Abstract
Broadcasting cover crops into standing corn has the potential to increase forage dry matter production, increase total forage quality available for grazing and increase livestock grazing capacity. However, the dense foliage canopy of traditional high plant population systems limits light penetration necessary for cover crop seed germination until normal crop senescence at the R-5 stage of growth. A research design that compares the local standard corn population to a reduced planting population and skip-row planting techniques to modify canopy light penetration was begun in 2010. Data collected included grain yield, cover crop dry matter, weed dry matter, and cover crop species percentage of harvestable sward. A randomized complete block design with four treatments of 0.75 ac, and five replications was used for this research project.
Two years of data collection to date of a three year study found significant differences in corn grain yields, cover crop dry matter yield and weed dry matter yield. First year results found significantly greater grain yield and cover crop dry matter yields. Grain yields were greater in the highest corn populations, and cover crop plus weed dry matter yields were highest in lower corn populations. Second year results also found significant differences in grain and cover crop yields. However, the lowest corn plant populations had the greatest grain yields and the highest cover crop dry matter. Rainfall amounts and patterns influenced results in both years studied. A third year of study is planned.