Yields and Profitability during and after Transition in Organic Grain Cropping Systems

Caldwell, Brian; Mohler, Charles L.; Ketterings, Quirine M.; DiTommaso, Antonio

doi:10.2134/agronj13.0286

Cited by 27 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Perennials, including red clover ( Trifolium pretense L.) and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), are grown as CGM crops, especially in areas with substantial dairy operations (Caldwell, Mohler, Ketterings, & DiTommaso, 2014; Ketterings et al., 2015). Both species generally provide more N than annual legumes, and can supply sufficient N for a succeeding maize crop (Beegle, 2018; Ketterings et al., 2015).…”

Section: Dual‐use Cover/green Manure Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Animal manures may need to be applied at greater rates at more northern latitudes since legumes accumulate biomass (and therefore N) more slowly in cooler climates (Mirsky et al., 2017). However, maize grain yields were similar when following red clover and following red clover plus 2 Mg ha −1 PL compost over 6 yr in New York, including 2 yr when maize grain yields were >10 Mg ha −1 (Caldwell et al., 2014).…”

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Weed growth can be stimulated over crop growth by heavy application of plant nutrients (Little, Mohler, Ketterings, & DiTommaso, 2015). Researchers found that maize grain yields in an organic maize–soybean–spelt ( Triticum spelta L.) + red clover rotation were similar over 4 yr in high‐ and low‐fertility systems, but the application of composted poultry manure in the high fertility system resulted in greater weed biomass (Caldwell et al., 2014). Animal manures can affect weeds directly since animal manures are a known source of weed introductions on farms (Mt.…”

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Caldwell et al. (2014) suggested that animal manure and compost applications should be targeted at the spelt crop phase of the rotation, since spelt yields increased by 76% following application of composted poultry manure in 2 of 4 yr. However, they noted that the optimal timing of the nutrient inputs requires further research.…”

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Compost is used widely in organic vegetable production in this and other regions (Gaskell & Smith, 2007), but is considered too expensive for grain crop production. However, organic grain farmers reportedly used compost at a rate of 2 Mg ha −1 in conjunction with a red clover CGM crop in central New York (Caldwell et al., 2014). The N/P ratio of compost usually is less favorable than that of raw manure relative to crop N and P needs (Heckman et al., 2003; Preusch, Adler, Sikora, & Tworkoski, 2002).…”

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

et al. 2020

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Dual-use cover/green manure (CGM) crops and animal manure are used to supply nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to organically grown field crops. A comprehensive review of previous research was conducted to identify how CGM crops and animal manure have been used to meet N and P needs of organic field crops, and to identify knowledge gaps to direct future research efforts. Results indicate that: (a) CGM crops are used to provide N to subsequent cash crops in rotations; (b) CGM-supplied N generally can meet field crop needs in warm, humid regions but is insufficient for organic grain crops grown in cool and sub-humid regions; (c) adoption of conservation tillage practices can create or exacerbate N deficiencies; (d) excess N and P can result where animal manures are accessible if application rates are not carefully managed; and (e) integrating animal grazing into organic field crop systems has potential benefits but is generally not practiced. Work is needed to better understand the mechanisms governing the release of N by CGM crops to subsequent cash crops, and the legacy effects of animal manure applications in cool and sub-humid regions. The benefits and synergies that can occur by combining targeted animal grazing and CGMs on soil N, P, and other nutrients should be investigated. Improved communication and networking among researchers can aid efforts to solve soil fertility challenges faced by organic farmers when growing field crops in North America and elsewhere.

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Section: Dual‐use Cover/green Manure Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal Integration Into Organic Field Crop Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

et al. 2020

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Toward a standardized statistical methodology comparing optimum nitrogen rates among management practices: A bootstrapping approach

Francis

Fung

Ruark

2021

Agricultural & Env Letters

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There are a range of approaches to compare differences between or among optimum nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates resulting from different management practices; however, this goal lacks statistical standardization. To provide the statistical rigor needed to give clear recommendations for greater or less N need based on specific management practices, we propose a bootstrapping approach that resamples residuals with replacement. While bootstrapping is not new to data processing in agronomic fields, we provide an example of how to conduct residual-resampled bootstrapping with nonlinear regression to identify differences in response curves, optimum N rates, and maximum yields using the FertBoot package in R. Our example dataset provides clear evidence of the value of the bootstrapping approach, as it can aid in determining significant differences between even relatively small differences in optimum N rate. We encourage adoption of this approach as a way to accurately evaluate differences in optimum fertilizer levels between or among treatments to better inform future agronomic decision making. INTRODUCTIONA common objective of fertilizer research is to determine how management practices affect the optimum nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate. Examples of such practices include, but are not limited to, tillage, manure application, residue management, and cover cropping, with the difference in optimum N rates between the treatment and the control being considered the N fertilizer replacement value of an input or practice. A common experimental design to address this objective is a randomized complete block, split-plot design with the agronomic management treatment as the main plot factor and N rate asThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Rotational no‐till and tillage‐based organic corn produce management tradeoffs in the Northeast

et al. 2021

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Reducing the intensity and frequency of tillage in organic grain production systems is likely to produce several agronomic, economic, and environmental tradeoffs. We evaluated four organic corn (Zea mays L.) sequences in a 3‐yr, full‐entry organic cropping systems experiment. Two sequences included a hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth)/triticale (Triticale hexaploide Lart.) mixture sown after spelt harvest that differed in tillage practices (no‐till [NT], conventional) before corn and corn harvest management (silage, grain). Two sequences included a red clover (Trifolium pretense L.)/timothy (Phleum pretense L.) mixture frost‐seeded into spelt in late winter followed by conventional tillage preceding corn and either silage or grain harvest. Our results showed that late‐season weed biomass did not differ across alternative sequences, although both tillage and NT corn production resulted in high in‐row weed pressure in different years. Cover crop management prior to tillage‐based corn production did not affect grain yields, but NT silage production resulted in lower yields compared with the tilled sequence. Corn silage yields were positively correlated with corn populations in both tilled and NT systems. The NT sequence lowered tillage frequency and intensity by 39 and 52%, respectively, compared with tillage‐based corn production as measured using established metrics, including the soil disturbance rating, but did not significantly influence labile carbon pools. Sequences using underseeded red clover resulted in higher net returns compared with hairy vetch sequences due to additional income from fall forage harvests.

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Yields and Profitability during and after Transition in Organic Grain Cropping Systems

Cited by 27 publications

References 24 publications

Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

Toward a standardized statistical methodology comparing optimum nitrogen rates among management practices: A bootstrapping approach

Rotational no‐till and tillage‐based organic corn produce management tradeoffs in the Northeast

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