COVER CROP RESPONSE TO LATE-SEASON PLANTING AND NITROGEN APPLICATION

Cover crops aid in reducing precipitation runoff, soil erosion, and N losses in highly sloped, mountainous regions, Corn (Zea mays L.) produ cers in states with late spring warmup and early winters have limited success when planting cover crops following harvest. Studies were cond ucted from 1992 through 1995 in southern and northern West Virginia to evaluate the groundcover ability of several late-planted cover crops and their dry weight response to fall N application. In most years, ve tch (Vicia villosa Roth cv. Common) and Austrian winter pea (Pisum sat ivum var. arvense L. Poir cv, Austrian winter) produced the least grou ndcover and dry matter of all species evaluated. Rye (Secale cereale L . 'Abruzzi' and 'Wheeler') was the most reliable and winter-hardy cove r crop, regardless of location. Initial soil nitrate-N concentrations at planting averaged 12 ppm in soils with continuous corn-production a nd no history of manure application (southern experiment) and 40 ppm i n soils with similar rotation and a history of manure application (nor thern experiment), Nitrogen application did not consistently increase the likelihood of cover crop survival, but increased dry matter for so me cover crops on soils with low initial N levels. At the southern loc ation, Abruzzi rye planted alone and common rye in combination with co mmon vetch responded positively to additional N application in 3 out o f 3 and 2 out of 3 yr, respectively. 'Pastar' rye (1992-1993), common rye (1993-1994), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (1994-1995), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Barsoy') (1994-1995) also responded positively to N application at the southern location. Cover crops did not respond t o additional N application at the northern location on soils high in i nitial N fertility, Corn producers in mountainous, highly sloped land should consider methods for planting cover crops earlier to ensure pla nt survival and to protect soil during the winter.