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Title: Cover crops can affect subsequent wheat yield in the central great plains

Author
item Nielsen, David
item Vigil, Merle
item LYON, D - University Of Nebraska
item HIGGINS, R - University Of Nebraska
item HERGERT, G - University Of Nebraska
item HOLMAN, J - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Crops and Soils
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2016
Publication Date: 5/6/2016
Citation: Nielsen, D.C., Vigil, M.F., Lyon, D.J., Higgins, R.K., Hergert, G.W., Holman, J.D. 2016. Cover crops can affect subsequent wheat yield in the central great plains. Crops and Soils. 49:51-54.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Crop production systems in the water-limited environment of the semi-arid central Great Plains may not have potential to profitably use cover crops because of lowered subsequent wheat (Triticum asestivum L.) yields following the cover crop. Cover crop mixtures have reportedly shown less yield-reducing effects on subsequent crops than single-species plantings of cover crops. This study was conducted to determine winter wheat yields following a 10-species cover crop mixture, four single-species plantings of spring-planted cover crops, or a 12-month fallow period. The study was conducted at Akron, CO and Sidney, NE during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 wheat growing seasons under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. There was an average 10% reduction in wheat yield following a cover crop compared with following fallow, regardless of whether the cover crop was grown in a mixture or in a single-species planting. Yield reductions were greater under drier conditions (17%, 10 bu/a). The slope of the wheat water use-yield relationship was not significantly different for wheat following the mixture (4.46 bu/a per inch) than for wheat following single-species plantings (4.66 -5.13 bu/a per inch). The greater expense associated with a cover crop mixture compared with a single species is not justified.