(164) Effect of a Non-leguminous Cover Crop, Tillage Practices, and Inorganic Nitrogen on Aboveground Biomass Production and Yields of Southernpea

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine how a non-leguminous cover crop, three tillage practices, and two synthetic nitrogen rates influence aboveground biomass, and yields of southernpea. The following fall–spring fertility treatments were applied using randomized complete-block design with four replications: 1) fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-conventional till+0 N; 2) fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-strip till+0 N; 3) fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-No till+0 N; 4) fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-conventional till+30 kg×ha–1 N; 5) fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-strip till+30 kg×ha–1 N; 6) fall-0 N+ abruzzi rye; spring-No till+30 kg×ha–1 N. In Spring 2004, `Mississippi Purple' southernpea was drill planted in all plots. Pod yields were harvested at the fresh-market mature green stage and dry pod stage, while total vegetative dry matter was collected at the mature green stage. Optimal aboveground biomass (32.7 g/plant) was produced by fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-strip till+30 kg×ha–1 N treatment, while maximum fresh-market pod yield (4.9 Mg×ha–1) and dry pod yield (2.2 Mg×ha–1) were produced by fall-0 N+abruzzi rye; spring-strip till+0 N. Minimum aboveground biomass (15.6 g/plant), fresh-market pod yield (2.6 Mg×ha–1) and dry pod yield (0.9 Mg×ha–1) were produced by fall-0 N+ abruzzi rye; spring-conventional till+0 N treatment. Spring-strip till at 0 N produced fresh-market pod yield, dry pod yield, and plant biomass similar to spring-strip till at 30 kg×ha–1 N. Results suggest strip-till provided adequate tilth and nitrogen fertilizer was not needed for producing southernpea in middle Georgia.