May 10, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK For corn, using dairy manure and legume cover crops in crop rotations can reduce the need for inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and protect water quality, but these practices also can contribute to emissions of nitrous oxide a potent greenhouse gas.
That is the conclusion of Penn State researchers, who measured nitrous oxide emissions from the corn phases of two crop rotations a corn-soybean rotation and a dairy forage rotation under three different management regimens. The results of the study offer clues about how dairy farmers might reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer they apply to corn crops, saving money and contributing less to climate change.
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Climate-smart ag strategies may cut nitrous oxide emissions from corn production
Lead researcher Maria Ponce de Leon, a former graduate student in plant science, carries a nitrous oxide emissions chamber into a corn field at Penn State’s Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center to measure the amount of the potent greenhouse gas given off by the crop.
Image: Heather Karsten
For corn, using dairy manure and legume cover crops in crop rotations can reduce the need for inorganic nitrogen fertilizer and protect water quality, but these practices also can contribute to emissions of nitrous oxide – a potent greenhouse gas.
Jevtic/Getty Images
TRY SOME OATS: A planting of spring forage oats could help bridge the gap if you think you’ll be short on forage later this year. But get it in early, as soon as the ground is dry enough. If you can spare some acres, oats can be a good way to add forage.
If you got a late start planting your winter annuals, or you got some winterkill and are worried about available forage this spring, now’s the time to shore up your spring green-up plan.
“It’s a tight fit. You ve got to be on the ball with it,” said Dave Wilson, a Penn State agronomy Extension educator, during a recent webinar on dairy double cropping.