Interseeding cover crop into an irrigated sandy loam for 6 years: Soil, crop, and economic response

Abstract

Interseeding cover crops (CCs) may be a potential strategy to manage sandy soils, which are highly prone to degradation. However, how this practice affects CC biomass production and other ecosystem services in sandy soils over the traditional CC planting system (post-harvest drilling) is still unclear. We studied how broadcast interseeded (32–67 days before crop harvest) winter rye (Secale cereale L.) CC affected CC biomass production, nitrate leaching potential, soil properties, crop yields, and farm income compared with post-harvest drilled CC in an on-farm irrigated no-till corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) experiment in a sandy loam in the western US Corn Belt for 6 years. Across the 6 years, interseeded CC produced 0.57 Mg ha⁻¹ of biomass, while post-harvest drilled CC produced 0.37 Mg ha⁻¹. Nitrate leaching is a concern in sandy soils, but interseeded CC had mixed effects on soil nitrate concentration. Interseeded CC did not affect soil properties (particulate organic matter and organic C concentrations, and wet aggregate stability) and crop yields. Further, interseeded CC did not reduce farm income more than post-harvest drilled CC. The limited effect of interseeded CCs is likely due to the relatively small increase in CC biomass production over the traditional CC planting system. Additional strategies including irrigation, drill interseeding, and planting green may boost interseeded CC biomass production and thus soil services in sandy soils. After 6 years, interseeded CC slightly boosted CC biomass production but minimally affected soils and crops, and both interseeded and post-harvest-drilled CCs reduced net income.