(12) Influence of Single and Biculture Cover Crops with or without Synthetic Nitrogen on Leaf Area Index and Above Ground Biomass Yields of Sweet Corn

Abstract

During the 2004–05 growing season, a study was conducted to determine effect of cover crop, their mixture and fertilizer N rates on above ground biomass (AGB) yields, and Leaf Area Index (LAI) of Bt sweet corn. The following cover crop nitrogen fertility treatments were applied using randomized complete-block design with three replications: 1) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-0 N, 2) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-0 N, 3) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-0 N, 4) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-0 N, 5) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-101 kg N/ha, 6) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-101 kg N/ha, 7) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha, 8) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha, 9) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-202 kg N/ha, 10) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-202 kg N/ha, 11) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-202 kg N/ha, and 12) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-202 kg N/ha. In Spring 2005, `Attribute BSS0977' bi-color (BC) supersweet (sh2) corn seeds were field planted. AGB yields were collected during harvest week while LAI was recorded at tasseling (6/27), silking (7/8) and one week after harvest (7/25). Hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha produced highest LAI at tasseling (2.18), silking (2.73), and one week after harvest (2.57). Lowest LAI at tasseling (1.12) and silking(1.60) were produced by abruzzi rye; spring-0 N with fallow; spring-0 N producing lowest LAI (1.40) one week after harvest. Maximum AGB fresh (40.5 Mg/ha) and dry weight (12.1 Mg/ha) yields were produced by hairy vetch; spring-101kg N/ha, while minimum AGB fresh (9.6 Mg/ha) and dry weight (3.6 Mg/ha) yields were produced by abruzzi rye; spring-0 N. Results imply LAI at each growth stage and AGB yields of this BCsh2 corn variety are best supported by hairy vetch supplemented with N at 101 kg/ha.