Resilient dryland farming appropriation, 2020-2021 annual report: cover crop trial

Authors: SINGH, SURENDRA - Oregon State University; BARROSO, JUDIT - Oregon State University; CALDERON, FRANCISCO - Oregon State University; GOURLIE, JENNIFER - Oregon State University; GRAEBNER, RYAN - Oregon State University; HARRISON, KYLE - Oregon State University; HUNT, MATTHEW - Oregon State University; Klarer, Emmi; KRIETE, LINNEA - Oregon State University; MACHADO, STEPHEN - Oregon State University; McGee, Rebecca; PRITCHETT, LARRY - Oregon State University; Reardon, Catherine - Kate; Umbarger, Stephen - Steve; WOOD, DAISY - Oregon State University; HAGERTY, CHRISTINA - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Extension Service Bulletins
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2021
Publication Date: 9/8/2021
Citation: Singh, S., Barroso, J., Calderon, F., Gourlie, J., Graebner, R.C., Harrison, K., Hunt, M., Klarer, E.R., Kriete, L., Machado, S., Mcgee, R.J., Pritchett, L., Reardon, C.L., Umbarger, S.K., Wood, D., Hagerty, C.H. 2021. Resilient dryland farming appropriation, 2020-2021 annual report: cover crop trial. Extension Service Bulletins. Available: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/node/169676.

Interpretive Summary: The wheat-growing region of eastern Oregon averages only 8 to 16 inches of annual precipitation. Because of the low rainfall conditions, farmers commonly practice fallow to store soil moisture for the next wheat crop. The winter wheat-summer fallow system yields one wheat crop with approximately 14 months of fallow. Although fallowing is important in storing soil water, it is associated with negative effects on erodibility and soil carbon compared to perennial or annual cropped systems. The Resilient Dryland Farming Appropriation (RDFA) is a product of a farmer-led initiative that supports research to develop resilient cropping systems capable of tolerating drought, heat, and diseases, improve grain yield and quality, and quantify the economic and environmental benefits from dryland crop production systems. This project of the RDFA focuses on the intensification and integration of cover cropping in the wheat-fallow system to improve soil health, reduce fertilizer and herbicide inputs. Preliminary data suggests that out of 9 different cover crops, winter pea, spring barley, and a fall-seeded mix of cover crops generally produced the most biomass at two sites receiving 6.5 in and 16 in of annual precipitation. In the low precipitation zone, some of the winter cover crops failed to establish measurable biomass (e.g., winter lentil). Additionally, the different cover crops had variable effects on residual soil moisture. This report includes preliminary data for the second of a three-year study.

Technical Abstract: The wheat-growing region of eastern Oregon averages only 8 to 16 inches of annual precipitation. Because of the low rainfall conditions, farmers commonly practice fallow to store soil moisture for the next wheat crop. The winter wheat-summer fallow system yields one wheat crop with approximately 14 months of fallow. Although fallowing is important in storing soil water, it is associated with negative effects on erodibility and soil carbon compared to perennial or annual cropped systems. The Resilient Dryland Farming Appropriation (RDFA) is a product of a farmer-led initiative that supports research to develop resilient cropping systems capable of tolerating drought, heat, and diseases, improve grain yield and quality, and quantify the economic and environmental benefits from dryland crop production systems. This project of the RDFA focuses on the intensification and integration of cover cropping in the wheat-fallow system to improve soil health, reduce fertilizer and herbicide inputs. Preliminary data suggests that out of 9 different cover crops, winter pea, spring barley, and a fall-seeded mix of cover crops generally produced the most biomass at two sites receiving 6.5 in and 16 in of annual precipitation. In the low precipitation zone, some of the winter cover crops failed to establish measurable biomass (e.g., winter lentil). Additionally, the different cover crops had variable effects on residual soil moisture. This report includes preliminary data for the second of a three-year study.