The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

In 2010 and 2011, a study was conducted to compare how a legume cover crop and nitrogen fertilization rates would impact sweet corn cultivars (Silver Queen = C1 and Silver King = C2) marketable fresh yield and water use (WU). The following cover crop (crimson clover, CC), nitrogen rates (no = 0N and half = HN), and cultivar treatments were applied using randomized complete-block design with the following replications: 1) CC-0N-C1;  2) CC-0N-C2; 3) CC-HN-C1; and 4) CC-HN-C2. In spring of both years, the crimson clover was strip tilled and seeds of C1 and C2 cultivars were field planted. Silver Queen and Silver King cultivars were harvested approximately seventy-four days after planting. Each year three bi-weekly (vegetative = 6/3/10 & 5/24/11, tasseling = 6/16/10 & 6/14/11, and mature ear = 6/30/10 & 11) volumetric soil water percentages were measured at a depth of 0–30 cm. Treatment CC-HN-C2 produced maximum fresh market yield (15.4 Mg/ha) in 2011, but not statistically greater than CC-0N-C2 (14.5 Mg/ha) in 2010. Minimum yield (10.3 Mg/ha) was produced by CC-0N-C1 in 2010. Between both cultivars over all dates and years, WU was highest and lowest in 2011 for Silver Queen grown in CC-0N and CC-HN, respectively. Results over both years demonstrated that cv. Silver King grown in strip till crimson clover at half nitrogen had highest yield and fourth lowest water use while cv. Silver Queen in CC-0N had lowest yield and second highest WU. These two years results indicate that Silver King generally performed similarly at HN or 0Nwhen grown in strip till crimson clover compared to other treatments.