Effect of Winter Cereal Rye Cultivar Selection and Herbicide Choice on Seedling Disease, Pathogen Populations, Nitrogen Dynamics and Growth and Yield of Corn - Year 3

Issue

When corn is planted after a cereal rye cover crop, reductions in yield may occur.  We are trying to understand what factors play a role in reduced yield.

Objective

1. Compare the effect of a cereal rye cultivar on seedling disease, populations of Pythium and Fusarium, soil N dynamics, concentrations of BX compounds in soil and growth and yield of corn. 
2. Compare the effect of herbicide used to terminate CR on CR regrowth, corn seedling disease, populations of Pythium and Fusarium and corn yield. 
3. Present research at professional meetings, conferences and field days. 

Approach

A split plot experimental plot trial was established in central Iowa in which four varieties of rye cover crop and a no-rye control were seeded in the fall. Half of each rye plot was terminated with glyphosate and the other half with paraquat+ atrazine. Data on corn growth and development, seedling disease, populations of seedling pathogens and allelochemicals will be collected from each plot.