Influence of recurrent rolling/crimping of a cereal rye/crimson clover cover crop on no-till bush bean yield

Authors: Kornecki, Ted; Kichler, Corey

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/2022
Publication Date: 3/24/2024
Citation: Kornecki, T.S., Kichler, C.M. 2024. Influence of recurrent rolling/crimping of a cereal rye/crimson clover cover crop on no-till bush bean yield. Innovations in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Food Production. Special Issue: 76-91. https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0547-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/books978-3-7258-0547-1

Interpretive Summary: ARS agricultural engineers at Auburn, AL conducted field experiment testing of innovative no-till equipment they developed. The study evaluates the effectiveness of a patented two-stage roller/crimper in recurrent rolling over a rye and clover cover crop mixture and its influence on bush bean yield. The bush beans were planted with a modified single-row planter modified with a patented hydraulically powered coulter to assist in slicing through heavy residue. Results shows that there may be an advantage to rolling/crimping three times so that planting of the cash crop could potentially be performed one week early than recommended. Overall, rolling/crimping of cover crops showed higher yields compared with non-rolled cover crop residue influenced by improved seed-to-soil contact along with increased soil moisture retention associated with a killed and flattened cover crop compared to actively growing. Furthermore, rolling cover crops three times generated slightly higher yield (21,215 kg/ha) when compared to rolling once and twice. Overall, higher termination rate of cover crop mixture achieved with recurrent rolling resulted in higher soil moisture and improved planting conditions which is an important development for small-scale producers so that conservation agriculture practices can be adopted.

Technical Abstract: A no-till experiment was conducted in Auburn, AL U.S.A. to evaluate the effectiveness of an experimental two-stage roller/crimper in reoccurring rolling over the same area planted with a cereal rye/crimson clover cover crop mix and its influence on bush bean yield. Cover crop termination was much greater with rolling/crimping when compared to the non-rolled (untreated) control. During the three growing seasons, rolling three times had significantly higher termination rates compared to all other treatments, exceeding 90% in 2020. These results suggest that there may be an advantage to rolling/crimping three times so that planting of the cash crop could potentially be performed one week earlier, under favorable soil moisture conditions. However, for growing seasons 2018 and 2020 at three weeks after rolling, there were no differences between rolling treatments. In 2019, rolling three times over the same cover crop area was the only treatment that achieved above 90% termination rate indicating a clear advantage of recurring rolling/crimping in 2019. Rolling/crimping proved to be effective as yield was significantly higher compared to not rolled when averaged over all three growing seasons. This is possible due to the difficulty in planting into a standing cover crop which could have negative effects on seed to soil contact, but more importantly explained with the slight soil moisture advantage given to the rolled plots over the standing cover crop plots. Thus, optimum soil moisture when planting beans is key for successful germination and good main crop stand.