EVALUATION AND DEMONSTRATION OF BROADCAST INTERSEEDED COVER CROPS TO REDUCE NITROGEN LOSS

The overall goal of this proposed work is to encourage and motivate farmers by demonstrating cover crop interseeding technology and improving their knowledge of cover crops that will lead to improved nitrogen uptake efficiency and reducing losses, which will improve sustainable food production and water quality. To accomplish these goals, we propose the following objectives.Research Objective: To evaluate interseeded cover crops for decreasing nitrogen loss and to assess the impact of cover crops on nitrogen dynamics over the season. This objective will be accomplished via on-farm trials and in plots at research station which we will conduct over a three-year period, in both continuous corn and corn-soybean-corn rotation under irrigation system. Cover crop, corn and soybean plant biomass will be sampled, and soil sampling will be performed to assess nitrogen cycling and loss.Extension Objective: To demonstrate cover crop interseeding technology and encourage farmers and stakeholder adoption of cover crop practices that improve nitrogen capture to limit losses. This objective will be accomplished through cooperation with farmers, Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Natural Resource Districts, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in hosting six local field day demonstrations each year to better understand the value of using of cover crops to reduce nitrogen losses.