Assessment of Cover Crop Management Strategies in Nebraska, US

Maxwel C Oliveira,Rodrigo Werle,Liberty Butts

doi:10.3390/agriculture9060124

Maxwel C Oliveira, Rodrigo Werle + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9060124

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Abstract

Adoption of cover crops has the potential to increase agricultural sustainability in the US and beyond. In 2017, a survey was conducted with Nebraska stakeholders in an attempt to evaluate current cover crop management strategies adopted in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), field corn (Zea mays L.), and seed corn production. Eighty-two Nebraska stakeholders answered the survey, of which 80% identified themselves as growers. Eighty-seven percent of respondents manage cover crops, and the average cover crop ha planted on a per farm basis is 32%. The primary method of establishing cover crops following soybeans and field corn is drilling. In seed corn, interseeding is the main seeding strategy for cover crop establishment. Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) appeared as the most adopted cover crop species (either alone or in mixtures with radish [Raphanus sativus L.] or hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth]). Over 95% of respondents utilize herbicides for cover crop termination in the spring before crop planting. Glyphosate is used by 100% of survey respondents that use herbicides for cover crop termination. The major observed impacts of incorporating cover crops into a production system according to survey respondents are reduced soil erosion and weed suppression. According to 93% of respondents, cover crops improve weed control by suppressing winter and/or summer annual weed species. The biggest challenge reported by cover crop adopters is planting and establishing a decent stand before winter. According to the results of this survey, there are different management strategies, positive outcomes, and challenges that accompany cover crop adoption in Nebraska. These results will help growers, agronomists, and researchers better guide cover crop adoption, management, and future research and education needs in Nebraska and beyond.

Highlights

Nebraska is a top field crop producer state in the US
Corn has always been a dominant crop in Nebraska and the state is amongst the largest field corn, seed corn, and popcorn producers in the US
Questions focused on respondent demographics (Q1–4, Figure 1A); cover crop management during the corn (Q5–7, Figure 1B), seed corn (Q8–10, Figure 1C), and soybean growing season (Q11–13, Figure 1D); cover crop management going into a corn (Q14–15, Figure 1E), seed corn (Q16–17, Figure 1F), and soybean (Q18–19, Figure 1G) growing season; and general questions about cover crop management in Nebraska (Q20–24)

Summary

Introduction

Nebraska is a top field crop producer state in the US. In the last century, the diversity of crops in Nebraska was high in the 1950s/60s, with corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.]Moench), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) comprising the landscape; crop diversity has decreased throughout the decades [1]. Nebraska is a top field crop producer state in the US. The diversity of crops in Nebraska was high in the 1950s/60s, with corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum Moench), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) comprising the landscape; crop diversity has decreased throughout the decades [1]. Corn has always been a dominant crop in Nebraska and the state is amongst the largest field corn, seed corn, and popcorn producers in the US. The soybean area increased in Nebraska, replacing sorghum and oats after the 1960s [1]. The summed planted area of corn and soybean in Nebraska was 6.1 million ha in 2018 [2], which represents

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