Implications of cover crop planting and termination timing on rainfed maize production in semi-arid cropping systems

Despite the potential to increase soil organic matter, cycle nutrients, and suppress weeds, there is a concern that cover crops (CCs) water use negatively impacts subsequent in water-limited environments. Cover crop management practices such as planting termination timing may mitigate detrimental of CCs semi-arid cropping systems. To determine effects under environments, we evaluated total CC biomass produced fall spring, content during maize growing season, weed density biomass, residue, nutrients at V6 development stage, productivity. The experiment was conducted wheat-maize-fallow rotation two sites (Grant North Platte, NE) 2016?2017 2017?2018. Treatments consisted three timings after winter wheat harvest fallow (no CCs) before establishment. Planting shortly increased early spring compared late planting. terminated reduced (?70 %), while both (?56 %) (?82 fallow. Due above-normal precipitation experiment, measured 0?20 cm depth impacted by only Grant 2016?2017. residue but decreased nitrogen 0?10 17 %, nitrate 10?20 up 26 % planted summer (August) (May) had most impact on grain yield. Late corn yield 20 enhanced suppression yield, especially when spring. Producers regions Great Plains willing incorporate should caution selecting strategies for their minimize economic losses.