Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Cover Crop Effect On Subsequent Wheat Yield In The Central Great Plains, David C. Nielsen, Drew J. Lyon, Robert K. Higgins, Gary W. Hergert, Johnathon D. Holman, Merle F. Vigil

David C. Nielsen

Crop production systems in the water-limited environment of the semiarid central Great Plains may not have potential to profitably use cover crops because of lowered subsequent wheat (Triticum asestivum L.) yields following the cover crop. Mixtures have reportedly shown less yield-reducing effects on subsequent crops than single-species plantings. This study was conducted to determine winter wheat yields following both mixtures and single-species plantings of spring-planted cover crops. The study was conducted at Akron, CO, and Sidney, NE, during the 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 wheat growing seasons under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Precipitation storage efficiency before wheat planting, wheat water use, …