MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANTING TECHNIQUES FOR WINTER COVER CROP ESTABLISHMENT FOLLOWING CORN

Abstract

The Maryland Department of Agriculture administers a state-wide program that pays farmers to plant cover crops in the fall. Several planting techniques are recognized for establishing cover crops, but opinions vary about the agronomic, economic, and nutrient management benefits of each. Farmers are primarily concerned about the costs and time associated with planting while nutrient regulatory agencies are concerned about adequate stand establishment to absorb excess nutrients. This study evaluated and compared cover crop establishment and performance using different seeding methods following the harvest of corn (Zea mays). Wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale) were evaluated under the different planting techniques. The no-till drilled, disked, and turbo-tilled plots consistently produced the most biomass and absorbed the most nitrogen. However, broadcasting seed early in the fall at an increased rate can produce a stand that provides nitrogen immobilization over the winter months and therefore a benefit to water quality.