ALTERNATIVE COVER CROPS PERFORMANCE AND PLANTING TECHNIQUES
Applied Research
Richard Nottingham
Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources
University of Maryland Extension
PRINCESS ANNE
Abstract
Fall plantings of cover crops are vital to scavenge carry-over nutrients, particularly nitrogen, which is susceptible to loss. Cover crops are a valuable resource to reduce erosion and are vital to water quality. Wheat , rye, hairy vetch, canola, annual rye grass, tillage radish, and spring oat cover crop plots were planted at three Maryland locations using 4 planting treatments. The following planting techniques were utilized: broadcast only, broadcast and vertical till, broadcast and lightly disk, and no-till drill. Seed emergence counts tracked establishment for each treatments. Overall, seedling rates were highest in the no-till drill, broadcast and lightly disked, and vertical tilled plots and lowest in the broadcast only plots. As expected, increased seed to soil contact resulted in higher establishment rates. Results indicate that increased seed to soil contact was more critical for good seed establishment in hairy vetch and canola and less critical for wheat, rye, and spring oats. Vertical tillage provided comparable establishment rates for rye, and wheat to no-till plots and disked plots, but lower establishment rates for hairy vetch, canola, and spring oats. In all cases, vertical tilled plots had higher establishment rates than broadcast only plots.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted for judging. It will be displayed at the AM/PIC if not selected as a State winner. The abstract will be published in the proceedings.
A poster file has not been provided
Authors: *J.R. Nottingham, D. Armentrout
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Nottingham, *. Extension Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Maryland, 21853
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Armentrout, D. Facility Manager, LESREC Facility, University of Maryland Extension, Maryland, 21801