Open Access
ARTICLE
Evaluation of N sources, cover crops, and tillage systems for corn grown under organic management
Suarez Tapia A1, MB Villamil1, LJ Grabau2
1 Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
2 Professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 10 1100 Nicholasville Rd, Lexington, KY, USA.
* Corresponding Author:Address Correspondence to: María B. Villamil, Assistant Professor, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, 1102 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. (217) 333 4690, e-mail:
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2014, 83(all), 71-81. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2014.83.071
Abstract
Public demand for healthier foods and more sustainable food systems in the U.S. has triggered market prices and production of organic alternatives of major crops such as corn (
Zea mays L.). Two cover crops and their interactions with tillage systems, N sources and N rates were studied to evaluate the possibility of using these agronomic practices to facilitate growing corn under organic management in Kentucky. A split-split plot design in a RCBD with four replications was evaluated in three environments (SP08, UKR08, UKR09). The main plot treatments were cover crops [hairy vetch, HV (
Vicia villosa Roth) and rye (
Secale cereale L.)], the split plots were tillage systems [no-till (NT) and moldboard plow (MP)], and the split-split plots were the N treatment factorial combinations including two N sources [Louisville Green (LG) and Nature Safe (NF)] at four rates of N (45, 90, 135 and 180 kg N/ha plus a common control). In addition we conducted a laboratory study of nitrate release for the two selected N sources. Results showed the MP/HV combination resulted in the highest yields at all experimental sites followed by HV/NT. Ear leaf N and grain N content were higher under HV compared with rye at all sites. Nature Safe as N source, increased ear leaf N and grain N more than LG in all experimental sites, and increased yield at two of the three environments. Laboratory incubation studies showed that both N sources stopped mineralizing at 28 days after application, releasing, 55 kg N/ha on average. The MP/HV/NF treatment combination was the best management combination for organic corn production in the environments we studied.
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Cite This Article
A, S. T., Villamil, M., Grabau, L. (2014). Evaluation of N sources, cover crops, and tillage systems for corn grown under organic management.
Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, 83(all), 71–81. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2014.83.071