Roller Type and Operating Speed Effects on Rye Kill Rates, Soil Moisture and Irrigated Sweet Corn Yield in An Alabama No-Till System

摘要

Cover crops are an integral element in no-till conservation systems because they provide important benefits to soils and plants. Covers must produce maximum biomass to maximize these benefits (Brady and Weil, 1999). A commonly used cover crop in the southern United States is rye, which can produce 3000 to 10000 lbs/ac (Bowen et al., 2000). Primary benefits include soil protection from impact of rainfall energy leading to reduced soil erosion and surface runoff, decreased soil compaction and increased infiltration (Kern and Johnson, 1993; McGregor and Mutchler, 1992; Reeves, 1994; Raper et al., 2000a; Raper et al., 2000b). Cover crops also provide a physical barrier on the soil surface which inhibits weed emergence and growth. In addition to providing a physical barrier, rye has alleopathic properties that provide weed control similar to applying a pre-emergence herbicide (Barnes and Putman, 1986; Hoffman et al., 1996). Additional benefits are associated with improving soil physical/chemical properties due to increasing soil organic carbon level, resulting in better crop growth.