Cropping system influences on extractable water for mono- and double-cropped soybean

Lehrsch, G.A. and Whisler, F.D. and Buehring, N.W. (1994) Cropping system influences on extractable water for mono- and double-cropped soybean. Agricultural Water Management. 26:13-25.

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Abstract

For rain-fed agriculture in the southeastern United States, efficient soil water use when double-cropping
is essential. Water use by soybean [Glycine max (L.) Men.] following winter wheat
(Triticum aestivum L.) is, however, poorly documented. Winter wheat may deplete soil water, thus
limiting subsequent soybean yield. Cropping system variables, such as soybean planting date and row
spacing, may also affect water use. Therefore, a 4-year field experiment in northeastern Mississippi
was conducted on Leeper ( Vertic Haplaquept) and Catalpa (Fluvaquentic Hapludoll) silty clays.
The objectives were to (1) determine the influence of soybean planting date, cropping system
(monocropped versus double-cropped), and row spacing on extractable water ( similar to available
water) for soybean, and (2) identify a production system to improve the use of extractable water
over a growing season. In mid- to late-May ( the first soybean planting date), "Centennial" soybean
in 38- or 76-cm rows was planted either between rows of standing wheat or in bare (monocropped)
plots. After the wheat was harvested and the straw chopped, soybean was planted into bare soil or
planted no-till into wheat stubble in mid-June for the second planting and in early July for the third.
Soil water content was measured with a neutron probe from soybean emergence to maturity. Differences
between each water content profile and a dry profile ( constructed using the lowest recorded
water content at each depth) were regarded as extractable water. Neither soybean planting date nor
cropping system, as a main effect, exerted much influence on extractable water for soybean. As
interacting factors later in the season, however, they were important. Plots with soybean in 38- rather
than 76-cm rows contained more extractable water throughout the 1982 and 1983 seasons, and yielded
over 9% more seed. Canopies closed about 20 days sooner with narrow rows than with wide rows.
These full canopies protected and shaded the soil surface, probably reducing crusting and decreasing
water losses by evaporation. We concluded that double-cropped soybean in 38-cm rows planted either
into standing wheat in late May or into wheat stubble not later than mid-June utilized extractable
water efficiently in silty clay soils in northeastern Mississippi.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0851
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Bean / dry bean Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Users 6 not found.
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:54
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2016 21:39
Item ID:	629
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/629