values similar to that observed in the plough and minimum tillage treatments. In addition, these differences in biomass production translated into important differences in nutrient inputs, and even in soil nutrient concentration in some cases. Long term simulations showed that cover crop cultivation could increase drastically soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, especially in reduced tillage treatments. Altogether, these results demonstrated that the presence of a well-developed cover crop, even for only two months, allows to sustain wheat yield in a no till treatment. It impacts also soil fertility and nutrient cycling. This study shows that an accurate use and management of cover crops, in interaction with tillage reduction, could maintain yield and improve soil fertility in the long term.

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Section: Cover Crops and Weedsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Importance of cover crops in alleviating negative effects of reduced soil tillage and promoting soil fertility in a winter wheat cropping system

Büchi

Wendling

Amossé

et al. 2018

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

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“…One of the major objectives of CSA is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance soil carbon sequestration and soil health (Campbell, Thornton, Zougmoré, Asten, & Lipper, 2014;Lipper et al, 2014). In recent decades, these management practices have been applied in major agricultural regions globally, and a large number of observations/measurements have been accumulated (e.g., Chen, Marhan, Billen, & Stahr, 2009;Clark et al, 2017;Spokas, Koskinen, Baker, & Reicosky, 2009). Frequently recommended approaches for SOC sequestration include adding cover crops into the crop rotation, applying biochar to soils, and minimizing soil tillage (i.e., conservation tillage).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Frequently recommended approaches for SOC sequestration include adding cover crops into the crop rotation, applying biochar to soils, and minimizing soil tillage (i.e., conservation tillage). In recent decades, these management practices have been applied in major agricultural regions globally, and a large number of observations/measurements have been accumulated (e.g., Chen, Marhan, Billen, & Stahr, 2009;Clark et al, 2017;Spokas, Koskinen, Baker, & Reicosky, 2009).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of soil carbon sequestration to climate‐smart agriculture practices: A meta‐analysis

Bai

Huang

Ren

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

274

116

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Climate‐smart agriculture (CSA) management practices (e.g., conservation tillage, cover crops, and biochar applications) have been widely adopted to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity. However, current measurements regarding the influences of CSA management practices on SOC sequestration diverge widely, making it difficult to derive conclusions about individual and combined CSA management effects and bringing large uncertainties in quantifying the potential of the agricultural sector to mitigate climate change. We conducted a meta‐analysis of 3,049 paired measurements from 417 peer‐reviewed articles to examine the effects of three common CSA management practices on SOC sequestration as well as the environmental controlling factors. We found that, on average, biochar applications represented the most effective approach for increasing SOC content (39%), followed by cover crops (6%) and conservation tillage (5%). Further analysis suggested that the effects of CSA management practices were more pronounced in areas with relatively warmer climates or lower nitrogen fertilizer inputs. Our meta‐analysis demonstrated that, through adopting CSA practices, cropland could be an improved carbon sink. We also highlight the importance of considering local environmental factors (e.g., climate and soil conditions and their combination with other management practices) in identifying appropriate CSA practices for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring crop productivity.

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“…Land is often left fallow in organic production systems, either as a planned soil building strategy or to remediate soils from physical degradation caused by excessive tillage or to reduce weed populations (Clark et al, 2017). Large areas of the upper Midwest are also unplanted annually due to the stringent cut-off dates associated with federally supported crop insurance (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Handbook, 2018).…”

Section: Potential Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sunn Hemp: A Legume Cover Crop with Potential for the Midwest?

Durairaj¹,

Stute²

2018

SAR

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Crops like corn and soybean occupy vast area in the Midwest, USA. When land is left fallow after the harvest of these crops, a number of degradation factors operate and bring about soil erosion, nutrient loss, decreased soil organic carbon, reduced biological activity and increase in weed biomass. Integrating cover crops (CCs) into this system would build benefits that the very system lacks. There are various CCs available, but leguminous CCs allows for reduced application of fertilizer nitrogen and builds the soil fixed atmospheric nitrogen. Winter CCs are restricted in the Midwest because of the short planting window which greatly minimizes the biomass accumulation. Warm season CCs would serve well here. Sunn hemp is one such tropical CC that grows well in temperate conditions too, without producing seeds. It comes with many benefits -including decreased soil erosion, improved soil organic carbon, increase in soil fixed nitrogen, higher biomass that adds organic matter and N to the soil, reduced weed density and weed biomass. The timing and method of termination influences the residue management. Going by the benefits it adds, sunn hemp is a viable warm season CC that can be grown in the Midwest and has great potential in fallows, prevented plant acres, areas of crop failure (planted and failed) and also in areas after the harvest of the short season small grains or processing crops. However, intensive research on sunn hemp is needed in the Midwest which is discussed.

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Crop Yield and Soil Organic Carbon in Conventional and No‐till Organic Systems on a Claypan Soil

Cited by 39 publications

References 53 publications

Importance of cover crops in alleviating negative effects of reduced soil tillage and promoting soil fertility in a winter wheat cropping system

Importance of cover crops in alleviating negative effects of reduced soil tillage and promoting soil fertility in a winter wheat cropping system

Responses of soil carbon sequestration to climate‐smart agriculture practices: A meta‐analysis

Sunn Hemp: A Legume Cover Crop with Potential for the Midwest?

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