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Solar corridors are getting dark
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jbgruver
Posted 7/21/2020 22:29 (#8388073 - in reply to #8388004)
Subject: RE: Solar corridors are getting dark



Our research on solar corridor cropping systems has 4 main goals:

1) improved weed control in organic corn
- The corn in the pics was dropped at ~ 45k (average spacing < 5"). With such tight spacing, the in-row canopy develops more rapidly and it is easier to cultivate effectively. The corn was only cultivated 1 time.

2) improved nutrient management in organic corn and following crops
- we sidedressed an organic N source between the 2 rows of corn right before cultivation. I expect that this N will be used more efficiently than a broadcast application.
- we have 2 solar corridor treatments in the experiment shown in the pics. The difference between the 2 treatments is that around 8/1 we will mow off the soybeans in one of the treatments. This will reduce late season competition from the soybeans (or any weeds) and provide a pulse of available nutrients that may help finish the crop. In 2019, the forage soybean biomass accumulated about 75 lbs of N/acre.
- greater N availability to following crop. In 2019, we measured higher oat biomass following solar corridors in 2018 and will very soon know whether we have higher oat grain yields this season following solar corridors in 2019.

3) improved corn health
- corn health appears to be enhanced by increased sunlight and air movement

4) improved soil health
- research at the U of MO, has shown that solar corridors improve soil health through greater and more diverse root exudates and enhanced microbial activity.

We are trying to figure out how to achieve these benefits WITHOUT sacrificing corn yield. We lost 10-25% of corn yield in our solar corridor systems in 2018 and 2019 (compared to 30" corn) but I am hopeful the adjustments that we made this season will result in comparable yields

Joel
WIU Agriculture


Edited by jbgruver 7/23/2020 06:02
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