Mar 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Lynn Grooms

Researchers are trying to identify ground covers that are compatible with corn

Singer also is evaluating management systems within the ground-cover species. They include:

• Control with no cover crop;

• Cover crop using a pre- and post-corn emergence 10-in. glyphosate herbicide band;

• Cover crop using a pre- and post-corn emergence 10-in. glyphosate herbicide band with fall strip tillage;

• Cover crop with spring broadcast paraquat (nonselective, non-translocated herbicide) burndown and 10-in. post glyphosate band; and

• Cover crop with spring broadcast paraquat burndown and 10-in. post-glyphosate band with fall strip tillage.

The glyphosate will kill the cover crop where it was banded in the spring, but the cover crop will recover during the summer and in the fall when it is needed to protect the soil.

“The real question we hope to answer is how much carbon the cover crops can add to the soil to offset the carbon that will be harvested in the stover,” Singer says. Putting this carbon back in the soil is essential to maintain soil organic matter, which is critical to soil productivity.

“What we hope to find at the end of the three years are the best combinations of corn genetics, ground covers and management so we can move this research closer to being commercially viable,” Singer says.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2010 Penton Media, Inc.

VIDEOS

PRODUCTS

TECHNOLOGY

Farm Industry News TV Watch video produced by the editors to show the latest equipment from the NFMS and UV Rodeo.

Product Tests See the results of the latest farm product tests conducted by Team FIN farmers and magazine editors.

Green Agriculture Recent articles on Biofuels, Water Quality, Credits, and what "green" practices will impact your business.