Evaluating the Use of Forage Radish to Enhance Winter Rye Cover Crop Performance

Project Overview

GNE14-091
Project Type: Graduate Student
Funds awarded in 2014: $14,998.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2016
Grant Recipient: University of Vermont
Region: Northeast
State: Vermont
Graduate Student:
Kirsten Workman
Email
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Sid Bosworth
Email
University of Vermont

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: corn, rye
  • Animal Products: dairy

Practices

  • Animal Production: manure management
  • Crop Production: conservation tillage, cover crops, nutrient cycling
  • Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research
  • Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, budgets/cost and returns
  • Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity, soil stabilization
  • Production Systems: general crop production
  • Soil Management: green manures, nutrient mineralization, soil analysis, soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

    Proposal abstract:

    This research project will assess the potential of forage radish (Raphunus sativus L. var. longipinnatus) to enhance performance of Winter Rye (Secale cereale) cover crops after corn silage on northeastern dairy farms that utilize manure applications in the fall. Objectives will be to determine the effects of combining forage radish with winter rye cover crops in a manured field situation and evaluate if it the addition of forage radish has impacts on the overall performance of the cover crop for improved nutrient uptake in the fall, percent cover and biomass in fall and spring, and spring nutrient cycling. This project is designed as an on-farm research project. Two farms will host research trials on fields managed for conventional corn silage. The project is designed as a randomized complete block study with ten (10) treatments and four (4) replications at each site. The research results will be used to provide research-based data to support or modify existing cover cropping specifications being used by technical service providers and cost share funding agencies. Outcomes will include efforts to promote and increase the use of cover crops and share project findings through direct farmer outreach with field days, newsletter articles, social media, Extension fact sheets and presentations.

    Project objectives from proposal:

     

      1. Determine the effects of combining forage radish with winter rye cover crops and evaluate if the addition of forage radish has impacts on: overall performance of the cover crop, improved nutrient uptake and enhanced ecosystem services.

     

      1. Establish the proper seeding rates and planting methods for a forage radish/winter rye cover crop in a corn silage system with manure.

     

      1. Quantify the economic impact of different cover crop treatments, both seeding rates/composition and application methods (direct costs, time, labor, equipment, nutrient credits, other benefits).

     

      1. Promote and increase the use of cover crops and share project findings through direct farmer outreach with field days, newsletter articles, social media, Extension fact sheets and presentations. Provide research-based data to support or modify existing cover cropping specifications being used by technical service providers and cost share funding agencies.

     

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.