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Influence of Cover Crop, Tillage, and Crop Rotation Management on Soil Nutrients

Author

Listed:
  • Samuel I. Haruna

    (School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN 37127, USA)

  • Nsalambi V. Nkongolo

    (School of Science, Navajo Technical University, Lower point Road, State Hwy 371, Crownpoint, NM 87313, USA
    Instiut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques (IFA) de Yangambi, Kisangani BP 1232, Democratic Republic of Congo)

Abstract

Cover cropping, tillage and crop rotation management can influence soil nutrient availability and crop yield through changes in soil physical, chemical and biological processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three years of cover crop, tillage, and crop rotation on selected soil nutrients. Twenty-four plots each of corn ( Zea mays ) and soybean ( Glycine max ) were established on a 4.05 ha field and arranged in a three-factor factorial design. The three factors (treatments) were two methods of tillage (no-tillage (NT) vs. moldboard plow [conventional] tillage (CT)), two types of cover crop (no cover crop (NC) vs. cover crop (CC)) and four typess of rotation (continuous corn, continuous soybean, corn/soybean and soybean/corn). Soil samples were taken each year at four different depths in each plot; 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm, and analyzed for soil nutrients: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (NO 3 and NH 4 ), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). The results in the first year showed that CT increased NO 3 -N availability by 40% compared with NT. In the second year, NH 4 -N was 8% lower under CC compared with NC management. In the third year, P was 12% greater under CC management compared with NC management. Thus, CC can enhance crop production systems by increasing P availability and scavenging excess NH 4 -N from the soil, but longer-term studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Samuel I. Haruna & Nsalambi V. Nkongolo, 2020. "Influence of Cover Crop, Tillage, and Crop Rotation Management on Soil Nutrients," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:6:p:225-:d:370179
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samuel I. Haruna & Nsalambi V. Nkongolo, 2019. "Tillage, Cover Crop and Crop Rotation Effects on Selected Soil Chemical Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-11, May.
    2. David Tilman & Kenneth G. Cassman & Pamela A. Matson & Rosamond Naylor & Stephen Polasky, 2002. "Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices," Nature, Nature, vol. 418(6898), pages 671-677, August.
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    1. Singh, Atinderpal & Bista, Prakriti & Deb, Sanjit K. & Ghimire, Rajan, 2025. "Simulating cover crops impacts on soil water and nitrogen dynamics and silage yield in the semi-arid Southwestern United States," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    2. Qiliang Huang & Nobuko Katayanagi & Masakazu Komatsuzaki & Tamon Fumoto, 2025. "Field Validation of the DNDC-Rice Model for Crop Yield, Nitrous Oxide Emissions and Carbon Sequestration in a Soybean System with Rye Cover Crop Management," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Shangyi Lou & Jin He & Hongwen Li & Qingjie Wang & Caiyun Lu & Wenzheng Liu & Peng Liu & Zhenguo Zhang & Hui Li, 2021. "Current Knowledge and Future Directions for Improving Subsoiling Quality and Reducing Energy Consumption in Conservation Fields," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Hongbing Zheng & Ruiping Li & Pengxiang Sui & Hao Wang & Ying Ren & Ye Yuan & Shengtao Tian & Siqi Zhou & Wuren Liu & Yang Luo & Jinyu Zheng, 2023. "Potential Mechanism of Optimal Tillage Layer Structure for Improving Maize Yield and Enhancing Root Growth in Northeast China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Václav Voltr & Jana Wollnerová & Pavel Fuksa & Martin Hruška, 2021. "Influence of Tillage on the Production Inputs, Outputs, Soil Compaction and GHG Emissions," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-24, May.

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