Impacts of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) in service crop monocultures and polycultures on water supply to corn
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As climate change increases the likelihood of seasonal water deficits, farmers need viable management tools to increase agroecosystem resilience. An on-farm experiment was established to research the impacts of two service crops planted after winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on water supply to corn (Zea mays L.). Volumetric water content was monitored during the corn growing season under drought, ambient, and irrigated conditions, and corn population and yield were measured. Service crop treatments did not evidence improved crop water supply relative to the control. Corn population and yield were significantly reduced following the cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) monoculture, but when rye was grown in a polyculture, in similar biomass proportions to the other species, there were no negative effects on corn. Thus, some of the known risks associated with cereal rye service crops before corn may be overcome by growing cereal rye in polyculture.