Hostname: page-component-6d856f89d9-fb4gq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T08:20:47.514Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Profits and risks of using crimson clover and hairy vetch cover crops in no-till corn production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Stephen L. Ott  and
William L. Hargrove
Stephen L. Ott
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Georgia Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223.
William L. Hargrove
Affiliation:
Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, Georgia Experiment Station, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223.
Get access

Abstract

Winter legume cover crops are receiving increasing attention from agronomists and farmers as a source of nitrogen for summer crops. While agronomists are continually providing new technical information on using legumes as a nitrogen source, little is known on the economics of their use. Previous economic research on legume cover crops has focused mainly on budgeting analysis. In the present work, a twofactorial experiment was designed to test the use of legumes as a nitrogen source for corn (Zea mays L.) in north Georgia. The first factor was winter cover crop with treatments being crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and no cover crop or winter fallow. The second factor was nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied at five different rates: 0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 pounds per acre. For each combination of the two factors, mean yield and yield variance were determined. Results indicated that legume cover crops increased both average corn yield and yield variance. The greater yield variance from the use of legume cover crops increases economic risk. Risk-averse farmers must be compensated for increased profit variance by higher average profits. A safety first method was used to evaluate the tradeoff between average profit and profit variance for the risk-averse individual The results showed that hairy vetch with 50 pounds of N per acre was the best combination of cover crop and fertilizer rate for risk-neutral farmers. For risk-averse farmers, hairy vetch without any nitrogen fertilizer is preferred.

Keywords

nitrogenlegumescornfertilizeryieldyield varianceeconomic risk
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , June 1989 , pp. 65 - 70
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Cacek, T., and Langner, L. L.. 1986. The economic implications of organic farming. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 1:25–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Dobbs, Thomas L., Leddy, Mark G., and Smolik, James D.. 1988. Factors influencing the economic potential for alternative farming systems: Case analysis in South Dakota. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3(1):26–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Ebelhar, S. A., Frye, W. W., and Blevins, R. L.. 1984. Nitrogen from legume cover crops for no-till corn. Agronomy Journal 76:51–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Frye, W. W., Smith, W. G., and Williams, R. J.. 1985. Economics of winter cover crops as a source of nitrogen for no-till corn. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 40:246–249.Google Scholar
5.Goldstein, Walter A., and Young, Douglas C.. 1987. An agronomic and economic comparison of a conventional and a low-input cropping system in the Palouse. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3(2):51–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Hargrove, W. L. 1986. Winter legumes as a nitrogen source for no-till grain sorghum. Agronomy Journal 78:70–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Hargrove, W. L., Landale, G. W., and Thomas, A. W.. 1984. Role of legume cover crops in conservation tillage production systems. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Paper number 84–2038.Google Scholar
8.Helmers, Glenn A., Langemeier, Michael R., and Atwood, Joseph. 1986. An economic analysis of alternative cropping systems for eastcentral Nebraska. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 1(4):153–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Hoyt, G. D., and Hargrove, W. L.. 1986. Legume cover crops for improving crop and soil management in the United States. HortScience 21:397–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Martin, G. W., and Touchton, J. T.. 1983. Legumes as a cover crop and source of nitrogen. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 38:214–216.Google Scholar
11.Mitchell, W. H., and Teel, D. W.. 1977. Winter-annual cover crops for no-till corn production. Agronomy Journal 59:569–573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Musser, W. N., Ohannesian, J., and Benson, F. J.. 1981. A safety first model of risk management for use in extension programs. North Central Journal of Agricultural Economics 3:41–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Ott, S. L. 1987. An economic and energy analysis of crimson clover as a nitrogen fertilizer substitute in grain sorghum production. In J. F. Power (ed.). The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Soil Conservation Society of America, pp. 150–151.Google Scholar
14.Power, J. F. 1987. Legumes: Their potential role in agricultural production. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 2:69–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Reddy, K. C., Soffes, A. R., and Prine, G. M.. 1986. Tropical legumes for green manure, I: nitrogen production and the effects on succeeding crop yields. Agronomy Journal 78:1–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Shurley, W. D. 1987. Economics of legume cover crops in corn production. In J. F. Power (ed.). The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Soil Conservation Society of America, pp. 152–153.Google Scholar
17.Touchton, J. T., Rickeral, D. H., Walker, R. H., and Snipes, C. E.. 1984. Winter legumes as a nitrogen source for no-tillage cotton. Soil and Tillage Research 4:391–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar