Abstract
Low adoption to utilize cover crops interseeded into soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), in the northern Plains in the USA, is due to a short growing season and a few adapted winter-hardy species. The objective was to evaluate the impact of interseeded winter camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz) and winter rye (Secale cereale L.) using different soybean relative maturities on soybean yield, canopy coverage, spring cover crop biomass, and subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Cover crops interseeded into early-maturing (0.4–0.8) soybean cultivars had more fall coverage compared with the 0.9 maturity cultivar, but the spring biomass was similar for all maturities. The soybean yield of the 0.9 cultivar was significantly higher, 2365 kg ha−1 compared with 2037 kg ha−1 for the 0.4 cultivar. Rye outperformed winter camelina and had higher fall canopy cover (15 vs. 7%), spring canopy cover (16% vs. 4%), and higher spring biomass (313 vs. 100 kg ha−1 dry matter). Spring wheat, after rye, yielded 90% of the check. It is not recommended to plant spring wheat following winter rye, but there was no negative yield effect from winter camelina. Interseeding cover crops into soybean in the northern Plains is possible but needs further research to optimize interseeding systems.
Highlights
Soil erosion is a major problem in soybean production regions as crop residue is limited [1], leaving the soil with limited cover during the winter
Interseeding cover crops into different cultivars at the R7 stage of the early maturity cultivar produced no soybean yield reductions comparing soybean yield with cover crops to the check plot of each cultivar, which is consistent with previous research [17,24,25]
Earlier maturing soybean cultivars produced increased cover crop growth resulting in increased canopy coverage
Summary
Soil erosion is a major problem in soybean production regions as crop residue is limited [1], leaving the soil with limited cover during the winter. The importance in finding a solution to loss of topsoil due to erosion, especially following soybean production in conventionally tillage systems, is vital in sustaining soil health, as continued topsoil loss from wind and water erosion will have detrimental effects on crop productivity of regional soils and eventually will increase fertilizer inputs if current management practices continue [2]. Cover crops can provide protection to the soil by reducing soil particle removal due to wind and water erosion. Soil organic matter is a major contributing factor in soil productivity and can be enhanced by incorporating cover crops [7]
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