COVER CROP BENEFITS ON CLAYPAN SOILS Newell Kitchen USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality...
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COVER CROP BENEFITS ON CLAYPAN SOILS Newell Kitchen USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit Columbia, MO Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
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Transcript of COVER CROP BENEFITS ON CLAYPAN SOILS Newell Kitchen USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality...
COVER CROP BENEFITS ON CLAYPAN SOILS
Newell Kitchen
USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit
Columbia, MO
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Why do we do cover crops?
We Need Cover!
Cover: blanket, canopy, cloak, hood, layer, shield, overlay, veil,cap
Poorly-Drained Upland Soils are not Exempt
Lost topsoil from erosionLost organic matterLost soil structureLower fertility
Lost topsoil from erosionLost organic matterLost soil structureLower fertility
What essential is “cover” when you’ve lost 60-90% of the function of that original soil?
How have we incorporated cover crops on the Precision Agriculture System (PAS)?
2005 , 2007, 2009 Wheat Cover
2006, 2011 Cereal Rye
2007 Sudex (following wheat)
2008 Rye Grass
2009-2012 Grass/Legume/Brassica Mix
What benefits do we see with cover crops?
What benefits do we see with cover crops?
Mulch tillage, Corn-soybean rotation (MTCS)
No-till, Corn-soybean-wheat rotation (NTCSW cover)
Quickly shows reduced erosion
Improved Water Quality
What are the hidden below ground impacts of cover crops?
CRP (cool)
CRP (warm)
hay (cool & warm)
Improved Water Infiltration
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Footslope Backslope Summit
Landscape
Ag
gre
ga
te s
tab
ility
, %
Min. Till CS (1)No Till CS (2)ICM No Till CSW (5)CRP (6)
Improved Soil Aggregate Stability
Avg. N O 3-N (kg ha -1 90cm -1) C over: 16.7 N o-C over: 118.8
0 20 40 60
NO 3-N (kg ha -1)
80
60
40
20
0
Pro
file
De
pth
(cm
)
Recovered Nitrogen after Drought
Changes in other Soil Quality Indicators
Property and units 2003 2007
pH 6.18 6.34
P, mg/kg 7.6 15.1
K, mg/kg 60.9 133.6
SOC, g/kg 11.5 12.4
POM-C, g/kg 1.49 2.51
MnOxC, g/kg 0.344 0.342
Total N, g/kg 1.07 1.18
POM-N, g/kg 0.117 0.166 Highlighted items are significantly different between samplings
Typical Positive Impacts from Cover Crops on Soil Physical Properties
• Increased soil organic matter• Enhanced infiltration• Enhanced aeration• Improved soil structure/aggregation• Decreased soil strength• Preventive of soil compaction• Reduced evaporation potential
