Transcript COVER CROP BENEFITS ON CLAYPAN SOILS Newell Kitchen USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit Columbia, MO Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into.

COVER CROP BENEFITS ON
CLAYPAN SOILS
Newell Kitchen
USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit
Columbia, MO
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Why do we do cover crops?
We Need Cover!
Cover: blanket,
canopy,
cloak,
hood,
layer,
shield,
overlay,
veil,
cap
Poorly-Drained Upland Soils
are not Exempt
Lost topsoil from erosion
Lost organic matter
Lost soil structure
Lower fertility
What essential is “cover” when you’ve lost 60-90%
of the function of that original soil?
How have we incorporated cover crops
on the Precision Agriculture System (PAS)?
2005 , 2007, 2009 Wheat Cover
2006, 2011 Cereal Rye
2007 Sudex (following wheat)
2008 Rye Grass
2009-2012 Grass/Legume/Brassica Mix
What benefits do we see with
cover crops?
Quickly shows reduced erosion
Mulch tillage, Corn-soybean
rotation (MTCS)
No-till, Corn-soybean-wheat
rotation (NTCSW cover)
Improved Water Quality
What are the hidden below ground
impacts of cover crops?
Improved Water Infiltration
hay (cool & warm)
CRP (cool)
CRP (warm)
Improved Soil Aggregate Stability
Min. Till CS (1)
No Till CS (2)
ICM No Till CSW (5)
CRP (6)
70
Aggregate stability, %
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Footslope
Backslope
Landscape
Summit
Recovered Nitrogen after Drought
Profile Depth (cm)
0
20
40
60
Avg. NO3-N (kg ha-1 90cm-1)
Cover: 16.7
No-Cover: 118.8
80
0
20
40
NO3-N (kg ha-1)
60
Changes in other Soil Quality Indicators
Property and units
pH
P, mg/kg
K, mg/kg
SOC, g/kg
POM-C, g/kg
MnOxC, g/kg
Total N, g/kg
POM-N, g/kg
2003
6.18
7.6
60.9
11.5
1.49
0.344
1.07
0.117
2007
6.34
15.1
133.6
12.4
2.51
0.342
1.18
0.166
Highlighted items are significantly different between samplings
Typical Positive Impacts from Cover
Crops on Soil Physical Properties
• Increased soil organic matter
• Enhanced infiltration
• Enhanced aeration
• Improved soil structure/aggregation
• Decreased soil strength
• Preventive of soil compaction
• Reduced evaporation potential