Data Quantifying Interseeded Cover Crops Effects on Soil Water and Corn Productivity in Corn-Soybean-Wheat No-Till Cropping Systems

Abstract

The data presented support the research article entitled “Interseeded cover crop mixtures influence soil water storage during the corn phase of corn-soybean-wheat no-till cropping systems” [1]. Data were collected during the corn (Zea mays L.) phase of four no-till corn- soybean (Glycine max L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop rotations at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD from 2017 through 2020. The data sets have been added to an Ag Data Commons repository [2]. Background information on crop rotations, soil water and temperature sensor types, placement, and frequency of measurements from Tables 1 through 4 of the manuscript are provided. Volumetric soil water content (m3 m-3) (VWC) and soil temperature (oC) were collected using time domain reflectometry sensors in 2 (2017) or 3 field replications at 4 depths (0-12, 25-35, 50-60, 75-85 cm). The VWC at each depth was converted to mm water, averaged to daily values, and then summed for the whole profile. Changes in whole profile soil water were used to estimate daily evapotranspiration (ET) and infiltration. A text file of meta information describes data collection procedures, estimation of ET and infiltration, and methods used to replace sensor data with errors. Daily precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures, net solar radiation, and windspeed collected at a nearby weather station are provided for estimating growing degree days and potential ET. Cover crop (CC) biomass (kg ha-1) prior to corn planting and corn yields for the four years are provided by replication and cropping system treatment.

Keywords: evapotranspiration, infiltration, soil water storage, water use efficiency, crop rotations, Secale cereale, Vicia villosa, Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium pratense