The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

The purpose of this two year study was to evaluate how a legume cover crop and inorganic nitrogen rates influence above ground biomass (AGB) yields and leaf area index (LAI) of sweet corn cultivars Silver Queen (C1) and Silver King (C2). The cover crop (crimson clover=CC), nitrogen rates (no=0N, and half=HN) and cultivar treatments were applied using randomized complete block design with three replications as follows: 1) CC-0N-C1, 2) CC-0N-C2, 3) CC-HN-C1, and 4) CC-HN-C2. In Spring of 2010 and 11, sweet corn seeds were strip till field planted. In both years, AGB was collected approximately three weeks prior to harvest while LAI was recorded during vegetative stage (6/4/10 & 6/6/11), and four to seven days from sweet corn harvest (6/21/10 & 6/27/11). Treatment CC-0N-C1produced highest LAI the week of harvest (3.67), while lowest LAI (1.45) was produced by CC-0N-C2 at the vegetative stage in 2010. Maximum AGB fresh (42.3 Mg/ha) and dry weight (5.2 Mg/ha) yields were produced by CC-HN-C1 and CC-0N-C1in 2011, respectively. Minimum AGB fresh (27.6 Mg/ha) and dry weight (3.4 Mg/ha) yields were produced by CC-HN-C2 in 2011. These results indicate that plant biomass and LAI of cv. Silver Queen performed similarly under zero nitrogen or half nitrogen when planted on land where crimson clover is grown and then strip tilled. In general, results from this two year study showed differences between the sweet corn cultivars for LAI and AGB fresh and dry yields with Silver Queen performing better.