Publication Date

1997

Description

On-farm and on-station research on the use of annual legumes in cropping systems was initiated in 1992 in Michigan. Research included studies on nitrogen dynamics, weed suppression ability, forage potential, utility as a cover crop, and optimum planting dates of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn. cv. Mogul), burr medic (M. polymorpha L. cv. Santiago), snail medic (M. scutellata L. cv. Sava), and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.). Nitrogen fertilizer replacement values (FRV) up to 76 kg ha-1 were obtained where either corn or canola followed annual legumes in rotation. The optimum seeding time of medics in a medic-corn intercrop system was about one month after corn planting. The interseeded medics were not effective in weed suppression but did contribute up to 40 kg N ha-1 to the subsequent crop. Forage dry matter (DM) yields of up to 3.2 Mg ha-1 were obtained when the legumes were harvested 60 days after planting (DAP) in early spring.

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Annual Legumes for Cropping Systems of the North Central USA

On-farm and on-station research on the use of annual legumes in cropping systems was initiated in 1992 in Michigan. Research included studies on nitrogen dynamics, weed suppression ability, forage potential, utility as a cover crop, and optimum planting dates of barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn. cv. Mogul), burr medic (M. polymorpha L. cv. Santiago), snail medic (M. scutellata L. cv. Sava), and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.). Nitrogen fertilizer replacement values (FRV) up to 76 kg ha-1 were obtained where either corn or canola followed annual legumes in rotation. The optimum seeding time of medics in a medic-corn intercrop system was about one month after corn planting. The interseeded medics were not effective in weed suppression but did contribute up to 40 kg N ha-1 to the subsequent crop. Forage dry matter (DM) yields of up to 3.2 Mg ha-1 were obtained when the legumes were harvested 60 days after planting (DAP) in early spring.