www.covercropstrategies.com/articles/3293-purdue-tests-effects-of-perennial-cover-crops-on-soil-health-and-corn-production
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Purdue Tests Effects of Perennial Cover Crops on Soil Health & Corn Production
Kura clover offers potential for bolstering plant-microbe synergy.
October 15, 2024
Corn crops have a voracious appetite for nitrogen. Purdue University scientists are investigating whether mulching Kura clover, a perennial legume, can provide sufficient nitrogen for corn, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers while enhancing soil organic carbon storage.
“This added ecological complexity, combined with biological nitrogen fixation, presents a unique opportunity to enhance soil carbon accumulation by fostering stronger plant-microbe interactions,” Rui said.
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Yichao Rui, assistant professor of agronomy at Purdue, holds a sample of Kura clover.