Corn establishment and yield response to after-market closing wheels in a rye cover crop system

The use of a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop (RCC) before corn (Zea mays L.) can reduce erosion, limit herbicide dependence, and improve groundwater quality. However, adoption is limited due to planting challenges such as residue interference, uneven emergence, and yield reductions. Farmers often use aftermarket planter attachments to enhance emergence uniformity and yield, but their effectiveness in RCC systems remains unclear. Field trials in Indiana (2022–2023) evaluated the effect of three aftermarket closing wheels—standard rubber (SR), cruiser extreme (CE), and cupped razor (MCR)—on corn emergence and yield in RCC and no-RCC systems. In no-till conditions without RCC, differing closing wheels had no significant effect on emergence timing or final stand. However, in RCC treatments, CE increased total corn emergence (7–12 days after planting) by 6%–15% at two of three site-years, while MCR improved emergence by 8% at one site-year. Yield gains of 5–8 bu acre⁻¹ were observed with CE in RCC systems at two site-years, and MCR increased yield by 7 bu acre⁻¹ at one site-year. Results indicate that aftermarket closing wheels, particularly CE and MCR, can enhance emergence and yield in RCC systems, providing a practical solution for farmers facing planting challenges in high-residue environments