Understanding the Impacts of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Subsequent Crop Yields Across Various Soil Types with Different Erosion Potential

Understanding the Impacts of Grazing and Baling Corn Residue on Subsequent Crop Yields Across Various Soil Types with Different Erosion Potential

Summary

In the fall of 2013, we set up the research at the cooperator sites to determine the effect of corn residue removal on soil components and grain yield. We have six cooperator sites and in 2014 we added another cooperator site. At each cooperator site they have three treatments with two replications. The treatments are grazed, no graze/no bale, and baled. At all cooperator sites grazing days are determined using corn yield so they are uniform across all sites. Soil samples were collected after harvest in 2013 before treatments were implemented. The bales from the baled treatment were weighted, sampled and sent in for analysis. Soil samples were collected again in the spring of 2014 prior to planting. Biomass and grain yield estimates were collected in the fall of 2014 for all cooperator sites.

We obtained IRB approval to develop a survey targeted to crop consultants to learn what their recommendations are in regard to corn residue removal.

We planted cover crop in the late fall of 2013 to be grazed in 2013 – 2014. Due to weather conditions, we had a poor stand to graze and days for grazing was limited due to forage production. We sampled soil prior to and after cover crop planting. We collected cover crop forage samples to determine quality and production. We planted cover crop again in 2014 after silage harvest in early September and due to almost flood conditions after planting, the stand was poor. We are learning how difficult establishment can be for cover crops. We continue to take soil samples and cover crop sample to determine quality and forage production.

We presented information about our SARE project at Husker Harvest Days and at the cow/calf college. Develop a brochure that describes our SARE project to be used as a handout at extension programs.

I made a YouTube on corn residue removal via grazing that has been viewed 423 times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi3tzpmAr0Q

We updated our Residue Grazing extension circular.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Year 1:
Objective 1 – Established treatments at cooperator sites and began collecting soil, grain yield, and biomass data.
Objective 2 – Established research component that included cover crops. Completed and are collecting soil, quality data on cover crop, and forage production of cover crop.
Objective 3 – Producer awareness using media and producer meetings.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Cooperator sites established and collecting data.
2. Research site established and collecting data.
3. Developed survey targeted to row crop consultants, have IRB approval, loaded survey in to Qualtrics, and will send in winter 2015.
4. Updated Residue Grazing extension circular.
5. Developed YouTube on grazing corn residue.
6. Developed handout for producer meetings – awareness of our SARE project.
7. Booth/display at Husker Harvest Days centered around SARE project.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

1. 432 views of YouTube video.
2. Estimated over 5000 producer contacts at Husker Harvest Days.
3. 50 producer contacts at Cow/calf College.
4. Cover crops was a topic of discussion at Cattlemen’s College – 120 producers.
5. Analyzing samples collected at the research and cooperator sites.

Collaborators: