“…Recent work to isolate factors affecting in-season N contributions from KCLM identified rotary zone tillage as an important factor in promoting N mineralization from disturbed and incorporated clover residues [16]. This aligns with previous studies that identified rotary zone tillage as a promising strategy to reduce living mulch competition with the emerging row crop [14,17,18].…”
Section: Introductionsupporting
confidence: 82%
“…While labile N accumulates under forage legume production, intensive grazing or harvest of sole kura clover reduces root and shoot biomass productivity over time [40,41]. The intensity of mechanical and chemical suppression of KCLM in the spring disturbs root and shoot tissues [17], while maize reduces late-season clover biomass due to competition for light and plant resources [42]. The translocation of metabolites from root biomass during the spring flush of clover growth and limited opportunity for biomass recovery in living mulch management is likely to exacerbate the decline of root biomass, spring vigor, and clover health.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Clover was cut with a flail mower to 5 cm prior to row establishment in 2017 and in the first-year maize experiment in 2018. Rows were established with a rotary zone tillage tool (Northwest Tillers, Yakima, WA, USA) that tilled 30-cm-wide rows every 76 cm on 11 May 2017 and 22 May 2018 [16,17]. Fertilizer N applications at planting were applied with a garden seeder (Earthway, Bristol, IN, USA) in the center of the tilled strip before incorporation with a second pass of the rotary zone tillage tool.…”
Section: Agronomic Managementmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Baling operations included raking, round baling, bale transportation, bale storage [25,26], and nutrient replacement costs associated with stover removal (1.65 kg P Mg −1 and 6.65 kg K Mg −1 dry stover) [27]. Management for conventional maize production was assumed as spring field cultivation and fall disk-chiseling, while management for the KCLM system was based on agronomic practices performed on experimental treatments with spring and in-season mowing, rotary zone tillage, and baling operations with the associated nutrient replacement cost [17,26,27]. All other costs, including land, P and K fertilization excluding stover nutrient removal replacement, seed, planting, pesticide and application of pesticide, harvest costs, and miscellaneous costs were assumed equal across treatments and conventional comparisons [26].…”
Kura clover living mulch (KCLM) systems have been previously investigated for their incorporation into upper Midwestern row crop rotations to provide ecosystem services through continuous living cover. Reductions in soil erosion and nitrate loss to surface and groundwater have been reported, but factors affecting agronomic performance and nutrient management are not well defined. To achieve realized environmental benefits, research must develop agronomic management techniques, determine economic opportunities, and provide management recommendations for row crop production in KCLM systems. Two experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to determine the response to N fertilizer application for maize production in KCLM. The first-year maize experiment followed forage management, and the second-year maize experiment followed maize after forage management. Eight fertilizer N treatments ranging from 0–250 kg N ha−1 were applied to each experiment and grain and stover yields were compared to conventionally managed maize hybrid trials that were conducted nearby. First-year maize did not need fertilizer N to maximize yield and profitability in either growing season, and second-year maize required a fertilizer N rate near local University guidelines for maize following soybean. The net economic return from maize grain and stover in the KCLM averaged over first and second-year maize experiments and 2017 and 2018 growing seasons were $138 ha−1 greater than the conventional comparison.
“…Recent work to isolate factors affecting in-season N contributions from KCLM identified rotary zone tillage as an important factor in promoting N mineralization from disturbed and incorporated clover residues [16]. This aligns with previous studies that identified rotary zone tillage as a promising strategy to reduce living mulch competition with the emerging row crop [14,17,18].…”
Section: Introductionsupporting
confidence: 82%
“…While labile N accumulates under forage legume production, intensive grazing or harvest of sole kura clover reduces root and shoot biomass productivity over time [40,41]. The intensity of mechanical and chemical suppression of KCLM in the spring disturbs root and shoot tissues [17], while maize reduces late-season clover biomass due to competition for light and plant resources [42]. The translocation of metabolites from root biomass during the spring flush of clover growth and limited opportunity for biomass recovery in living mulch management is likely to exacerbate the decline of root biomass, spring vigor, and clover health.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Clover was cut with a flail mower to 5 cm prior to row establishment in 2017 and in the first-year maize experiment in 2018. Rows were established with a rotary zone tillage tool (Northwest Tillers, Yakima, WA, USA) that tilled 30-cm-wide rows every 76 cm on 11 May 2017 and 22 May 2018 [16,17]. Fertilizer N applications at planting were applied with a garden seeder (Earthway, Bristol, IN, USA) in the center of the tilled strip before incorporation with a second pass of the rotary zone tillage tool.…”
Section: Agronomic Managementmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Baling operations included raking, round baling, bale transportation, bale storage [25,26], and nutrient replacement costs associated with stover removal (1.65 kg P Mg −1 and 6.65 kg K Mg −1 dry stover) [27]. Management for conventional maize production was assumed as spring field cultivation and fall disk-chiseling, while management for the KCLM system was based on agronomic practices performed on experimental treatments with spring and in-season mowing, rotary zone tillage, and baling operations with the associated nutrient replacement cost [17,26,27]. All other costs, including land, P and K fertilization excluding stover nutrient removal replacement, seed, planting, pesticide and application of pesticide, harvest costs, and miscellaneous costs were assumed equal across treatments and conventional comparisons [26].…”
Kura clover living mulch (KCLM) systems have been previously investigated for their incorporation into upper Midwestern row crop rotations to provide ecosystem services through continuous living cover. Reductions in soil erosion and nitrate loss to surface and groundwater have been reported, but factors affecting agronomic performance and nutrient management are not well defined. To achieve realized environmental benefits, research must develop agronomic management techniques, determine economic opportunities, and provide management recommendations for row crop production in KCLM systems. Two experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 to determine the response to N fertilizer application for maize production in KCLM. The first-year maize experiment followed forage management, and the second-year maize experiment followed maize after forage management. Eight fertilizer N treatments ranging from 0–250 kg N ha−1 were applied to each experiment and grain and stover yields were compared to conventionally managed maize hybrid trials that were conducted nearby. First-year maize did not need fertilizer N to maximize yield and profitability in either growing season, and second-year maize required a fertilizer N rate near local University guidelines for maize following soybean. The net economic return from maize grain and stover in the KCLM averaged over first and second-year maize experiments and 2017 and 2018 growing seasons were $138 ha−1 greater than the conventional comparison.
“…These rotary seeders are commonly converted into ‘strip-till seeders’ by removing every alternating four blades (totaling 24 blades for six rows) to eliminate inter-row soil tillage ( Hossain et al, 2009 ; Matin et al, 2015 ). During operation, strip-till seeders produce narrow furrow strips, often 50–60 mm wide and 50 mm deep ( Dobbratz et al, 2019 ; Reeder, 2002 ), while simultaneously sowing and covering seeds, and leaving the inter-row undisturbed. Fig.…”
Highlights
Strip-tillage of Asian wet clay soil to intensify cropping resulted in poor seedbed.
Conventional blades and setting (four per row) created optimum clods, but low backfill.
Contrary, an improved blade (> 50 mm depth) created optimum clods and high backfill.
Backfill increased further for 6 straight blades/row, but furrow volume increased.
Straight blade (four per row, ≥ 75 mm depth setting) is recommended for Asian wet clay soil.
Row establishment is important to mitigate competition with maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings in a kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum Bieb.) living mulch (KCLM). This study investigated the effect of row‐establishment and fertilizer nitrogen (N) rate on maize yield and N uptake in a KCLM system in Arlington, WI, and Rosemount, MN, during the 2021 growing season. Row establishment treatments included rotary zone tillage (RZT), shank strip‐tillage (ST), and banded herbicides (BH), each evaluated at six N rates from 0 to 225 kg N ha−1. Extended periods of moderate and severe drought were experienced during the study period. The Arlington and Rosemount sites received 64 and 63% of the normal precipitation between 20 Apr. and 31 Oct. 2021, but poor distribution and higher temperatures at Rosemount elevated drought severity indices at that site. Grain yields at Rosemount were 3.6 Mg ha−1, whereas Arlington produced yields that matched expectations for the area (10 Mg ha−1). Row establishment affected maize grain yield differentially at each site, where, under severe drought conditions, BH maximized maize yield, whereas under moderate drought conditions, the higher level of tillage (RZT) maximized maize yield. These responses are most likely attributed to reduced moisture loss in the row‐zone of the BH treatment and the greater level of clover suppression in the RZT treatment and their interactions with specific weather conditions at the research sites. Results from this study indicate that row establishment methods in a KCLM cropping system should be considered with spring environmental conditions and the expected weather outlook.
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