Soil-Water Dynamics, Evapotranspiration, and Crop Coefficients of Cover-Crop Mixtures in Seed Maize Cover-Crop Rotation Fields. II: Grass-Reference and Alfalfa-Reference Single (Normal) and Basal Crop Coefficients
Publication: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 143, Issue 9
Abstract
Cover crops have been gaining attraction in agriculture as rotational crops because of their potential benefits in various soil characteristics and soil-water functions. The knowledge about cover-crop water use in terms of examining the water availability for the next field crop is very important for developing and implementing sustainable agricultural management strategies. Crop coefficients for estimating water use for cover crops are among one of the least available coefficients of any cropping systems. In this study single (normal) and basal grass-reference ( and ) and alfalfa-reference ( and ) crop coefficients were developed as a function of cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) for (1) cover-crop mixes (CC) only, (2) seed maize cover-crop rotation (SCCC), (3) seed maize residue without cover crop (SC), and (4) bare soil. The research was conducted for three cover-crop growing seasons (2012–2013, 2013–2014, and 2014–2015) on three center pivot–irrigated seed maize cover-crop rotation fields (F1, F2, and F3) near Beaver Crossing, Nebraska. Single and basal crop coefficients were developed from the data and estimated grass-reference and alfalfa-reference evapotranspiration ( and ). The and values exhibited interannual variability for the same months and treatments between the years. The and varied from 0.0 to 1.8 and 0.0 to 1.2, respectively, in the 2012–2013 season; from 0.0 to 2.3 and 0.0 to 1.7, respectively, in the 2013–2014 season; and from 0.0 to 2.3 and 0.0 to 1.7 in the 2014–2015 cover-crop growing season. On average, the cover crop and values fluctuated between 0.0 to 1.6 and 0.0 to 1.5, respectively. In general, depending on the treatment, maximum and values occurred at CGDD between approximately 980 and 1,300°C (end of October), which then gradually decreased in the winter months. Minimum values usually occurred at CGDD of approximately 200°C. The and curves presented in this study are among first cover crop values and can be used to estimate cover crop for particular cover-crop mixtures that are similar to those used in this research and grown under climatic conditions similar to the research area.
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Acknowledgments
This project was funded and supported by the USDA-NRCS, National Conservation Innovation Grants Program under project number 69-3A75-12-207. As the project principal investigator, Dr. Suat Irmak expresses his appreciation to the USDA-NRCS for collaboration and for providing financial support for this project. Dr. Irmak also expresses his appreciation to David Cast and Doug Cast in Beaver Crossing, NE for allowing these extensive projects to happen in their production fields and for their excellent collaboration. Dr. Irmak also thanks Kari E. Skaggs for her contributions in field data collection. This study is based on work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Dr. Irmak’s hatch project, under project number NEB-21-155.
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Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 143 • Issue 9 • September 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 13, 2016
Accepted: Mar 21, 2017
Published online: Jun 24, 2017
Published in print: Sep 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Nov 24, 2017
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