Integrating Cover Crops and No-Tillage in a Dairy Forage Rotation to Improve Yields and Reduce Runoff.

In Wisconsin, dairy is an important agricultural sector contributing $26.5 billion to the state’s economy.  Corn silage and alfalfa are commonly used as feed because of their high feed value.  Soils under silage production are more susceptible to erosion and potential productivity decreases due to the lack of crop residues left on the soil after harvest.  Practices such as no tillage and cover crops can help enhance soil health and long term productivity of silage production while reducing environmental impacts.  In this study six production systems are being compared, including cover crops [no cover (NC), cereal rye (CC) and cereal rye harvested (CCH)] and two types of tillage [no-tillage (NT) and chiseling (CT)].  No significant differences in yield between these systems were found in 2014.  This suggests that using no tillage and rye as a cover crops, or harvesting the cover crop in the spring does present an option without affecting total yields.  Estimating soil loss with RUSLE2, NT was lower than CT, regardless of cover crop use or not.  Including a cover crop reduced soil loss for0 both NT and CT.  Compared to alfalfa, corn silage had a greater risk of erosion, but alfalfa has a considerable risk during the establishment year.  Rainfall simulations will be conducted to compare these results.  Collected runoff will be analyzed for sediment and phosphorus.  Soil samples will be taken and used to link soil health and runoff losses.