Author: Krisztina ElekiPublisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 164
Book Description
Kura clover has potential as a living mulch for corn production, however understanding the below ground completion is critical for developing best management practices. The first study's objective was to determine kura clover living mulch management effects on root growth. Two kura clover management treatments were compared. In the first a 25-cm band centered on the corn row was suppressed with herbicides. In the second a broadcast herbicide application suppressed all of the kura clover stand. Soil cores containing both corn and kura clover roots were obtained at three distances from the row and at two depths. Root discrimination from these cores was based on 13C ratio analysis. This relationship between 13C and percentage corn roots in calibration samples was linear, and was used to determine corn root percentages within each field core. There were significant corn and kura clover root density depth effects. Corn root density differences were significant between positions, however, significant root growth pattern differences were not observed between treatments. Kura clover management in this study did not affect corn root growth. 13C isotope analysis was a suitable method to discriminate corn and kura clover root materials. As a living mulch, kura clover may also reduce soil erosion, however data are missing. The second study's objective was to determine kura clover cover crop effects on sediment loss, water runoff, and phosphorus losses. Two treatments were compared: a conventionally tilled corn vs. a no-till corn-kura clover living mulch system. Passive infield sediment and runoff collectors were placed in the plots to obtain runoff and sediment from natural rainfall events. The kura clover living mulch treatment significantly reduced the quantity of sediment collected. Runoff was not significantly affected by treatment, but was by date. Runoff patterns were similar for both treatments and total sediment losses remained less than 1 Mg ha−1 for both treatments. When data were segregated as summer and winter events, treatments significantly affected total phosphorus losses in the winter months. The net effect of the kura clover living mulch was to reduce phosphorus loss compared with the tilled surface during the late winter months.
