Abstract
AbstractTillage type/timing and herbicide application date may change the amount and timing of N mineralization, altering fertilizer N needs for first‐year corn (Zea mays L.) following glyphosate [N‐(phosphonomethyl)glycine]‐resistant (GR) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Utah. Yield, quality, and economic return of silage corn as affected by five tillage type/timings (fall conventional till, spring conventional till, fall strip‐till, spring strip‐till, and no‐till), three herbicide application dates for alfalfa termination (fall, spring, and in‐crop), and four N rates (0, 56, 112, and 224 kg ha−1) were evaluated. Silage corn yield and quality following GR alfalfa was economically optimized without N fertilization regardless of tillage type/timing and herbicide application date. Thus, N from decomposing alfalfa can provide the full N requirement of first‐year silage corn following GR alfalfa. Estimated animal milk production ha−1 of silage corn was greatest and similar for all herbicide application dates with conventional tillage and spring herbicide application with strip‐till and no‐till (26–38 Mg milk ha−1), whereas an in‐crop herbicide application with strip‐till and no‐till resulted in the lowest estimated milk production (21–29 Mg milk ha−1). Increased economic return for the in‐crop herbicide date by including economics from harvesting the first alfalfa cutting before planting corn mostly offset the reduced economic return of the lower silage corn yield. Therefore, an application of 2,4‐D (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and dicamba (3,6‐dichloro‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid) in the fall, spring, or in‐crop to control GR alfalfa are good economic options for conventional tillage, strip‐till, and no‐till systems.
Highlights
Corn (Zea mays L.) following alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in rotation is a common practice in dairy production areas of1712 wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/agj2 the United States
This study indicates that, when economics from harvesting a first-alfalfa cutting in the spring and from silage corn are both considered, the reduced economic return from silage corn yield using an in-crop herbicide date is mostly offset. This makes the use of an in-crop herbicide application to control GR alfalfa after corn is planted a good economic option, especially in conventional tillage systems
Quality, and estimated milk production of first-year corn after GR alfalfa can be economically optimized with fall or spring conventional tillage and strip-till and notill regardless of fall, spring, or in-crop herbicide date without added fertilizer N
Summary
Corn (Zea mays L.) following alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in rotation is a common practice in dairy production areas of1712 wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/agj the United States. Corn (Zea mays L.) following alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in rotation is a common practice in dairy production areas of. Tillage, or a combination of both is commonly used to terminate an alfalfa stand and prepare the soil for corn planting. The decomposing alfalfa may supply N to the following corn crop. The amount and timing of mineralization may differ based on alfalfa stand age and method and time of year alfalfa is terminated along with the environmental conditions during the growing season. Soil factors such as quantity, quality, and accessibility of organic N, along with temperature and Agronomy Journal.
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