Optimizing Seeding Rates in a Winter Cereal Grain and Red Clover Intercrop PDF Download

Author: Brock Cameron Blaser
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ISBN:
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Languages : en
Pages : 240

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Book Description
Growing winter cereal grains in the North Central U.S. can provide multiple benefits to the current corn (Zea mays L.)/soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation. Intercropping red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) with winter cereal grains can also benefit the cropping rotation by producing forage, contributing nitrogen (N) to subsequent crops, and enhancing soil quality. This cereal grain/red clover intercropping study was conducted during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 growing seasons to determine the best seeding rates for maximizing cereal grain and red clover yields by optimizing resource competition in the intercrop. In March, red clover was frost-seeded at 0, 300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 seeds m−2 into winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) seeded at 100, 200, 300, and 400 seeds m−2 the previous October. Cereal grain yield, grain yield components, red clover densities, red clover dry matter (DM), forage quality, and late-spring soil N03-N were measured. When examined across species and year, 300 seeds m−2 cereal grain seeding rate was optimum for grain yield and suitable for red clover establishment. Red clover plant densities at cereal grain harvest were 10 to 22% of the seeding rates. Red clover harvests in the late summer, early fall, and following spring resulted in total DM production of 6 to 8 Mg ha−1. In 2004, red clover DM crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) increased of 10 and 5% and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) decreased 9% as cereal grain seeding rates increased from 100 to 400 seeds m−2. Forage quality also increased in both study years as red clover seeding rates decreased, but in both forage quality situations the differences were minor. In one study year, soil NO3-N concentrations were slightly greater than the no clover treatment when red clover seeding rates were>900 seeds m−2. The results suggested a winter cereal grain/red clover intercrop could be successfully established in the North Central U.S. using a winter cereal grain seeding rate of 300 seeds m−2 and red clover seeding rates between 900 to 1200 seeds m−2 with minor changes in red clover forage quality and soil NO3-N.