Laying out the experiment Determine size of experimental area Our area: 75 x 90 Number of Treatments: Four + Control = 5 Don t forget control Tests no treatment Randomized Complete Block (RCB) Design Replication (Blocks) Minimum of three Preferred four Accounts for site variability Statistical design, communicate results Randomization (Treatments within Blocks) Accounts for block variability Different positions within the block Measure, label stakes (plot #s) and stake plots 8' 75' 405 205 404 204 403 203 402 202 401 201 305 105 304 104 303 103 302 102 301 101 30' 10' 30' 90' Let s randomize your treatment (draw plot #s)
Selecting Cover Crops Resources Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) Website www.mccc.msu.edu Wealth of cover crop information MCCC Cover Crop Selector Tool Online interactive Tool On MCCC Website MCCC Field Guide Pocket guide for Midwest cover Crops Available from Purdue University We will use today
Choosing Cover Crops (page 6) Considerations Objectives/Benefits (page 7) Cover crop seeding periods (pages 11 13) Different for Location Different for Species Planting method (pages 15 20) We are hand broadcasting with shallow incorporation (page 16) Seeding rate (see species pages) Your choices (choose one): Annual Ryegrass Cereal Rye Austrian Winter Pea Oilseed Radish Mustard Planting your Cover Crop Calculate and Weigh Seed required Plot size (ft 2 ) Seeding rate (lbs/acre) 43,560 ft 2 /acre X % Pure live seed (seed label) Record weight
Planting your Cover Crop Test Seeding Layout test plot Determine Planter settings Walking pace Crank speed Plant plots Mark stakes Treatment number Treatment name Shallow incorporation or other field operations will require removal of stakes Identify and record reference markers Minimum of two (opposite corners)
Record experiment Date Time Location Weather Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Cover Crop Choice Reason for Choice Always include a control Treatment # 1 2 3 4 Control Block 1 Plot Block 2 Plot Block 3 Plot Block 4 Plot Seeding Rate Test Seeding Gate Setting Walking Pace Crank Speed Location Reference (Opposite Corners) Description 1 Coordinate 1 Coordinate 2 Description 2 Coordinate 1 Coordinate 2 405 205 404 204 403 203 402 202 401 201 305 105 304 104 303 103 302 102 301 101
Group Cover Crop Experiment Implemented Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Date 9/27/2012 9/27/2012 9/27/2012 9/27/2012 Time 1:30 PM 2:30 PM 2:45 PM 3:30 PM Location KBS KBS KBS KBS Weather Sunny Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Cover Crop Choice Austrian Winter Pea Cereal Rye Oilseed Radish White Mustard Reason for Choice Planted before Corn, want a nitrogen source from a legume Chosen to scavenge residual nitrogen from the system Chosen to reduce soil compaction Chosen to introduce the diversity of a Brassica to the system Always include a control Treatment # 1 2 3 4 Control Block 1 Plot 102 104 103 101 105 Block 2 Plot 204 205 201 202 203 Block 3 Plot 303 302 304 301 305 Block 4 Plot 401 404 405 403 402 0.40 lb/plot 0.43 lb/plot 0.05 lb/plot 0.04 lb/plot Seeding Rate 71.5 lb/acre 77 lb/acre 8.25 lb/acre 6.75 lb/acre 405 205 Trt 3 Oilseed Radish Trt 2 Cereal Rye 404 204 Trt 2 Cereal Rye Trt 1 Austrian Winter Pea 403 203 Trt 4 White Mustard Control No Cover Crop 402 202 Control No Cover Crop Trt 4 White Mustard 401 201 Trt 1 Austrian Winter Pea Trt 3 Oilseed Radish 305 105 Control No Cover Crop Control No Cover Crop 304 104 Trt 3 Oilseed Radish Trt 2 Cereal Rye 303 103 Trt 1 Austrian Winter Pea Trt 3 Oilseed Radish 302 102 Trt 2 Cereal Rye Trt 1 Austrian Winter Pea 301 101 Trt 4 White Mustard Trt 4 White Mustard