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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199447
Title: RELAY-CROPPING TO IMPROVE N MANAGEMENT

Author
item Schepers, James
item Francis, Dennis
item Shanahan, John
item Tubbs, Ronald

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2005
Publication Date: 11/1/2005
Citation: Schepers, J.S., Francis, D.D., Shanahan, J.F., Tubbs, R.S. 2005. Relay-cropping to improve n management. Agronomy Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Winter wheat was seeded as a cover crop shortly after seed corn harvest in an attempt to remove residual N from soil so that nitrate would be unavailable for leaching. Because the growing season in the Corn Belt is not long enough to accommodate harvesting full crops of wheat and soybean in the same year using double-crop techniques, soybean was inter-seeding into wheat at heading time. The combination of two scavenger crops (wheat followed by soybean) removed nearly all of the residual N from soil and even required additional N because of the high yields of wheat (>5 Mg/ha) and variable levels of residual N remaining after seed corn. Profitability of the seed corn – wheat – soybean relay cropping system depends on the length of the growing season, ability to obtain timely seeding of the soybean crop into standing wheat, and prices for inputs and grain. Experience over the past three years indicates that producers should be able to obtain at least $100/ha extra profit by using the cover crop to harvest unused solar energy.