Cover Crops and Returning Residue Impact on Soil Organic Carbon, Bulk Density, Penetration Resistance, Water Retention, Infiltration, and Soybean Yield

Chalise, Kopila Subedi; Singh, Shikha; Wegner, Brianna R.; Kumar, Sandeep; Pérez-Gutiérrez, Juan D.; Osborne, Shannon L.; Nleya, Thandiwe; Guzman, Jose G.; Rohila, Jai S.

doi:10.2134/agronj2018.03.0213

Cited by 109 publications

(107 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The equal or greater amounts of stored soil water under cover crop treatments compared to fallow in the present research might be a result of many factors other than rainfall. Possible improvements in soil physical properties due to cover crops might have increased infiltration and soil water retention [8,25,56,57]. Chalise et al [8] found that volumetric water content in plots with cover crops was higher than that in plots with no cover crops.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Possible improvements in soil physical properties due to cover crops might have increased infiltration and soil water retention [8,25,56,57]. Chalise et al [8] found that volumetric water content in plots with cover crops was higher than that in plots with no cover crops. For example, volumetric water content at 0-5 cm depth was 16% higher under cover crop treatment than under no-cover crop treatment at 42 d after planting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Excessive tillage, inadequate crop rotations, crop residue removal, overgrazing, and increasingly extreme weather events have further degraded soil health in this region [3,4]. Cover crops, if chosen properly, can enhance soil health, improve soil water holding capacity [5][6][7][8], reduce the need for herbicides or cultivation for weed control [4,[9][10][11], and increase the resilience of production systems to extreme weather [12,13]. Annual nationwide surveys conducted by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) report increasing farmer interest in cover cropping [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in Biomass Production and Water Use Efficiency among Seven Different Cover Crops in the Wet Winter Seasons of 2016/17 and 2018 in South Carolina

et al. 2020

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Cover crops can protect soil health and increase climate resilience of crop production systems. Agronomic crop producers in the southern USA often demand information on the best cover crops for their locality and cropping system and on the potential impacts of cover crops on stored soil water. The present research evaluated biomass production and water use efficiency (WUE) of single species and multispecies winter cover crops in South Carolina. Overall, a five-species mixture of Austrian winter pea, rye, crimson clover, hairy vetch, and oats and a single species of rye had the greatest biomass production (4600–6480 kg ha−1) at the end of the season (19 April 2017 in season-1 and 10 May 2018 in season-2). The five-species mixture also had the greatest WUE (2184–2232 g m−3). None of the cover crops depleted soil water (in 60 cm depth) greater than a weed-free fallow maintained through herbicide application and a weedy fallow (no herbicide application). Since both the seasons, in which the present study was conducted, received greater than normal rainfall, further studies should verify the applicability of the results in dry years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in Biomass Production and Water Use Efficiency among Seven Different Cover Crops in the Wet Winter Seasons of 2016/17 and 2018 in South Carolina

et al. 2020

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“…Conservation farming (CF), a set of practices including i) minimum or no tillage ii) retention of crop residues and iii) crop rotation, has been suggested as a way to increase soil organic C (SOC) if its three principles are strictly applied [8][9][10][11]. CF in the form of planting basins has been promoted among small-scale farmers in countries like Zambia for more than two decades [12] with yield benefits for farmers if combined with complementary practices such as the use of improved crop varieties, adequate weed and pest control, among others [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of conservation farming and biochar addition on soil organic carbon quality, nitrogen mineralization, and crop productivity in a light textured Acrisol in the sub-humid tropics

et al. 2020

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Conservation farming (CF), involving basin tillage, residue retention and crop rotation, combined with biochar may help to mitigate negative impacts of conventional agriculture. In this study, the effects of CF on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) and potential nitrogen (N) mineralization were investigated in a maize-soya-maize rotation in an Acrisol in Zambia. A large field was run under CF for 7 years and in the subsequent three growing seasons (2015-2018), four management practices were introduced to study effects on soil characteristics and crop yield. We tested i) a continuation of regular CF (CF-NORM) ii) CF without residue retention (CF-NO-RES); iii) Conventional (CONV), with full tillage and removal of residues; and iv) CF with 4 ton ha-1 pigeon pea biochar inside basins and residue retention (CF-BC). The experiment involved the addition of fertilizer only to maize, while soya received none. Soya yield was significantly higher in CF systems than in CONV. Maize yields were not affected by the different management practices probably due to the ample fertilizer addition. CF-NORM had a higher stock of soil organic carbon (SOC), higher N mineralization rates, more hot-water extractable carbon (HWEC; labile SOC) and particulate organic matter (POM) inside basins compared to the surrounding soil (outside basins). Our results suggest that the input of roots inside basins are more effective increasing SOM and N mineralization, than the crop residues that are placed outside basins. CONV reduced both quality and quantity of SOM and N mineralization as compared to CF inside basins. CF-BC increased the amount of SOC as compared with CF-NORM, whereas N mineralization rate and HWEC remained unaffected. The results suggest benefits on yield of CF and none of biochar; larger impact of root biomass on the build-up of SOM than crop residues; and high stability of biochar in soil.

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“…Tillage, C and N inputs, crop management systems, and crop type impact SOM turnover (Kong and Six, 2010; Ghimire et al, 2017; Chalise et al, 2019; Johnson, 2019; Karlen et al, 2019). Strategies for increasing SOC in organic systems include incorporating cover/green manure crops, diversifying rotations, growing perennial crops, applying manure and other organic amendments and reducing tillage (Teasdale et al, 2007; Kong et al, 2005; Stockmann et al, 2013; Ghimire et al, 2017).…”

Section: Soil Biology and Nutrient Cyclingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

et al. 2019

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Organic farmers have identified soil fertility and weed management as the two highest research priority areas. No review exists of research on soil nutrient management in organic field crop systems. We conducted a comprehensive review to identify the principles and factors governing nutrient management, knowledge gaps, and future research needs in organic grain and other field crop systems in Canada and the United States. We compared results from research conducted in different climates, soils, and crop rotational sequences. Results indicate that (i) dual‐use cover/green manure crops and/or animal manure are the most common sources of plant available N and other nutrients in organic field crop systems; (ii) soil nutrient deficiencies can develop through sole reliance on cover/green manure crops; (iii) dependence on animal manure can lead to N and P excesses; (iv) conventional soil testing procedures may not accurately predict crop nutrient needs; (v) greater knowledge of microbial processes governing nutrient cycling is needed; and (vi) better understanding of the impact of weeds on soil fertility may create weed and nutrient management synergies. Knowledge gaps include a lack in understanding of how the soil and plant biomes influence nutrient‐use efficiency and how crop diversity and rotations impact soil fertility, sustainability, and resilience in organic field crop systems. Likewise, interactions between weeds, crops, soil fertility, and weed management strategies are poorly understood. Core Ideas Soil, climate, fertility sources, and land use impact organic nutrient management strategies. Cover/green manure crops and animal manures are used to maintain soil fertility on organic farms. Conventional soil testing may not be ideally suited to organic systems. Tracking soil nutrient temporal changes can improve comprehensive nutrient management plans. More research of how weeds and soil microbial community structure/function impact nutrient cycling and crop production is needed.

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Cover Crops and Returning Residue Impact on Soil Organic Carbon, Bulk Density, Penetration Resistance, Water Retention, Infiltration, and Soybean Yield

Cited by 109 publications

References 51 publications

Differences in Biomass Production and Water Use Efficiency among Seven Different Cover Crops in the Wet Winter Seasons of 2016/17 and 2018 in South Carolina

Differences in Biomass Production and Water Use Efficiency among Seven Different Cover Crops in the Wet Winter Seasons of 2016/17 and 2018 in South Carolina

Effect of conservation farming and biochar addition on soil organic carbon quality, nitrogen mineralization, and crop productivity in a light textured Acrisol in the sub-humid tropics

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

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