101047 Impact of a Corn-Living Mulch Cropping System on Soil C- and N-Dynamics.

Poster Number 328-421

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
See more from this Session: Cover Crop Management Poster

Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Phoenix Convention Center North, Exhibit Hall CDE

Chumki Banik1, Cynthia Bartel1, David A. Laird1, Kenneth J. Moore2 and Andrew W. Lenssen1, (1)Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
(2)1571 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Abstract:
Use of a living mulch in a continuous corn cropping system can potentially protect the soil from erosion and increase organic C inputs into the soil thereby enhancing soil quality and facilitating greater harvest corn stover for bio-energy production. The objective of this study is to evaluate soil C- and N-dynamics under a corn-living mulch system that includes a shallow rooted perennial cover crop, strip tillage, and spring burn down. This study hypothesized that a well managed shallow rooted perennial cover crop can improve soil quality by increasing soil C storage and synergistically distributing soil nutrients.  Here we report impacts of the living mulch systems on season Mehlich III extractable nutrients and the inter-season timing and distribution of water extractable C and 2M KCl extractable NO3 and NH4 for 3 site-years. Two living mulch systems were used, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.], and soil samples were collected from within rows (strip till zone where corn is planted with no cover crop) and in between corn rows (under the perennial cover crop) thrice a month after N-fertilizer application. The nutrient data and their implications on corn yield will be reported to evaluate impacts of living mulches on continuous corn systems.

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Land Management and Conservation
See more from this Session: Cover Crop Management Poster