Impact of Cover Crops and Nitrogen Management on Soil Bacterial Alpha Diversity

Corn (Zea mays L.) nitrogen (N) strategies that account for fertilizer timing and source may differentially affect soil bacterial communities require further validation when preceded by cover crops (CC). Field studies were conducted (2014–2016) evaluating the effects of daikon radish [Raphanus sativus (L.)], forage oat [Avena sativa no CC combined with multiple N management on alpha diversity metrics. Nitrogen consisted 179 kg ha−1 applied pre-plant incorporated (PPI), poultry litter (PL) (61 ha−1) PPI plus sidedress (SD) at V11 (11 leaf collars), starter (45 5 cm beside below furrow followed SD V4 (4 V11, or 50:50 (split) a zero control. In 1 2 years, reduced 47–53% during active growth compared to remaining treatments. Inverse relationships regarding in-row (IR) soils R1 (silking) grain yield indicated increased did not correspond production. Relative PL zero-N control, rhizosphere diversity, evenness, richness. Combining organic soluble sources stabilize changes metrics corn silking.