2008 Annual Report for FNC07-653
Cover Crop Water Usage and Affect on Yield in No-Till Dryland Cropping Systems
Summary
WORK ACTIVITIES
July 20th, 2008
25 different cover crop test plots (each 20’ wide) were drilled into standing wheat stubble. The purpose was to measure the water usage of multiple cover crops and cover crop mixtures seeded into dryland wheat stubble after harvest and to observe cover crop growth and response. In addition, 50 acres of a grazing cover crop mix was drilled in an adjacent field to use in cattle grazing of cover crops experiment. The following is a list of cover crop plots that were drilled:
Plot # Crop
1 Milo
2 Sorghum Sudan
3 HyGreen Pearl Millet
4 Proso Millet
5 German Millet
6 Sunflowers
7 Soybeans
8 Lentils
9 Dwarf Essex Rape
10 Red Clover
11 Brassica Grazing Mix
12 Alfalfa
13 Common Vetch
14 Mung Bean
15 Oil Seed Radish
16 Legume Mix
17 Grass Mix
18 Everything 1 x rate
19 Wheat stubble only
20 Everything 2x rate
21 Barley
22 Ethiopian Cabbage
23 Grazing Mix plus Rape, Radish, Barley, pearl and German millet
24 Grazing Mix plus Rape, Radish, Barley, pearl and German millet
25 Grazing Mix plus Rape, Radish, Barley, pearl and German millet
August 16th, 2008
Watermark soil sensors were installed in each of the test plots at 1’, 2’, and 3’ depths. Nine Watermark data loggers were installed and connected to the sensors to automatically record daily readings from 18 of the plots.
August 16th – November 30th, 2008
Watermark dataloggers recorded moisture usage from cover crop plots that were connected. Other non-logged plots were read with a hand held meter on a weekly basis. 2008 saw above normal rainfall, so moisture usage results will need to be analyzed accordingly.
September 16th – October 27th, 2008
The 50 acres of grazing cover crops was cross fenced and paddock grazed with results and regrowth noted and recorded via pictures.
September 23rd, 2008
A No-till Cover Crop Research Plot Field Day was held with lots of local support and help. A copy of the press release for this field day is included below. Nearly 100 people attended this field day and showed great interest in learning about cover crops and how they can be used in a no-till cropping system. Cover crop water usage was also discussed and to-date water usage for the different cover crops was shown. Expert speakers were also on hand to discuss the effect of cover crops on soil fertility, soil structure, and rotational grazing of cattle. In spite of some rainy weather, attendees were very positive and showed much interest in cover crops.
October 20th, 2008
A 2nd Plot Field Day was held with invitations going to local and state NRCS and NRD personnel. Ray Ward of Ward Labs and Paul Jasa with UNL Extension were also on hand to observe and teach about cover crops. This smaller format of a field day was very beneficial for the people in attendance.
August 16th – November 30th, 2008
Photos of cover crop weekly stage growth and other details about cover crop information were posted to the website www.notillcovercrops.com for people to look at and review. Water use results will also be posted here at a later date.
November 30th, 2008
Watermark datalogger information was downloaded and is being analyzed.
RESULTS
1. 20 different cover crops were observed growing in a variety of different conditions and combinations.
2. Over 100 people attended a field day to observe the cover crops growing and learn more about cover crops and their moisture usage.
3. As a general rule, we learned that a blend of different cover crops uses less water then the cover crops growing in a monoculture environment.
4. We observed that certain crops such as sunflowers and soybeans used much more water then did other crops such as lentils and vetch.
5. We observed many differences in where different types of cover crops will thrive. For example, the brassicas did extremely well in areas of excess nitrogen and the legumes did poorly. However, in areas where nitrogen was limited, the brassicas had much less growth and the legumes did quite well.
6. We learned that a mix or a blend of different cover crops will have the ability to address multiple issues within a large field.
7. We learned that too high of a seeding rate can limit the growth of the cover crops – in addition to be an excess expense.
8. We learned that cover crops can be an excellent source of supplemental grazing, but care must be taken not to overgraze or it could be detrimental to the soil benefits of the cover crops.
9. We learned that we could produce up to 80+ pounds of nitrogen for the soil in the growing period from after wheat harvest to killing frost.
10. We learned that legumes such as lentils and vetch are much more frost tolerant then legumes such as soybeans or mung beans and gave nearly a month longer growing season.
11. We learned that brassicas such as dwarf essex rape and Ethiopian cabbage have excellent deep tap roots and can have a positive impact on breaking compaction layers.
12. We learned that we must be careful of planting cover crops that could produce viable seed for the next growing crop. Proso millet, german millet, sunflowers, and sudan grass are crops that could produce viable seed that could be a problem in future years.
WORK PLAN FOR 2009
In 2009, we intend to plant corn into all of these cover crop plots and attempt to determine and measure any yield differences in the corn crop that may be attributed to the particular cover crop. In addition, we will put a strip of corn in with excess nitrogen and a strip in with no additional nitrogen to try to determine the effects of cover crop legume produced nitrogen on the following crop.
OUTREACH
September 23rd, 2008
A No-till Cover Crop Research Plot Field Day was held with lots of local support and help. A copy of the press release for this field day is included below. Nearly 100 people attended this field day and showed great interest in learning about cover crops and how they can be used in a no-till cropping system. Cover crop water usage was also discussed and to-date water usage for the different cover crops was shown. Expert speakers were also on hand to discuss the effect of cover crops on soil fertility, soil structure, and rotational grazing of cattle. In spite of some rainy weather, attendees were very positive and showed much interest in cover crops.
October 20th, 2008
A 2nd Plot Field Day was held with invitations going to local and state NRCS and NRD personnel. Ray Ward of Ward Labs and Paul Jasa with UNL Extension were also on hand to observe and teach about cover crops. This smaller format of a field day was very beneficial for the people in attendance.
For 2009, we are scheduled to speak at 5 or 6 different NRD, NRCS, or UNL Extension producer meetings to share our cover crop experiences and the findings from this project. We also are speaking twice at the No-till On the Plains Winter Conference in Salina, KS on January 27th and 28th. This conference usually has well over 1,000 farmers in attendance. We are also planning another field day in the fall of 2009 to look at yield differences in the corn crop across the cover crop plots.