A long fallow period (∼15 mo) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–fallow rotation (W‐F) cropping system is meant to store soil water for the following crop but loss of soil quality, low precipitation use‐efficiency, and increased cost of fallow management are among its drawbacks. Replacing a portion of the fallow period with a short‐season cover crop may alleviate these drawbacks. The objectives of this study were to evaluate available soil water at planting (ASWP_cc), performance, management, and post‐cover‐crop fallow efficiency, and available soil water at winter wheat planting (ASWP_ww) of 12 short‐season cover crops. This field study was conducted from 2008 through 2011 at Garden City, KS. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split‐split‐plot arrangement. Crop phases were main plot, cover‐crop species was the subplot, and cover‐crop management method (cover crop left standing or hayed) was the split‐split‐plot treatment. Results showed ASWP_cc was greater at spring cover‐crop planting than in the fall or winter cover crops. However, water use, productivity, and post‐cover‐crop fallow efficiency were greatest for sole winter triticale (×Triticosecale spp.) or winter legume–triticale mixtures. In addition, ASWP_ww was 4–27% more for cover crop left standing than hayed cover crops. Post‐cover‐crop precipitation storage was positively related to ASWP_ww but cover‐crop biomass had a negative linear relationship with ASWP_ww. We concluded that cover crops left standing stored more soil water than those hayed; however, forage use of the cover crop could provide a dual purpose and economic benefit to improve overall system profitability.

中文翻译：

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高平原小麦的表层作物水分利用和生产力－休耕作物

冬小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）的休耕期较长（〜1​​5 mo）–休耕（W–F）耕作制度意在为后续作物储存土壤水，但会降低土壤质量，降低降水利用效率休假管理的成本增加是其缺点之一。用短季节的农作物代替部分休耕期可以减轻这些弊端。这项研究的目的是评估播种时的可用土壤水（ASWP _cc），性能，管理和盖后作物休耕效率，以及冬小麦播种时的可用土壤水（ASWP _ww）的12种短季农作物。这项现场研究于2008年至2011年在堪萨斯州加登市进行。实验设计是一个随机的，完整的，具有分割-分割图布置的模块。作物阶段是主要地块，地表作物种类是子图，地表作物管理方法（覆盖作物静置或干草堆放）是剖分地块处理。结果表明，春季覆盖作物种植的ASWP _cc大于秋季或冬季覆盖作物。但是，对于单一的冬季小黑麦（× Triticosecale spp。）或冬季豆类-黑小麦的混合物，水的使用，生产力和覆盖后的休耕效率最高。此外，ASWP _ww保持的覆盖作物比干草覆盖的作物高出4–27％。覆盖后作物的降水储量与ASWP _ww呈正相关，但覆盖作物生物量与ASWP _ww呈负线性关系。我们得出的结论是，静置的被覆作物比被干草覆盖的作物储藏了更多的土壤水。但是，使用覆盖作物的草料可以提供双重目的和经济利益，以提高整个系统的盈利能力。