Increasing the Sustainability of Oklahoma Cropping Systems Using Cover Crops

Increasing the Sustainability of Oklahoma Cropping Systems Using Cover Crops

Summary

In 2008, one location near El Reno in western Oklahoma was established to evaluate the use of summer cover crop in a continuous winter wheat cropping system. The other locations were not planted because of drought conditions. Guar, cowpea, soybean, and mungbean were seeded in late June following wheat harvest. Cover crops were terminated after 60 days of growth. Biomass yields were similar; however, cowpea and soybean had a greater amount of TN in the above ground biomass. Wheat was seeded in early October.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Objective 1 – Determine the effect of cover crops on grain yield of the subsequent wheat crop.

Objective 2 – Determine the economic feasibility of including cover crops in current cropping systems in western Oklahoma.

Objective 3 – Determine nitrogen contribution using the Green SeekerTM Optical Sensor.

Accomplishments/Milestones

In 2008, we established our first cover crop plots and seeded our first wheat crop following the cover crops. At the end of 2008 we still do not have the majority of our data collected. Amount of N contribution from legume cover crops and effect of cover crops on wheat grain yield will be collected in 2009.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

A field day was held at the El Reno location. This field day was organized to highlight the On-farm SARE research project that we have with the producer. Thirty-four producers attended and were able to view cover crop plots first hand. We discussed the objectives of the project and what we had seen to date.

Collaborators: