Data from: Short-term soil responses to late-seeded cover crops in a semi-arid environment

Cover crops can enhance desirable agricultural outcomes such as improved nutrient-use efficiency, soil tilth, reduced pests, and increased yield and yield stability. Documentation of soil property responses to cover crops in semiarid cropping systems, however, is limited. A study was conducted to evaluate soil responses to late-summer seeded cover crops in a no-tillage cropping system under semiarid conditions. The study was conducted over three years on the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts Cooperative Research Farm near Mandan, ND, USA. Cover crops were seeded into dry pea residue in mid- to late August in 19-cm rows. Cover crop metrics included aboveground biomass, while soil metrics included soil water content, soil nitrate-N, near-surface soil properties, and soil coverage by residue. Cover crop biomass was measured immediately before a killing frost. Soil water content was measured before cover crop seeding, immediately after a killing frost, and the following spring using a neutron soil moisture meter. Soil nitrate-N was measured before cover crop seeding and the following spring using 1:10 soil-KCl extracts and the cadmium reduction method. The cover crop growing period ranged from 56 to 70 d. Data may be used to understand soil responses to late-summer seeded cover crops under rainfed conditions in a semiarid continental climate. Applicable USDA soil types include Grassna, Linton, Mandan, Temvik, Williams, and Wilton.