Location: Soil Management Research
2020 Annual Report
Accomplishments
1. Pennycress as a cash cover crop promotes sweet corn sustainability. Commercial sweet corn production often results in substantial fertilizer nitrogen losses that end up in ground and surface waters as a pollutant. Growing a cover crop after sweet corn harvest to utilize excess leftover nitrogen could prevent this issue, but producers are reluctant to do this for economic reasons. ARS researchers from Morris, Minnesota, in collaboration with University of Minnesota scientists demonstrated that pennycress, which can double as an oilseed cover and cash crop, reduces potential loss of leftover nitrogen from sweet corn production by about 42%. Moreover, the excess nitrogen that pennycress scavenges is enough to produce adequate seed yields without adding any additional fertilizer. Results are relevant to farmers, extension specialists, and crop consultants searching for cover crop options that are both economically and environmentally sustainable.
2. Improving pennycress seed germination. Field pennycress is a new winter annual oilseed that can function as both a cover and cash crop. Pennycress seed germination and hence plant emergence varies with the environment the seed is produced in; breeders and agronomists are trying to improve this trait. ARS researchers from Morris, Minnesota, collaborated with scientists from Spain to develop models to better predict pennycress seed germination based on temperature. Different models were developed based on location of seed production and whether the seed originated from the upper or lower part of the plant. Seeds developed under a temperate climate and originating from the upper (apical) portion of the plant exhibited earlier and faster germination, which are desirable traits for improving germination. Models developed provide tools that will be highly useful to crop breeders and other researchers focusing on seed selection for improved seed germination of pennycress.
Review Publications
Mohammed, Y.A., Miller, Z., Hubbel, K., Chen, C. 2020. Variety and weed management effects on organic chickpea stand establishment and seed yield. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 3:e20035. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20035.
Edo-Tena, E., Gesch, R.W., Royo-Esnal, A. 2020. Germination patterns in seeds produced in apical and basal fruits of two Thlaspi arvense populations. Agronomy. 10:756. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050756.
Moore, S.A., Wells, M.S., Gesch, R.W., Becker, R.L., Rosen, C.J., Wilson, M.L. 2020. Pennycress as a cash cover-crop: Improving the sustainability of sweet corn production systems. Agronomy. 10:614. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050614.