Cover crops and tillage management for enhanced sustainability in corn/soybean production in the Mississippi Delta region of Arkansas

Abstract

A field experiment was established during 2014 in Northeast Arkansas to evaluate the benefits of cover crop and tillage management for enhanced yield and soil quality. Cover crop management included cereal rye, wheat and crimson clover, and a winter fallow. Tillage management included tillage and no-tillage.

In the 2015 and 2016 seasons yield was not significantly changed by different tillage treatments. Cover crop out yielded no cover crop at the A-State site in the 2016 season. Organic matter and active carbon were significantly influenced by tillage treatments. Physical and biological properties were significantly increased with cover crops compared with no cover crops in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Physical properties were also significantly improved with no-tillage as compared with tillage in the 2015 and 2016 season. Biological properties were significantly influenced by different tillage treatments in the 2015 season.