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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324869
Title: Crop rotation affects corn, grain sorghum, and soybean yields and nitrogen recovery

Author
item Sindelar, Aaron
item Schmer, Marty
item Jin, Virginia
item Wienhold, Brian
item VARVEL, GARY - Former ARS Employee

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2016
Publication Date: 5/13/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/62908
Citation: Sindelar, A.J., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Wienhold, B.J., Varvel, G.E. 2016. Crop rotation affects corn, grain sorghum, and soybean yields and nitrogen recovery. Agronomy Journal. 108:1-11.

Interpretive Summary: Long-term cropping system and fertilizer N studies are essential to understanding production potential and yield stability of corn (Zea mays L.), grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in rain-fed environments. A no-till experiment (2007–2013) was conducted in eastern Nebraska to evaluate crop rotation (continuous corn, continuous grain sorghum, continuous soybean, corn–soybean, grain sorghum–soybean, corn– soybean–grain sorghum–oat [Avena sativa (L.)]/clover mixture [80% Melilotus officinalis Lam. + 20% Trifolium pretense L.], and corn–oat/clover–grain sorghum–soybean) and fertilizer N (corn and grain sorghum: 0, 90, 180 kg N ha–1; soybean and oat/clover: 0, 36, 67 kg N ha–1) on grain yield, plant N uptake, and N recovery efficiency. Diversified crop rotations increased corn and grain sorghum yields and improved yield stability. A positive corn grain yield response to fertilizer N was consistent across crop rotations, but fertilizer N addition with corn–soybean–grain sorghum–oat did not increase grain sorghum yield. Yield stability of soybean was less sensitive to management; all treatment combinations were found to be stable. Fertilizer N addition decreased soybean grain yield in 2 of 7 yr, but yields were similar in the remaining 5 yr. These results indicate that adoption of 2- and 4-yr crop rotations in rain-fed environments can result in high-yielding, more stable corn, grain sorghum, and soybean grain production compared with shorter rotations or continuous cropping.

Technical Abstract: Long-term cropping system and fertilizer N studies are essential towards understanding production potential and yield stability of corn (Zea mays L.), grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in rain-fed environments. A no-till experiment (2007-13) was conducted in eastern Nebraska to evaluate crop rotation (CC, continuous corn; GG, continuous grain sorghum; SS, continuous soybean; CS, corn-soybean; GS, grain sorghum-soybean; CSGO; corn-soybean-grain sorghum-oat [Avena sativa (L.)]/clover mixture [80% Melilotus officinalis Lam. + 20% Trifolium pretense L.]; and COGS, corn-oat/clover-grain sorghum-soybean) and fertilizer N input (corn and grain sorghum: 0 kg N ha-1; 90 kg N ha-1; 180 kg N ha-1; soybean and oat/clover: 0 kg N ha-1; 36 kg N ha-1; 67 kg N ha-1) on grain yield, plant N uptake, and N recovery efficiency (NRE). Diversified crop rotations increased corn and grain sorghum yields and improved yield stability. A positive corn grain yield response to increased fertilizer N input was consistent across crop rotations, but fertilizer N addition with CSGO did not increase grain sorghum yield. Yield stability of soybean was less sensitive to management, as all treatment combinations were found to be stable. Fertilizer N addition decreased soybean grain yield in two of seven years, but yields were similar in the remaining five. These results indicate that adoption of 2- and 4-yr crop rotations in rain-fed environments can result in high-yielding, more stable corn, grain sorghum, and soybean grain production compared to shorter rotations or continuous cropping.