Abstract
Maximizing cover crop biomass production is key to agroecosystem service delivery. Cover crop biomass accumulation is particularly important in corn ( Zea mays L.) silage cropping systems due to the high rate of crop biomass removal that leaves the soil surface mostly bare from early fall until planting the following spring. We evaluated how weather factors affect rye ( Secale cereale L.) cover crop shoot biomass in different rotations including corn silage and soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and their influence on soybean and corn silage yields. In a 13-year field study in a corn silage-soybean rotation, we assessed rye biomass and main crop yields when rye was planted after one or both main crops every year. Rye after silage produced 1.98 Mg ha −1 more shoot biomass than rye after soybean. Thermal time (expressed as growing degree days) had a greater impact than precipitation on the shoot biomass of rye cover crop. A threshold of 800 growing degree days (0°C base) in the fall was determined, above which final biomass was not limited by fall thermal time (R 2 =0.58). Rye biomass was most strongly affected by fall thermal time (below 800 growing degree days) after soybean and by spring growing degree days and precipitation after corn silage. Rye cover crop inclusion did not decrease corn silage and soybean yields in 12 out of 13 years. Fall growing degree days below a threshold may limit the maximum potential for spring rye cover crop growth, but spring growing degree days or precipitation may prevent maximum growth from occurring when exceeding 800 growing degree days. Planting rye cover crops in both phases of the rotation did not affect cover crop biomass or main crop yields and may hold a greater potential to protect the soil than planting after only one crop in the rotation. Cropping systems that allow a rye cover crop to be planted early enough to accumulate 800 growing degree days in the fall have the best potential for high cover crop biomass production. • We studied GDD and precipitation effects on cereal rye cover crop biomass planted after corn silage and soybean harvest. • Rye after corn silage produced on average 1.98 Mg ha −1 more shoot biomass than rye after soybean. • Final biomass was not limited by fall GDD when more than 800 GDD were accumulated in the fall. • Rye biomass was most strongly affected by fall GDD after soybean and by spring GDD after corn silage. • Rye cover crop inclusion decreased corn silage and soybean yields in only one of 13 years.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Rye planted after corn silage produced 1.98 Mg ha −1 more shoot biomass than rye after soybean.
- Taxon
- Secale cereale
Secale cerealee0 - Organ / stage
- shoote1
- Treatment
- Rye after silagee1
- Outcome
- shoot biomasse1
- Direction
- moree1
- Value
- 1.98 Mg ha −1e1
- Comparator
- rye after soybeane1
- Setting
- fielde2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“rye ( Secale cereale L.) cover crop shoot biomass”
e1“Rye after silage produced 1.98 Mg ha −1 more shoot biomass than rye after soybean”
e2“In a 13-year field study in a corn silage-soybean rotation”
Claim · model-written summary
Thermal time (growing degree days) had a greater impact than precipitation on rye cover crop shoot biomass.
- Taxon
- ryeSecale cerealee3
- Treatment
- Thermal time (expressed as growing degree days)e3
- Outcome
- shoot biomasse3
- Comparator
- precipitatione3
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Thermal time (expressed as growing degree days) had a greater impact than precipitation on the shoot biomass of rye cover crop”
Claim · model-written summary
Rye biomass was most strongly affected by fall thermal time (below 800 growing degree days) after soybean.
- Taxon
- RyeSecale cerealee4
- Treatment
- fall thermal time (below 800 growing degree days)e4
- Outcome
- biomasse4
- Qualifier
- after soybeane4
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Rye biomass was most strongly affected by fall thermal time (below 800 growing degree days) after soybean and by spring growing degree days and precipitation after corn silage”
Claim · model-written summary
Rye biomass was most strongly affected by spring growing degree days and precipitation after corn silage.
- Taxon
- RyeSecale cerealee4
- Treatment
- spring growing degree days and precipitatione4
- Outcome
- biomasse4
- Qualifier
- after corn silagee4
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“Rye biomass was most strongly affected by fall thermal time (below 800 growing degree days) after soybean and by spring growing degree days and precipitation after corn silage”
Claim · model-written summary
A fall threshold of 800 growing degree days (0°C base) was determined, above which final rye biomass was not limited by fall thermal time (R2 = 0.58).
- Taxon
- Secale cerealeSecale cerealee0
- Treatment
- fall thermal timee5
- Outcome
- final biomasse5
- Value
- R 2 =0.58e5
- Qualifier
- threshold of 800 growing degree days (0°C base)e5
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“A threshold of 800 growing degree days (0°C base) in the fall was determined, above which final biomass was not limited by fall thermal time (R 2 =0.58)”
e0“rye ( Secale cereale L.) cover crop shoot biomass”
Claim · model-written summary
Rye planted early enough to accumulate 800 growing degree days in the fall has the best potential for high cover crop biomass production.
Verbatim
e1“Cropping systems that allow a rye cover crop to be planted early enough to accumulate 800 growing degree days in the fall have the best potential for high cover crop biomass production”
Claim · model-written summary
Rye cover crop inclusion did not decrease corn silage and soybean yields in 12 of 13 years.
- Taxon
- corn silage and soybeane6
- Treatment
- Rye cover crop inclusione6
- Outcome
- corn silage and soybean yieldse6
- Direction
- did not decreasee6
- Value
- 12 out of 13 yearse6
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e6“Rye cover crop inclusion did not decrease corn silage and soybean yields in 12 out of 13 years”
Claim · model-written summary
Planting rye cover crops in both phases of the rotation did not affect cover crop biomass or main crop yields.
- Taxon
- ryeSecale cerealee7
- Treatment
- Planting rye cover crops in both phases of the rotatione7
- Outcome
- cover crop biomass or main crop yieldse7
- Direction
- did not affecte7
- Comparator
- planting after only one crop in the rotatione7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“Planting rye cover crops in both phases of the rotation did not affect cover crop biomass or main crop yields and may hold a greater potential to protect the soil than planting after only one crop in the rotation”
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See all 16 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.