Influences of Early, Delayed, and No Mulch Residue Management on Corn Production
1975
Olson, Tamlin C. | Horton, Maurice L.
Straw mulch applied to a growing corn (Zea mays L.) crop about the third stage of corn growth resulted in yields higher than from nonmulched corn or corn mulched at planting time in 3 out of 4 years. Dry matter yields from the late mulched corn averaged 0.53 metric ton/ha greater and corn grain yields 400 kg/ha greater than the yields from unmulched plots over the 4-year study. Corn, mulched at planting, was consistently lower in dry matter yield than either nonmulched plots or the late-mulched plots, and lower in grain yields in 3 of the 4 years. Soil temperatures were measured at the 0.5-, 5-, and 10-cm depths, using sets of parallel thermocouples buried in the corn row. Early mulch slowed soil warming. After late mulch application, soil temperatures were lower by up to 7C at the 0.5-cm depth because of the reflective properties of the mulch. Net radiation above and within the corn canopy was monitored periodically to determine mulching influences on energy distribution.
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