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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory » Research » Research Project #440864

Research Project: Improved Models of Cover Crop Processes and Sustainable Crop Production

Location: Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory

Project Number: 8042-12000-043-001-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 15, 2021
End Date: Jul 14, 2026

Objective:
Improved modeling of biomass accumulation and nitrogen dynamics in cover crops, and modeling the effects of cover crop residues on water, temperature and nitrogen dynamics in soils. The objectives of this project are to develop and improve models cover crop processes and to evaluate the effects of cover crops on soil nitrogen, temperature and water dynamics in corn and soybean systems.

Approach:
Adaptive Crops Systems Laboratory (ACSL) and University of Maryland (UMD) scientists will evaluate the models RYESIM, MAIZSIM, and GLYCIM to simulate the dynamics of cover crop mulches and effects of cover crops on water and nitrogen availability in the following cash crop. Data from experiments by the Precision Sustainable Agriculture group, UMD, ACSL, and the literature will be used to test and improve these models.