Download or read book Influence of Cover Crop Termination Timing on Soil Health and Cash Crop Development in the Arkansas Delta Region written by Derek Alan Dittlinger and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops have become an important tool in many conservation farming systems. However, impacts of various levels of cover crop biomass on soil health and cash crop growth and development are not fully understood in the Arkansas Delta region. A two-year study was conducted on no-tillage, row crop production farms in order to determine the effects of cover crop termination timing (cover crop biomass production) on soil physical properties and cash crop growth and development in both corn (Zea mays) and soybeans (Glycine max). Cover crop termination timing did not have a significant impact on soil physical properties related to soil health over two cropping seasons. Delaying cover crop termination during the spring, on no-tillage, irrigated farmland in the Arkansas Delta, did not negatively affect cash crop growth and development (including harvest yields) and may lead to further soil health benefits over long-term implementation of high biomass cover crop residues.

Download or read book Effect of Delayed Cover Crop Termination on No till Corn and Soybean Production written by Heidi Myer and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No-till corn and soybean growers in the mid-Atlantic who use cover crops (CC) typically terminate the cover crops with an herbicide a week or more before cash crop planting. In the interest of extending soil health benefits longer into the spring, some growers are now planting green, (PG) or delaying cover crop termination until cash crop planting or later. Three experiments were conducted to quantify the effects of planting green on corn and soybean production in Pennsylvania. We had three overarching hypotheses across all of the studies: compared to early rye termination, PG would i) increase cover crop biomass, cool and dry soil at planting, and conserve soil moisture later in the growing season; ii) reduce slug damage on cash crops; and iii) not reduce cash crop yield. We conducted one experiment at two Penn State research stations for three years to evaluate cereal rye CC management influences on soybean production. We had three treatments in a split-split plot randomized block design. The main plot was rye seeding rate (34, 67, or 134 kg ha-1), the split plot was topdress nitrogen fertilization rate (34 or 67 kg ha-1), and the split-split plot was rye termination timing (early-killed or planted green). PG increased rye biomass by 48-169%. Soil (0-8 cm) in the PG treatment was generally drier at planting, wetter later and cooler for much of the growing season compared to early-killed rye. PG reduced slug damage compared to early-killed in three of four site-years measured. PG soybeans yielded similarly to the early-killed most consistently when the 2x seeding rate was combined with the lowest N rate. Our results suggest that for best results with PG soybeans, rye seeding rates should be reduced to 67 kg ha-1 or lower, N fertility should be maintained at conservative levels, and rye should be killed early in dry springs.We conducted a second experiment at the same two Penn State research stations for three years to evaluate cover crop management effects on corn production. We had two treatments in a randomized complete block design: cover crop species (crimson clover, cereal rye, or clover + rye mix), and termination timing (early-killed or planted green). We measured similar CC biomass and soil moisture effects of PG as in the soybean experiment, though we found that crimson clover also caused dryer and warmer soils compared to rye or the crimson clover + rye mix. Slug damage was not significantly influenced by PG or CC, contrary to our hypothesis. At Rock Springs, corn yield was 10% lower in PG compared to early across CC in dry 2015, and 12% lower in PG crimson clover compared to early across years, and the main predictors of corn yield were soil moisture and temperature at planting and corn population. We concluded that PG can help manage soil water and corn can maintain similar yields in early-killed CC and PG, but we caution against PG and crimson clover in dry springs due to excessive soil drying and stand establishment complications.The last experiment expanded to include three cooperating farm sites in addition to the two Penn State research stations for three years, and we evaluated cover crop termination timing (early-killed or planted green) effects on corn (4 sites) and soybean (5 sites) production across a range of crop rotations, soils, weather conditions, and equipment. Planting green increased CC biomass 94% to 181% compared to early-kill. Except for two site-years, soil was 8% to 24% drier, and 0.7 to 2.4C cooler at planting in PG compared to early-kill. Slug damage was not different, lower, or higher in PG corn, and not different or lower in PG soybeans compared to early-kill. Our yield stability analysis showed that corn yield was more likely to be reduced by PG in high yielding environments, but there was no difference to a slight benefit in yield at lower yielding environments; conversely, soybean yield was stable across environments regardless of treatment. We conclude that corn was more vulnerable to yield losses from conditions created by PG than soybeans, and growers in environments similar to Pennsylvania hoping to get the most out of their cover crops can plant soybeans green to increase cover crop biomass, and manage soil water, with little risk of yield reduction.

Download or read book Managing Cover Crops Profitably 3rd Ed written by Andy Clark and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops slow erosion, improve soil, smother weeds, enhance nutrient and moisture availability, help control many pests and bring a host of other benefits to your farm. At the same time, they can reduce costs, increase profits and even create new sources of income. You¿ll reap dividends on your cover crop investments for years, since their benefits accumulate over the long term. This book will help you find which ones are right for you. Captures farmer and other research results from the past ten years. The authors verified the info. from the 2nd ed., added new results and updated farmer profiles and research data, and added 2 chap. Includes maps and charts, detailed narratives about individual cover crop species, and chap. about aspects of cover cropping.

Download or read book Rye Cover Crop Termination Timing Influenced Early Corn Growth Gene Expressions and Yield in a No till System written by Janet Moriles-Miller and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Long and Short term Cover Crop Management Effects on Soil Health in No till Dryland Cropping Systems in the Semi arid Central Great Plains written by Logan M. Simon and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Integrating cover crops (CCs) into dryland cropping systems in the semi-arid central Great Plains could improve soil health and provide forage for livestock. Two experiments were conducted in western Kansas to examine the effects of CC management in place of fallow on soil properties in a no-till (NT) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench)-fallow (WSF) cropping system. A long-term study was initiated in 2007 near Garden City, KS to investigate CCs in a wheat-fallow (WF) rotation and was transitioned to WSF in 2012. Treatments included peas (Pisum sativum L.) for grain as well as one-, three-, and six-species CC mixtures compared to fallow. Half of each CC treatment was hayed to a height of 15 cm. A second study was initiated in 2015 near Brownell, KS, and treatments were oat (Avena sativa L.)/triticale (xTriticosecale Wittm.) CCs in place of fallow that were either hayed to a height of 15 cm, grazed by yearling heifers, or left standing. Forage accumulation and nutritive value were also determined in the experiment at Brownell. At Garden City, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks were greater with CCs compared to fallow in 2012 after three cycles of the WF rotation. In 2018, after two cycles of the WSF rotation, SOC was similar among treatments, likely because CC residue was less following a succession of drought years. However, SOC had increased in all treatments since 2012 mostly due to the residue contribution of grain sorghum (r2 = 0.35; P = 0.0025). Soil aggregation was greater with CCs compared to peas or fallow and was unaffected by CC diversity. Mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates (WSA) was greater with standing CCs (1.11 mm) compared to peas (0.77 mm), and standing and hayed CCs (3.59 mm) had greater MWD of dry aggregates compared to fallow (2.75 mm). Water infiltration were greater with CCs compared to peas. Findings suggest simple CC mixtures and CCs managed for forage provide similar soil health benefits as diverse CC mixtures and CCs left standing. At Brownell, results showed forage accumulation averaged 3546 kg ha−1 for standing CCs. Hayed and grazed CCs removed 73 and 26% of the available forage. Greater nutritive value with grazed CCs was observed because of differences in maturity at harvest. In 2019, SOC stocks with standing and hayed CCs (27.54 Mg ha−1) were greater than fallow (24.79 Mg ha−1) which was similar to grazed CCs (26.87 Mg ha−1). However, in 2020, SOC with hayed CCs (21.80 Mg ha−1) was less compared to grazed or standing CCs (24.27 Mg ha−1) which were similar to fallow (23.22 Mg ha−1). The MWD of WSA was greater with standing and grazed CCs (2.89 mm) compared to fallow (1.67 mm) in both years, and hayed CCs were greater than fallow in only one year. Findings suggest that CCs can replace fallow to produce forage while improving soil health. However, residue management is critical such that grazing is more desirable than haying to maintain soil properties when CC productivity is low.

Download or read book Cover Crop Effects on Soil Moisture and Water Quality written by David Scott Abel and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eutrophication of freshwater lakes and streams is linked to phosphorus (P) fertilizer loss from agriculture. Cover crops could help mitigate P loss but producers are concerned that they may use too much water. This study was conducted to better understand the effects cover crops have on soil moisture and P loss. Volumetric water content ([theta]) was measured at the Kansas Cover Crop Water Use research area at 10 depths throughout a 2.74 m soil profile in 5 cover crop treatments and compared to [theta] measured from a chemical fallow control. Total profile soil moisture in sorghum sudangrass (1.02 m) and forage soybean (1.03 m) did not significantly differ from chemical fallow (1.05 m) at the time of spring planting. However, water deficits were observed in double-crop soybean (1.01 m), crimson clover (0.99 m), and tillage radish (0.99 m). At the Kansas Agricultural Watersheds, runoff was collected and analyzed for total suspended solids, total P, and DRP from 6 cover crop/fertilizer management treatments over two years. In the first water year the cover crop reduced runoff, sediment, and total P loss by 16, 56, and 52% respectively. There was a significant cover by fertilizer interaction for DRP loss. When P fertilizer was broadcasted in the fall with a cover crop, DRP loss was reduced by 60% but was unaffected in the other two P fertilizer treatments. Results were different in the second water year. The cover crop reduced sediment loss (71% reduction), as was seen in year one, but neither the cover crop nor the fertilizer management had a significant effect on runoff volume or total P loss overall. Contrary to the 2014-2015 results, cover crop increased DRP load by 48% in 2015-2016. DRP load was 2 times greater in the fall broadcast treatment than it was in the spring injected treatment but there was not a significant fertilizer by cover crop interaction. In order to determine the long term effects of cover crops and P fertilizer management P loss parameters should be tracked for several more years.

Download or read book Cover Crop Establishment and Potential Benefits to Arkansas Farmers written by Ashley Elizabeth Humphreys and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soybean farmers in Arkansas need best management practices (BMPs) that maximize the benefits of using cover crops including planting date and fertilization recommendations. An evaluation of cover crop species, planting dates, seeding rates, fertilizer rates, and N accumulation aids in providing these BMPs. The first objective of this research is to assess the effect of planting date on biomass production, as well as looking at the interaction of seeding rate or fertilizer rate for legumes or non-legumes, respectively, using Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum), cereal rye (Secale cereale), black oats (Avena strigosa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and tillage radish (Raphanus sativus). Crops were planted on five dates in three locations across the primary crop production regions of Arkansas, using either variable Agrotain-treated urea rates or variable seeding rates. Agrotain is a N fertilizer additive that inhibits urease activity and limits ammonia volatilization loss potential. A 0.9 x 0.9 m sample of above-ground biomass was oven-dried and weighed to determine total cover crop biomass production. This research found that earlier planting dates were preferable for all species and that fertilizer or seeding rates did not have much effect on establishment and biomass across all planting dates. The second objective was to gauge the potential N credits by assessing the N accumulation via biological N fixation of three legumes in two locations. Three species were evaluated and compared for N accumulation at termination - Austrian winter pea, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum). Pea biomass was taken from the above study, and pea, vetch, and clover biomasses were taken from an herbicide tolerance study. A 0.9x0.9 meter sample of above-ground biomass was oven-dried, ground, and analyzed for total N. This study found that Austrian winter pea generated more biomass on average, and accumulated the most N.

Download or read book Crops Against the Wind on the Southern Great Plains written by Glenn Kenton Rule and published by . This book was released on 1939 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Precision Planting of Cover Crop Mixtures Influence on Soil and Corn Production written by Justin M. Berberich and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Growing winter cereal cover crops (WCCCs) has been identified as an effective in-field practice to reduce nitrate-nitrogen (N) and total phosphorus (P) losses to Upper Mississippi River Basin, USA. In this region, however, growers are reluctant to plant WCCCs prior to corn (Zea mays L.) due to soil N immobilization and corn establishment issues. Two strategies to minimize these issues are (i) incorporating legumes and brassicas into WCCCs as mixtures and (ii) precision planting of cover crops. The objective of chapter 1 was to (i) evaluate the effect of cover crop mixtures vs a no-cover crop control on soil health indicators and (ii) assess the impact of precision planting of cover crops on soil nutrient availability, soil nutrient stratification, soil permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks "on" and "off" the corn row over three depths (0-5, 5-20, and 20-90 cm). Treatments were (i) a no-cover crop control (NCC); (ii) no cover on corn row, hairy vetch (V) on middle row, and winter cereal rye (WCR) on the outside row of corn (NOVR); and (iii) oats (Avena sativa) and radishes (Raphanus sativus) on the corn row, V on the middle row, and WCR on the outside row (ORVR). Our results indicated NCC had lower SOC stocks than the NOVR and ORVR only at 0-5 cm depth. Soil POXC was more sensitive to cover crop management than SOC, and POXC concentrations were higher in ORVR at 5-20 cm than the NCC control. At 0-5 cm depth, cover cropping increased Bray-1 soil test P (STP). Soil test P declined over depth reflecting its immobility in the soil. Mehlich-3 soil test K (STK) was higher in cover crop treatments than the no-cover crop control at 0-5 cm depth. Soil test K was higher on corn row indicating that the oats and radish mix and corn residue decomposition releases K detectable in soil as Mehlich-3 K. Soil test sulfur was similar among treatments but higher at 20-90 cm depth reflecting S leaching and/or potential anion exchange capacity at depth that can lead to subsoil sulfate-S accumulation. These results indicate cover cropping in the fragipan belt / Alfisols of the Upper Mississippi River Basin can benefit soil after six years, but soil C benefits are limited to surface soil depths. In Chapter 2 the objectives were to (i) evaluate the biomass, nutrient concentration, and uptake of precision planted cover crop mixtures; (ii) assess whether precision planted cover crops influence corn stand density, grain yield, yield components, and nutrient balances; identify the best economically viable precision planted mixture prior to corn. Treatments were (i) a no-cover crop control (NCC); (ii) no cover on corn row, hairy vetch (V) on middle row, and winter cereal rye (WCR) + annual rye (AR) on the outside row of corn (RVSKIP); and (iii) no cover on corn row, clover (C) on the middle row, and WCR + AR on the outside row (RCSKIP). Results indicated that RVSKIP was always high yielding, with high N uptake, and low C:N ratio (25) suggesting it could release N throughout the corn growing season without immobilizing N. Cover crops influenced corn population only in one site-yr but that did not result in lower corn grain yield reflecting corn potential for filling the plant gap by creating larger ears with heavier grain (TKW). Similar corn grain in all cover crop treatments was mainly due to adding optimum N as fertilizer. We concluded that overall, cover cropping could benefit soil over a six-year period but to optimize their benefit to corn, adjustments to N should be made. Therefore, future research should focus on revisiting corn N requirement especially in cover crop mixtures with high percentage (>50%) of legumes in the mixture to determine the fertilizer value of the cover crops.

Download or read book Cover Crops and Tillage Management for Enhanced Sustainability in Corn soybean Production in the Mississippi Delta Region of Arkansas written by David Scott Patton and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Impact of Winter Cover Crops and Nitrogen Recommendations for a Corn soybean Rotation in Northeast Arkansas written by Brayden William Burns and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Research plots were established on production farms in no-tillage, corn-soybean rotations following a winter cover crop. Yield optimum nitrogen rates (69.7 to 214.1 kg N ha−1) were consistently less than the University of Arkansas' recommendation of 247 kg N ha−1. Dynamic N-recommendation systems like N-Star, and measures of pre-sidedress available nitrogen reduced recommended N-application rate with little risk of insufficent N-supply. The Soil Health Tool recommended greater N-reductions but had a greater risk of N-insufficiency. In addition to soil N-tests, remote sensing indices proved to be useful nitrogen management tools. During the V8 growth stage, regressions of corn grain yield by index value produced R2 values of 0.84, 0.89, and 0.89 for Red-Edge Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Chlorophyll Index Green, and the Green Normalized Vegetation Index, respectively. Through dynamic recommendation systems and remote sensing, nitrogen use efficiency in conservation systems may be improved without compromising agronomic or economic goals.

Download or read book Assessing the Impact of an Organic Cover Cropping System on Plant and Soil Potassium Behavior written by Nancy Yunan Bao and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As one of the essential macronutrients supplied by the soil, potassium is critical in plant metabolism and defense mechanisms against abiotic and biotic stresses. In conventional and sustainable agricultural production, potassium is a crucial component in fertilization to ensure optimal crop growth and development. Crop quality is dependent on a myriad of factors corresponding to water and nutrient uptake which are linked to potassium regulated pathways. To better understand controls on soil exchangeable potassium, the main source taken up by plants, this study investigates the effects of different monoculture cover crop treatments across different growing seasons on potassium acquisition in cover crops of an organic cropping system. We are conducting an exploratory data analysis of potassium concentrations in the aboveground biomass of seven cover crop species: oat, radish, pea, red clover, crimson clover, cereal rye, canola. The data were collected from an ongoing study conducted in an organic cropping system which follows a soy-wheat-corn rotation with cover crops planted after wheat and before corn. Our goal is to understand the potential impacts that specific cover crops have on K uptake by plants. We found that the aboveground biomass %K of radish and clover were consistently higher than that of other monoculture cover crops measured in the fall and spring, respectively. While soil exchangeable K differed significantly across time, it did not vary between different monoculture treatments within a season. Our findings suggest there is not a drawdown effect of soil test K from cover crop uptake. These analyses provide further insight to how different cover crop treatments and soil conditions may alter plant potassium acquisition for fine tuning nutrient management plans and improving cover and cash crop quality and yields.

Download or read book Using Cover Crops to Recycle Nutrients in an Arkansas No till Corn System written by Kelsey Lynn Hoegenauer and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cover crops can provide many benefits to cropping systems including erosion control, weed suppression, and increased soil organic matter. Regardless of the intended goal for using cover crops, the changes to the nutrient flux in a cropping system caused by cover crops retaining and recycling nutrients needs to be considered in order to maximize the productivity of the following commodity crops. This research encompassed complementary greenhouse, field, and laboratory experiments to evaluate nutrient uptake and release by tillage radish (Raphanus sativus) and cereal rye (Secale cereale) cover crops, as well as the subsequent early-season recovery of recycled nutrients by the following corn (Zea mays) crop. When grown under controlled greenhouse conditions, tillage radish and cereal rye cover crops recovered, at most, 38% of the applied fertilizer N, and most of the captured N was translocated and stored in the shoots, which produced greater biomass than the roots. Cereal rye generally recovered more N, P, K, and Zn than tillage radish due to greater biomass accumulation; however, by the V6 growth stage corn following tillage radish usually produced more dry matter and contained more N, P, K, and Zn than corn planted into cereal rye residue. Early season corn growth and nutrient uptake following cereal rye was often lower than that of corn planted into no cover crop. The fertilizer N recovery efficiency of cover crops grown in the field study was, at most, 60%, and the application of fertilizer N did not always increase corn nutrient uptake. Results from the laboratory incubation study revealed that tillage radish released available N earlier in the growing season than cereal rye residue. By the end of the incubation 43% of the total N (TN) contained in the residues was recovered as NO3-N. Incorporating cover crop residues increased the rate at which NO3-N accumulated during the later stage of the incubation trial (42 to 179 days). Based on results from this study, tillage radish cover crops provide a more optimum timing of nutrient release in alignment with early-season corn nutrient demand than cereal rye.

Download or read book Impact of Cover Crops and Crop Residue Removal on Soil Quality N Dynamics and Processing Tomato Solanum Lycopersicum L Yield and Quality written by Inderjot Chahal and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crop residue removal negatively impacts the soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Therefore, inclusion of cover crops (CC) in the cropping systems offers an opportunity for maintaining agroecosystem functionality and counterbalancing the negative effects of crop residue removal on soil quality. Despite the multifunctional role of CC to agroecosystems, the benefits to soil quality have not been well investigated. Therefore, a medium-term experiment, established in 2007 and repeated at an adjacent site in 2008, at University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus was used to evaluate effects of CC (6-yr) and crop residue removal (3-yr) on soil quality (chemical, physical, and biological properties), nutrient cycling, and subsequent tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yields in a horticultural system in 2015 and 2016. This study is the first evaluation of comparisons between soil quality tests in a CC-based horticultural system in a temperate climate. Overall, our results indicated the positive influences of CC on soil quality where CCs had greater soil quality scores using comprehensive assessment of soil health (CASH), weighted soil quality test (WSQI), and Haney soil health test (HSHT) than the no CC control (no-CC). Among the three tested soil quality tests (CASH, HSHT, and WSQI), we recommend the WSQI as a more suitable and practical method for soil quality evaluation. An increase in the soil organic C (SOC) concentration with CC compared with no-CC indicates the potential of CCs to build stable pools of soil C. Cover crop induced temporal effects on labile pools of C and N were detected in our production system indicating the potential role of CC on nutrient cycling and microbial activity. Increases (15 to 28%) in tomato yields with CC than without CC further confirms the suitability of the tested CCs for increasing crop productivity in otherwise similar cropping systems. Study results indicate the long-term implications of CC on increasing soil and crop productivity.

Download or read book Cover Crop and Soil Amendment Effects on Carbon Sequestration in a Silage Corn soybean Cropping System written by Bradley Eric Fronning and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Good Agricultural Practices for Greenhouse Vegetable Crops written by and published by Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). This book was released on 2013 with total page 640 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication capitalizes on the experience of scientists from the North Africa and Near East countries, in collaboration with experts from around the world, specialized in the different aspects of greenhouse crop production. It provides a comprehensive description and assessment of the greenhouse production practices in use in Mediterranean climate areas that have helped diversify vegetable production and increase productivity. The publication is also meant to be used as a reference and tool for trainers and growers as well as other actors in the greenhouse vegetables value chain in this region.

Download or read book Monitoring of Cover Cropping Practices and Their Impacts on Agricultural Productivity and Water Quality in the Maumee River Watershed Using Remote Sensing written by Kushal KC and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Common agricultural practices are leading to widespread soil degradation and poor soil health in the U.S., lowering agricultural productivity, increasing water quality concerns, and threatening the resilience of the agricultural systems to increasing climate variability. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 48% of Ohio’s watersheds are degraded by nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) loading from various sources including agricultural fields. This has resulted in increasing occurrences of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie and inland lakes, creating several environmental, and socio-economic issues such as degradation of aquatic habitat, poor drinking water, and increased cost for water treatments. Cover cropping is one of the conservation practices which has potential to reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoffs from agricultural fields while improving or maintaining soil health. Although prior works have focused on cover crops and their impacts on soil health and water quality, they are based mainly on controlled field experimental trials. Currently, there is a limited understanding of spatial and temporal trend in cover cropping practices and their impacts at a landscape scale. Thus, the objective of this study is to develop a spatial and temporal inventory of winter cover cropping practices and assess their impacts on crop productivity and water quality in the Western Lake Erie basin. A Random Forest classification model was built upon field collected cover crop data and a long-term seasonal composites of satellite images (Landsat 5, 7, and 8) focusing on winter cover crop growing season from 2008 to 2019. The model was focused mainly on corn and soybean fields, and the information about corn and soybean fields on an annual scale was obtained from USDA cropland data layers which was then used to classify the fields into four categories – (1) Winter kill, (2) Winter hardy (3) Spring emergent, and (4) Not covered. The annual cover cropping trend was then examined with spatially explicit corn and soybean yield maps at a field scale generated by leveraging satellite and weather-based covariates with a county scale yield data and nutrient loading data from one of the water quality monitoring sites stationed at Maumee River (Heidelberg University’s National Center for Water Quality Research). The overall accuracy for the cover crop classification model was 75% with kappa coefficient of 0.63 while the yield model had R2 of 0.58 and 0.74 for prediction of corn and soybean yield, respectively. For most part of the study period, more than 50% of the corn-soybean area in the watershed was not covered with winter vegetation. But cover cropping area in the Maumee River watershed has increased by about 40% in 2019/20 season compared to 2008/09 season. While there could be multiple factors influencing cover crop areas across the seasons, based on weather data, cover crops tend to perform better when there is higher accumulated Growing Degree Days (GDD) and fall precipitation. On average, cover crops were found to have minimum to negative effects on both corn and soybean yield with only few years having positive effects. Similarly, the annual cover crop in the watershed was strongly correlated with only nitrate concentration and loads than Total Phosphorus (TP) and Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP). These findings were also consistent with some of the prior works mainly done at a field scale. The study showed that cover cropping practices and their impacts can be monitored at a landscape scale utilizing publicly available images from earth observing satellites which could be crucial for developing critical public policies for improving sustainability of agricultural production system.