The spread ofrate and correlation in stationary cortical

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Effect of Multispecies Cover Crop Mixture on Soil Properties and Crop Yield

Multispecies cover cropping has become popular in recent years because of the multiple ecosystem benefits compared with single- or double- species cover cropping. However, scientific studies on the effects of multispecies cover cropping—especially in the southern United States—are limited. A field study was initiated in 2013 at the University of Tennessee’s Research and Education Center in Milan, TN, to assess the agronomic and soil responses from single-, double-, and multispecies cover cropping in corn ( L.)–soybean [ (L.) Merr.] systems. After 3 yr, we found that a multispecies mixture of legumes, grasses, and spp. significantly increased soybean yield, gravimetric soil water content, and soil inorganic nitrogen as compared to the less-diverse treatments and a no-cover control. However, after 3 yr, cover cropping did not increase soil organic carbon. Although multispecies cover cropping exhibited a positive effect on yield and some soil properties after 3 yr, we plan to continue collecting multiple years of data from this field trial

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Automatic Section Control Technologies and GPS Auto-Guidance Systems in Cotton Production

This study examines the factors influencing the adoption of ASC technologies and AG systems among cotton producers in the Southern United Sates. The data used is from a survey of cotton producers in 14 states. Using a random intercept bivariate probit regression, we evaluated the influence of crop acres harvested, education level, age of producer, field shape, use of farm dealers to obtain PA information, and the use of cover crops on the adoption decisions. Data from the NASS Crop Data Layer was used to estimate field shape measures included in this analysis. Results suggest that producers who are younger have more years of education, harvest more crop acres, and use farm dealers for information about precision agriculture are more likely to adopt ASC technologies and AG systems. Additionally, farms located in counties likely to have more irregularly shaped fields have a higher probability of adopting ASC technologies

Effects of Landscape, Soils, and Weather on Yields, Nitrogen Use, and Profitability with Sensor-Based Variable Rate Nitrogen Management in Cotton

Farmers may be reluctant to adopt variable rate nitrogen (VRN) management because of uncertain profits. This study assessed field landscape, soil, and weather effects on optical sensing (OS)-based VRN on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N rates, yields, and net returns (NRs). Field data were collected from 21 locations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, USA, between 2011 and 2014. Data included yields, N rates, and NRs for the farmer practice (FP), OS-based VRN, and OS-based VRN supplemented with other information. Production data were augmented with landscape, soils, and weather data, and ANOVA and logistic regressions were used to identify field conditions where VRN was profitable, provided risk management benefits, and improved N efficiency. Key findings indicate that NRs were improved with VRN by applying additional N on more erodible soils. Higher organic matter soils also benefited from VRN through enhanced yields and NRs. VRN may also have provided risk management benefits by providing a lower probability of NRs below NRs for the FP on soils associated with greater water-holding capacity, higher organic matter levels, or deeper profiles. Results from this study may help identify farm fields with similar characteristics for adoption of VRN management