Quantifying interseeded cover crops effects on soil water and corn productivity in corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems

Authors: Schomberg, Harry; WHITE, KATHRYN - Non ARS Employee; Thompson, Alondra; Mirsky, Steven

Submitted to: Data in Brief
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2023
Publication Date: 8/8/2023
Citation: Schomberg, H.H., White, K., Thompson, A.I., Mirsky, S.B. 2023. Quantifying interseeded cover crops effects on soil water and corn productivity in corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems. Data in Brief.50:109465 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109465.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2023.109465

Interpretive Summary: Soil water content and related weather and crop performance data were collected by ARS scientists from 2017 through 2020 at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD to determine effects of interseeded cover crops on soil water availability during the corn growing season. The results of the research were published as “Interseeded cover crop mixtures influence soil water storage during the corn phase of corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems” [Schomberg et al 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108167]. The data from the study have been placed in a repository on Ag Data Commons and are described in detail in this article. The article provides a guide to the repository data including background information on crop rotations, soil water and temperature sensor types, placement, and frequency of measurements as well as data on soil water content, weather data, cover crop biomass and corn yields. The article provides further details about the methods used to collect soil water content and soil temperature. A description is provided on how soil water measurements were used to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration. Additional information is provided on methods used to replace sensor data having errors. A description is provided of the daily precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures, net solar radiation, and windspeed data and the process used for estimating growing degree days and potential ET. Details on collection of cover crop (CC) biomass prior to corn planting and corn yields for the four years are provided. The data are provided by replication, cropping systems treatment, and soil depth. This information will be useful to scientists wanting to use this data in their analyses.

Technical Abstract: The data presented support the research article entitled “Interseeded cover crop mixtures influence soil water storage during the corn phase of corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems” [Schomberg et al 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108167]. Data were collected during the corn (Zea mays L.) phase of four no-till corn- soybean (Glycine max L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop rotations at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD from 2017 through 2020. Background information on crop rotations, soil water and temperature sensor types, placement, and frequency of measurements from Tables 1 through 4 of the manuscript are provided. Volumetric soil water content (m3/m3) (VWC) and soil temperature (oC) were collected using time domain reflectometry sensors in 2 (2017) or 3 field replications at 4 depths (0-12, 25-35, 50-60, 75-85 cm). VWC was converted to mm water and averaged to daily values for each soil horizon and then summed for the whole profile. Changes in whole profile soil water were used to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration. A text file of meta information describes data collection procedures, estimation of ET and infiltration, and methods used to replace sensor data having errors. Daily precipitation, max and min temperatures, net solar radiation, and windspeed collected at a nearby weather station are provided for estimating growing degree days and potential ET. Cover crop (CC) biomass (kg/ha) prior to corn planting and corn yields for the four years are provided by replication and cropping systems treatment.