Figure 1. Corn yield as affected by planting date and hybrid maturity. One year of data (2015 growing season).
Figure 2. Cover crop biomass as affected by cover crop planting date. One year of data (fall 2015, spring 2016).
Cover crops can provide either ecosystem services or forage benefits but understanding how they fit in cropping systems is still limited. In the US Midwest, fall-seeded cover crops are limited by the relatively short growing season remaining after the primary crop is harvested. Since increasing biomass is critical for cover crop effectiveness, there is the possibility of lengthening the cover crop growing season by modifying corn management to enhance cover crop productivity.
Study Description
The study was established in the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons under both rainfed (Havelock Farm, Lincoln, Lancaster County) and irrigated (South Central Agricultural Laboratory-SCAL, Clay Center, Clay County) conditions in Nebraska. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of planting date (early and late), plant population (low, average, and high) and corn maturity (80 to 115 days relative maturity [RM]) on corn yield to allow different dates for cover crop establishment after corn harvest. At each location, two blocks were established: one for measuring corn yield and one for planting a cover crop (rye [Secale cereale L.]) at different planting dates according to estimated harvest maturities of the hybrid’s different relative maturities. Fall and spring rye cover crop biomass were collected.
Applied Questions
How is corn yield affected by changes in management? Corn yield was affected by plant population and relative maturity, and planting date and relative maturity, confirming that early planting is for late-season hybrids and the late planting is for the short-season hybrids (Figure 1). There were no yield differences between the 115 and 112 RM hybrids, but yield was reduced with earlier RM hybrids.
How is the cover crop impacted by planting date? The corn harvest maturity was spread out a month with the different management treatments, allowing four cover crop planting dates. Cover crop biomass production was affected by these different planting dates for both fall and spring measurements, with highest production for the earliest planting date in both the fall and the spring (Figure 2).
