Use of the Pasture Disk Meter to Promote Wider use of Conservation Winter Covers by Providing a Rapid Method of Accurately Measuring Winter Legume Nitrogen

Use of the Pasture Disk Meter to Promote Wider use of Conservation Winter Covers by Providing a Rapid Method of Accurately Measuring Winter Legume Nitrogen

Summary

Seven commercial farmers participated in winter cover crop demonstrations for corn production systems. Some were already convinced of the value of cover crops while others were skeptical. Farmers varied widely in terms of soils, climates and types of operations. Locations ranged from the lower Coastal Plain to Piedmont Maryland.

Data collected from these demonstration plantings confirmed that most of the data collected from replicated experiments during the past ten years can be directly applied farms. For example, further confirmation of increased soil moisture use efficiency was obtained by farmers no-tilling corn into killed and living hairy vetch covers. Improved soil moisture relationships appear to help explain observed synergistic corn fertilizer nitrogen responses following legume covers. However, cover crops in these demonstrations that were plowed down appeared to mineralize more rapidly than killed mulches left of the surface and, thus, more cover crop N was available to increase corn yields. Plowing the cover down and/or allowing it to grow too long can reduce available soil moisture.

The use of cover crops complicated management strategies of cooperating producers. The most common complaint from producers was that timely cover crop seeding in the fall plus killing the cover and planting corn at the best time the following spring adds to the workload of already full farm schedules.

Data from these demonstrations have been discussed at field days and workshops. Some of the farms were included in field days and/or farm tours. As a result, many individuals were introduced, for the first time, to advantages and problems associated with the introduction of cover crops into corn production systems. Agronomy Mimeo 34, "Winter Annual Cover Crops for Maryland Corn Production Systems" can be used by interested farmers to develop systems best suited to their specific farm situation.