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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411120

Research Project: Agronomic and Engineering Solutions for Conventional and Organic Conservation Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern U.S.

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Cover crop residue management effects on soil moisture and cotton emergence

Author
item Kichler, Corey
item Watts, Dexter
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Kornecki, Ted
item PRASAD, RISHI - Auburn University

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2024
Publication Date: 2/3/2024
Citation: Kichler, C.M., Watts, D.B., Torbert III, H.A., Kornecki, T.S., Prasad, R. 2024. Cover crop residue management effects on soil moisture and cotton emergence [abstract]. Southern Branch American Society of Agronomy; Atlanta, GA February 3-5, 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The benefits of using cover crops are well known, but methods on how to manage surface residues are often questioned by producers. Methods that leave cover crop residue on the soil surface, including mowing and rolling/crimping, can improve soil moisture retention compared to conventionally tilled systems under certain weather patterns. Nevertheless, moisture retention is largely dependent on the amount of cover crop biomass produced. However, heavy cover crop residues can often interfere with planters, leading to slower emergence. This experiment investigates three different termination methods for a cereal rye cover crop including mowing (MOW), rolling/crimping (ROLL), and mowing with incorporation (MOWINCORP) and their effects on soil moisture retention and cotton seed emergence during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. The cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop biomass production for 2022 was 6443 kg ha-1 compared to 3711 kg ha-1 for 2023 (42% less). An emergence rate index (ERI) was used to determine differences between the systems as well as weekly volumetric moisture readings. In 2022, the MOW method was significantly lower at 13.96 compared to both ROLL (ERI=15.43) and MOWINCORP (ERI=15.9). This is due to the MOW method creating finely chopped and loose residue that can obstruct seed-to-soil contact (hair-pinning condition). No significant differences for ERI were observed for 2023 due to the low biomass production that did not negatively affect the planter. Volumetric soil moisture was significantly higher for MOW and ROLL methods by 14.2-51% compared to MOWINCORP at various times during the first four weeks after cotton planting in 2022. VMC for 2023 did not show significant differences except for one of the weekly readings, again due to the lower amount of biomass produced in 2023 compared to 2022. Cover crop termination methods along with surface residue condition can affect seed emergence and soil moisture but is dependent on cover crop biomass production.