2022
Winter rye cover crop management techniques for soybean
Home
Contributor/Checkoff:
North Dakota Soybean Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
AgricultureField management
Parent Project:
Winter Rye Cover Crop Management Techniques for Soybean
Lead Principal Investigator:
Greg Endres, North Dakota State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Michael Ostlie, North Dakota State University
Project Code:
QSSB
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Dakota Soybean Council
$4,900
Institution Funded:
North Dakota State University, Carrington Research Extension Center
$4,900
Brief Project Summary:

There is growing interest in cover crops for reduction of soil erosion, managing soil moisture, weed suppression, and increasing long-term soil productivity. For best results, farmers need to use proper rye seeding rates based on fall establishment dates and impact on soil cover, moisture levels, weed management, and soybean yield. Objectives of this project include examining soybean performance with winter rye as a preplant cover crop and determining rye termination time. Researchers will also measure soybean response to the rye treatments and will measure rye plant population, ground cover and weed suppression with the following soybean crop.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension specialists

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

The two cover crop studies will aid in updating research-based recommendations on use of winter rye with soybean. Study 1 will help encourage south-central ND farmers to consider using rye as part of their soybean management and aid in the decision when to terminate the cover crop. Study 2 will aid farmers in determining proper rye seeding rates based on their goals with the cover crop while maintaining soybean yield.

Final Project Results

Updated August 19, 2022:

View uploaded report Word file

View uploaded report 2 Word file

Objectives of the research:
1. Winter rye as a preplant cover crop before soybean: Measure soybean performance with winter rye compared to conventional production in south-central ND (Wishek area).
2. Winter rye seeding dates and rates: Identify the best combination of seeding dates and rates to reach farmer goals with rye as a preplant cover crop with soybean based on impact on soil cover, weed management, and soybean yield.

Completed work:
• Study 1: Fourth (and final) year of the study was conducted in 2021 at the Carrington Research Extension Center’s (CREC) Tri-county off-station research site. Winter rye was seeded on October 21, 2020 and resulted in a mid-May 2021 stand of 262,000 plants/A (6 plants/ft2). Treatments: 1) soybean grown without rye; 2) rye terminated with glyphosate 9 days before soybean planting; and 3) rye terminated with glyphosate 6 days after soybean planting. Soybean were planted on May 13 and harvested on October 8.
• Study 2: Third year of the study was conducted at the CREC during 2020-21. Treatments: Winter rye was seeded on September 17 and October 8, 2020 at 25, 50 and 75 lb/A (six treatments). Soybean were planted on May 18, 2021, followed by rye termination with glyphosate on May 20, and harvested on September 17.

Preliminary results:
• Study 1: In 2021, soybean seed yield with the conventional production check was greater than the two treatments with rye. Limited topsoil water due to rye growth resulted in reduced soybean plant production during the first-half of the season. Also, the rye provided minimal suppression of weeds compared to the weed control with a soil-applied herbicide used with the check. About 30 people viewed and heard discussion about the study during the July 1 field tour.
• Study 2: Rye plant density and ground cover measured the last-half of May 2021 ranged from 29,880 to 448, 210 plants/A and 3 to 23%, respectively, among combinations of rye seeding dates and rates. The greatest rye density and amount of ground cover resulted from planting late at the 75 lb/A seeding rate. Green foxtail suppression (54-67%) was similar among the six rye treatments. Soybean plant density and maturity, and seed yield (trial average = 40.6 bu/A) and quality were similar among rye treatments. The study continues in 2022.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.