Examining Changes in Soil Organic Carbon with Oat and Rye Cover Crops Using Terrain Covariates

Kaspar, T. C.; Parkin, Timothy B.; Jaynes, Dan B.; Cambardella, Cynthia A.; Meek, D. W.; Jung, Yeong-Sang

doi:10.2136/sssaj2005.0095

Cited by 49 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The changes in total SOC might not become detectable until 7 to 10 years or more after changing management practices (Duiker and Lal 1999;Al-Kaisi et al 2005). Thus, lack of statistical significance in total SOC results of this study were expected and consistent with other studies that did not observe statistically significant increases in total soil C (Kaspar et al 2006;Basche et al 2016).…”

Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is especially suited for this purpose because it is a high biomass grass known to increase SOC (Kuo and Jellum 2000;Kaspar et al 2006;Reicosky and Forcella 1998). However, the advantages of rye as a cover crop in regards to SOC accrual might not be homogeneously spread across topographically diverse landscapes.…”

Section: Abstract: Cover Crops-soil Carbon-sustainable Corn-topographymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of cover crop on soil carbon accrual in topographically diverse terrain

Beehler¹,

Fry²,

Negassa³

et al. 2017

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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Farmers must consider real-world problems and variability to maximize yields and minimize environmental impacts when using cover crops in corn (Zea mays L.)-based cropping systems. Much of the variability encountered by farmers of the Midwest Corn Belt is due to the topographical diversity of the undulating landscape. The objectives of this study are to explore the effects of cover crops on soil organic carbon (C), both total organic C and its labile form, particulate organic C (POC), and on water retention at contrasting topographies (summit, slope, and depression). A cereal rye (Secale cereal L.) cover crop was established in the fall of 2011 at two experimental sites. At each site, the experimental design was a split-split plot with whole plot factor, topographical position, in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Topographical position affected all studied plant and soil characteristics, including aboveground plant biomass, rye residue decomposition, POC, total soil C, and soil water retention. Across all topographical positions, rye residue decomposition was ~5% greater in the treatment with than without cover crop. In slopes and summits, the POC in the treatment with cover crop was significantly (~0.7 mg g -1 soil [~700 ppm]) greater than in the treatment without the cover crop; however, the difference was not statistically significant in depressions. The cover crop effect on both total organic C and soil water retention levels was not statistically significant. The study points to potential interactions between topography and C sequestration benefits of cover crops; however, longer experimental times are needed to detect significant differences in soil total C and water retention measurements. Key words: cover crops-soil carbon-sustainable corn-topographyCover crops can provide multiple benefits to row crop agricultural systems, including suppression of weeds and pests, improvement of soil and water quality, and stimulation of nutrient cycles (Snapp et al. 2005). Yet, when implementing cover cropping farmers must consider spatial variability within their fields to maximize yields and minimize environmental impacts. In the Midwest Corn Belt, much of the spatial variability that farmers encounter is due to the topographical diversity of the undulating landscape. The topographical diversity controls many soil properties, including the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC).Enhancing rotation through the inclusion of a cover crop has the potential to accumulate SOC (West and Post 2002;Follett 2001). Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) is especially suited for this purpose because it is a high biomass grass known to increase SOC (Kuo and Jellum 2000;Kaspar et al. 2006;Reicosky and Forcella 1998). However, the advantages of rye as a cover crop in regards to SOC accrual might not be homogeneously spread across topographically diverse landscapes. Cover crops, such as rye, can grow at variable rates across topographies, commonly with better biomass accumulation in flat areas and in dep...

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Section: Figuresupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Abstract: Cover Crops-soil Carbon-sustainable Corn-topographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of cover crop on soil carbon accrual in topographically diverse terrain

Beehler¹,

Fry²,

Negassa³

et al. 2017

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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show abstract

“…In 2015 the SOC concentration in the 0 to 10 cm (0 to 4 in) depth, when averaged between cash crops, was 15.05 and 14.02 g C kg -1 for cover and no cover, respectively (p > 0.05). Other researchers have found little effect of cereal rye cover crop on SOC over a similar time frame (Eckert 1991;Kaspar et al 2006); however, when measured after 10 years, Moore et al (2014) was able to detect a 15% greater average soil organic matter content in the cereal rye treatment when compared to the no cover treatment. Kuo et al (1997) found a 1 g kg -1 higher SOC amount in a 0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 in) depth after eight years of cereal rye when compared to a no cover treatment, but both Eckert in Ohio (1991) and Jokela et al in Wisconsin (2009) recorded no difference in SOC or soil organic matter after four years of cereal rye cover.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Cereal rye cover crop effects on soil carbon and physical properties in southeastern Indiana

Rorick¹,

Kladivko²

2017

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

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“…Planting a winter cover crop consumes about 151.6 MJ of diesel per hectare (Lazarus 2000). About 1.1 kg ha −1 of herbicides are used to kill winter cover crops before planting corn (Kaspar et al 2006;Miguez and Bollero 2006;Saini et al 2006), and applying herbicides requires 36.9 MJ ha −1 of diesel per hectare (Saini et al 2006). No-tillage cultivation in Fulton County (IL) was selected to estimate the effects of winter cover crop use.…”

Section: Scenario Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life cycle assessment of corn grain and corn stover in the United States

Kim

Dale

Jenkins

2009

Int J Life Cycle Assess

186

144

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Background, aim, and scope The goal of this study is to estimate the county-level environmental performance for continuous corn cultivation of corn grain and corn stover grown under the current tillage practices for various corngrowing locations in the US Corn Belt. The environmental performance of corn grain varies with its farming location because of climate, soil properties, cropping management, etc. Corn stover, all of the above ground parts of the corn plant except the grain, would be used as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol. Materials and methods Two cropping systems are under investigation: corn produced for grain only without collecting corn stover (referred to as CRN) and corn produced for grain and stover harvest (referred to as CSR). The functional unit in this study is defined as dry biomass, and the reference flow is 1 kg of dry biomass. The system boundary includes processes from cradle to farm gate. The default allocation procedure between corn grain and stover in the CSR system is the system expansion approach. County-level soil organic carbon dynamics, nitrate losses due to leaching, and nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide emissions are simulated by the DAYCENT model. Life cycle environmental impact categories considered in this study are total fossil energy use, climate change (referred to as greenhouse gas emissions), acidification, and eutrophication. Sensitivities on farming practices and allocation are included. Results Simulations from the DAYCENT model predict that removing corn stover from soil could decrease nitrogenrelated emissions from soil (i.e., N 2 O, NO x , and NO 3 − leaching). DAYCENT also predicts a reduction in the annual accumulation rates of soil organic carbon (SOC) with corn stover removal. Corn stover has a better environmental performance than corn grain according to all life cycle environmental impacts considered. This is due to lower consumption of agrochemicals and fuel used in the field operations and lower nitrogen-related emissions from the soil. Discussion The primary source of total fossil energy associated with biomass production is nitrogen fertilizer, accounting for over 30% of the total fossil energy. Nitrogen-related emissions from soil (i.e., N 2 O, NO x , and NO 3 − leaching) are the primary contributors to all other life cycle environmental impacts considered in this study.Conclusions The environmental performance of corn grain and corn stover varies with the farming location due to crop management, soil properties, and climate conditions. Several general trends were identified from this study. Corn stover has a lower impact than corn grain in terms of total fossil energy, greenhouse gas emissions, acidification, and eutrophication. Harvesting corn stover reduces nitrogenrelated emissions from the soil (i.e., N 2 O, NO x , NO 3 − ). The accumulation rate of soil organic carbon is reduced when corn stover is removed, and in some cases, the soil organic carbon level decreases. Harvesting only the cob portion of the stover would reduce the negative impact of ...

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Examining Changes in Soil Organic Carbon with Oat and Rye Cover Crops Using Terrain Covariates

Cited by 49 publications

References 33 publications

Impact of cover crop on soil carbon accrual in topographically diverse terrain

Impact of cover crop on soil carbon accrual in topographically diverse terrain

Cereal rye cover crop effects on soil carbon and physical properties in southeastern Indiana

Life cycle assessment of corn grain and corn stover in the United States

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