No‐Till Corn/Soybean Systems Including Winter Cover Crops

Abstract

The use of winter cover crops (WCC) such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), in a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation provides long‐term benefits that are generally overlooked. There is a particular lack of information regarding the effects of WCC on soil physical and chemical properties. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of four crop sequences (C/S, corn‐fallow/soybean‐fallow; C‐R/S‐R, corn‐rye/soybean‐rye; C‐R/S‐V, corn‐rye/soybean‐vetch; and C‐R/S‐VR, corn‐rye/soybean‐vetch and rye) under no‐till on several soil physical and chemical properties. Soil chemical properties included soil organic matter (SOM), pH, total nitrogen (TN), nitrates (NO3–N), and available phosphorus (P). The analyzed soil physical properties analyzed were: water‐aggregate stability (WAS), bulk density (Db), penetration resistance (PR), total porosity (TP), pore‐size distribution, water retention properties, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). The experimental design was a split‐split‐plot where whole‐plot treatments (sampling period) had a Latin square design and subplot treatments (crop sequences) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Compared with winter fallow, crop sequences that included WCC provided substantial benefits from the soil productivity standpoint. Specifically, the use of the C‐R/S‐V or C‐R/S‐VR increased SOM down to 30 cm. All WCC sequences improved WAS with increases of 9, 13, and 17% for C‐R/S‐R, C‐R/S‐V, and C‐R/S‐VR, respectively. Winter cover crop sequences reduced Db and PR of the soil surface and increased total and storage porosity along with plant available water. While the C‐R/S‐V sequence was the most effective in reducing soil NO3–N, the C‐R/S‐R sequence was the most effective in fixing soil P.

Effects of Tillage, Rotation and Cover Crop on the Physical Properties of a Silt-Loam Soil

“…This is understandable, since most rye roots were concentrated in the 0-10 cm depth. Our results agree with those by Villamil et al (2006) who reported similar findings. The cover crop x depth of sampling interaction showed that Ds/ Do was 25% (0-10 cm) and 14% (10-20 cm) greater in plots planted to rye as compared with plots with no cover crop.…”

Biological and other soil parameters response to winter cover crops in a mediterranean irrigated system

“…However, in our study higher TOC were found in the CC treatments since 2012 that are in agreement with other short term experiments (Nivelle et al, 2016;Veenstra et al, 2007). Particularly, Villamil et al (2006) and Mazzoncini et al…”

“…Total organic carbon (TOC) content is a soil quality indicator that is affected by the changes in the crop management such as intensive tillage and the addition of crop residues to the soil (Chavarría et al, 2016;Muñoz et al, 2007;Nivelle et al, 2016;Veenstra et al, 2007;Villamil et al, 2006). Benefits in soil structure are related to its accumulation in the soil and an increase in the formation and stabilization of soil microaggregates and macroaggregates (Beare et al, 1994).…”

Management of crop water under drought: a review

“…Carof et al (2007) showed that under no-tillage cover crops enhanced pore continuity in a silt loam in northern France, while Bodner et al (2008) found that cover crops stabilised effective pore properties over winter on a silt loam soil in semi-arid Eastern Austria. Villamil et al (2006) studied the effect of inclusion of rye, vetch and vetch/rye mixture as cover crops in a corn-soybean notillage rotation on a silt loam soil in Illinois, USA, with a continental summer rainfall climate. Cover crops increased organic carbon, aggregate stability and water holding capacity, while reducing bulk density and penetration resistance.…”