2019
Incorporating Cover Crops into Soybean Cropping Systems
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Parent Project:
Incorporating Cover Crops in Soybean Cropping Systems
Lead Principal Investigator:
Bill Wiebold, University of Missouri
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
393-19
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council
$13,823
Institution Funded:
University of Missouri
$13,823
Brief Project Summary:

The soybean rotation-cover crop systems study is designed to determine if soybean intensity in a rotation affects soil health parameters and yield. Studies have shown a significant loss in yield from soybean following soybean as compared to following another crop such as corn or grain sorghum. The yield penalty for soybean following soybean is about ten percent. This study is helping to determine if the appropriate cover crop, and appropriate management, will have a positive impact on soybean yield. Quite simply, we will learn if cover crops can correct some of the negative impacts from soybean planted after soybean. Another objective of this study is to determine if soybean intensity in...

Unique Keywords:
#communication, #cover crops, #crop management systems, #education
Information And Results
Project Deliverables

This experiment will help us design cropping systems that increase profitability, but also allow for reduced impact on the
environment.

Final Project Results

Updated April 29, 2020:

View uploaded report Word file

Cereal rye is an effective cover crop because it produces large amounts of biomass and survives Missouri winters. However, there is some concern that rye allelopathy could decrease yield. We found no indication of a yield decrease. Soybean farmers should be able to use cereal rye as a cover crop. However, corn yield was decreased by rye. We used an early termination date and substantial nitrogen fertilizer, so the cause of yield decline was probably not nitrogen tie-up. Missouri farmers should be judicious in their use of rye cover crops in corn cropping systems.

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.