THE EFFECT OF COVER CROPS ON CORN PRODUCTION
Sustainable Agriculture
Alan Sundermeier
Extension Educator
The Ohio State University Extension
BOWLING GREEN
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of cover crops on corn production, an experiment was conducted at the Ohio State University Research Farm in Wood County, Ohio. The entries were replicated four times in a randomized complete block design. Two tillage systems were no-till and conservation tillage in this comparison. Medium red clover was frost seeded in wheat in April, 2009. After wheat harvest, clover was allowed to grow until November, 2009 when Roundup and Clarity herbicides were applied to kill the clover. Corn was planted at the same time in all plots on 4-21-10. All plots harvested the center two rows. The no-till clover cover crop increased corn yield by 8.8 bushels per acre compared to no-till with no clover. When corn was planted into wheat residue, conservation tillage had a significant effect on increasing corn yield compared to no-till. However, when clover cover crop was added to no-till, corn yields were not significantly different compared to conservation tillage without clover. When comparing the per acre cost of clover ($24.00) to total conservation tillage costs ($25.50), there was no significant difference in input cost with the same corn yield results. Added benefits of clover cover crop and no-till are soil quality improvements in soil tilth and increasing active carbon.
Authors: Sundermeier, A.
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Sundermeier, A. Extension Educator, The Ohio State University Extension, Ohio, 43402