Nitrogen fertilizer rate not timing determines no-till corn yield following cereal rye cover crop in northeastern United States

There is relatively low adoption of winter cover crops across the United Staes, despite the many ecosystem service benefits they provide, and there has been much debate about corn yield penalties following cereal cover crops such as cereal rye (Secale cereale L.). This 12 site-year, coordinated study across a latitudinal gradient in the northeastern United States sought to determine the interactions between cereal rye biomass and fertilizer nitrogen (N) rate and timing on no-till corn (Zea mays L.) yield. Total N rates, not the timing of N fertilization, significantly affected corn yields, and higher cereal rye biomass slightly increased corn yields once sufficient N was added. We conclude that if total fertilizer N rates are sufficient, the split between starter N application at planting and sidedress N fertilization does not affect yield in no-till corn across a range of cereal rye cover crop biomass levels.