From the report Evaluation of N sources, cover crops, and tillage systems for corn grown under organic management, of Suarez Tapia A, MB Villamil and LJ Grabau, in Phyton magazine.
Public demand fo
r healthier foods and more sustainable food systems in the U.S. has triggered market prices and production of organic alternatives of major crops such as corn (Zea mays L.). Two cover crops and their interactions with tillage systems, N sources and N rates were studied to evaluate the possibility of using these agronomic practices to facilitate growing corn under organic management in Kentucky (USA). Results showed the moldboard plow/cover crops (hairy vetch) combination resulted in the highest yields at all experimental sites followed by cover crops (hairy vetch)/no tillage. Ear leaf N and grain N content were higher under cover crops(hairy vetch) compared with rye at all sites.
Based on this experiment, it was possible to grow corn with agronomic practices accepted for organic production with relative high yields in two out of three environments using the moldboard plow/cover crops (hairy vetch) treatment combination.