Soil nitrogen dynamics and crop yield responses to diverse cover crop mixtures in a rainfed corn‐based cropping system in Nebraska

Soil Science Society of America Journal 2026 Open access

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Authors: Madhusudhan Adhikari, Girma Birru, Joe D. Luck, Virginia L. Jin, Marty R. Schmer, Ariel Freidenreich, Javed Iqbal
DOI: 10.1002/saj2.70193
Cited by: 0
References: 51

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of mixed cover crop (CC) species on biomass production, nitrogen (N) uptake, soil N dynamics, and crop performance in a rainfed corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean ( Glycine max L.) and continuous corn system in eastern Nebraska from 2021 to 2023. Four treatments—cereal rye, mixture‐1 (cereal rye, winter pea, and triticale), mixture‐2 (barley, Kura clover, and canola), and a no‐cover control—were fall‐seeded each year. Due to below‐average precipitation, CC establishment was poor, resulting in low biomass (

Fields of Study & Subjects

Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems Soil Management and Crop Yield Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Publication details

Journal / source
Soil Science Society of America Journal
Volume
90
Issue
1
Publication date
1 January 2026
Language
EN