2016 Annual Report for GNE16-122
Interseeded cover crops: Evaluating nitrogen retention services provided by plant-microbe relationships
Summary
Nitrate leaching from agricultural land is not only a source of pollution affecting waterways, air quality, and biodiversity, but also represents an economic loss for farmers. Cover crops (CC) can be used to reduce nitrate leaching, however establishing a CC after a corn grain harvest can be difficult in the Northeast. One solution to this constraint is to establish a CC by interseeding into a standing corn crop. While interest in CC interseeding is growing rapidly, there is very little scientific information to doc Objective1. Quantify differences in CC N uptake among an interseeded ryegrass monoculture (INT-Rye), interseeded ryegrass-clover mixture (INT-Mix), and a traditional cereal rye monoculture CC planted after corn grain harvest (POST).
Objectives/Performance Targets
Objective1. Quantify differences in CC N uptake among an interseeded ryegrass monoculture (INT-Rye), interseeded ryegrass-clover mixture (INT-Mix), and a traditional cereal rye monoculture CC planted after corn grain harvest (POST).
Objective2: Quantify potential of microbiota in interseeded systems as a N sink.
Objective3: Estimate effects of CC – microbial linkages on nitrate leaching.
Objective4: Estimate effects of cover crop – microbial linkages on N availability to subsequent cash crop.
Objective5: Estimate differences in soil microbial communities between interseeded and non-interseeded corn at different soil N levels.
Objective6: Make recommendations to organic grain farmers, extension agents, other researchers, and agriculture professionals in the Northeast about the potential benefits and costs associated with interseeding CCs in regards to N retention services.
Accomplishments/Milestones
This project is on track to begin in May of 2017.
Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes
This project is on track to begin in May of 2017.
Collaborators:
116 Ag Sci Industry Building
University Park, PA 16802