Integrating a Double‐Cropped Winter Annual Forage into a Corn‐Soybean Rotation

Abstract

Consolidation in the dairy and livestock industry in the North Central stateshas resulted in a need for producers to increase forage production per unit ofland base. Using a winter annual forage crop in a corn (Zea mays L.) andsoybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cropping system could add a thirdharvestable crop in a two‐year rotation period resulting in increased forageproduction per unit of land base. The objective of this study was to: (1)evaluate the yield and quality of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) andrye (Secale cereale L.) crops harvested as an early spring forage; and (2) evaluate the affect on subsequent rotational crop yield. Winter wheat andrye forage yielded from 2.7 to 1.7 ton/acre. Winter wheat and rye forage reducedyields of subsequently planted corn and corn silage compared to treatments thatdid not have a double‐crop winter annual forage. However, soybean yield was notreduced when preceded by the winter annual forage. These results suggest thatgrowers can effectively utilize winter wheat or rye as a double‐crop forage incorn‐soybean cropping systems when the winter annual forage crop precedessoybean in the rotation.

Corn Nitrogen Fertilization Requirement and Corn-Soybean Productivity with a Rye Cover Crop

“…Reddy (2001) also reported that RCC had no detrimental effect on soybean yield with either no-till or conventional till. With winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and winter RCCs, Thelen and Leep (2002) reported soybean yield was not reduced when planted 5 to 11 d after rye control, although there were reduced yields of corn and corn silage. It appears that farmers can effectively utilize RCC in CS cropping systems when the RCC precedes soybean in the rotation.…”

“…However, research has found differing annual crop yield responses with RCC. Corn grain and silage yield decreases have been reported with use of RCC (Raimbault et al, 1990;Kessavalou and Walters, 1997;Thelen and Leep, 2002;Singer and Kohler, 2005;McDonald et al, 2008;Kramberger et al, 2009;Salmerón et al, 2011;Krueger et al, 2012;Reese et al, 2014). A 15% corn yield increase was observed in 2 out of 3 yr in a study conducted on sandy soils in Wisconsin with no N application to the RCC and with low RCC biomass production .…”

“…Cover crops also have potential to improve C sequestration, nutrient cycling, soil internal drainage, and help reduce runoff, soil erosion, and weed pressure (Franzluebber, 2005;Hoorman, 2009, Olson et al, 2010Bernstein et al, 2011;Mirsky et al, 2013;Tabaglio et al, 2013). Despite their benefits, cover crops have not been widely adopted in the Midwest due to several factors, including increased cost and management, lack of success in nutrient recycling, limited establishment and growth during late fall and early spring, reduced crop yields, and seed availability (Raimbault et al, 1990;Johnson et al, 1998;Reddy, 2001;Dabney et al, 2001;Thelen and Leep, 2002;Andraski and Bundy, 2005;Kramberger et al, 2009;Reese et al, 2014). Since C helps to retain nutrients in soil and balances nutrient cycling , and with recent large increase in fertilizer prices, farmers are increasingly interested in cover crops as a means to increase soil C and reduce N fertilization requirement.…”

“…However, applying N to RCC before control may offset potential yield decreases in corn ). Soybean yield is not usually affected by RCC because soybean is a legume, and not another cereal, like corn, following the RCC (Thelen and Leep, 2002;Ruffo et al, 2004;De Bruin et al, 2005;Hoorman et al, 2009). However, soybean yield decreases of 15 to 65% were reported with an RCC, part of the decrease associated with late RCC control in the spring and delay in soybean planting .…”

“…The effect of RCC on plant available N (PAN) and crop yield can also depend on fertilizer N rate and soil supply of PAN (Duiker and Curran, 2005), RCC management (Sainju et al, 2007), and soil moisture and temperature to promote microbial activity (Hoorman, 2009;Maltas et al, 2009). For soybean, waiting 7 to 15 d to plant after RCC control has resulted in no soybean yield decrease (Thelen and Leep, 2002;Reddy, 2003;Ruffo et al, 2004). Soybean yield decreases have been more associated with soil water use, especially in dry years or lack of soil recharge, instead of a negative effect of RCC on soybean growth .…”