Barley As a Production Cover Crop In the Mid-Atlantic USA.

Winter cover crops have the potential to reduce the impact of agricultural production on the surrounding ecosystem, including the Chesapeake Bay.  In recent years, interest in harvestable cover crop systems has occurred, where producers apply no fall fertilizer and no spring fertilizer until after March 1.  The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of fertilizer management on barley crop biomass, N uptake, and on barley grain yield and uptake.  These systems will compare the N scavenging and soil coverage of barley produced using: 1) standard intensive management (SIM) practices; 2) SIM, but no fall N; and 3) no N applied (cover crop management).  We expect to be able to report on grain yield differences and the environmental effects from the various fertilizer regimes.