This study is designed to answer many important questions related to soil health and soybean production. Our experience through our daily interaction with farmers suggests significant information gaps regarding:
1. Production of data evaluates the impact of a stacked systems approach on soybean productivity and soil sustainability compared to the current (i.e., conventional tillage) management practices.
2. Documentation of potential economic return and cost saving in terms of reducing input cost.
3. Database of stacked systems approach contribution to the improvements of soil health and reduction of nutrient loss.

Outreach and Education
The proposed research site in central Iowa will be utilized for outreach and education programs for central Iowa farmers. The outreach and education programs component of this project will include, but not limited to the following:
1. Field days at the research site(s) to present some of the findings and explain the practices, equipment, etc.
2. Workshops for presenting results and data collected during the growing season(s).
3. Newsletters, articles, and news releases to address the elements of the system that include cover crops and no-till/strip-till.
4. Presentations and publications in local and national proceedings, journals, and conferences.

Potential outcomes related to this study can include:
Potential outcomes of this project can be summarized as follow:
1. Short-term outcomes:
• Data collected, analyzed, and synthesized to show agronomic, environmental, and economic benefits when using a stacked systems approach.
• Graduate student mentored and trained in Agronomy/Soil Science
• Raised awareness of >100 farmers of stacked, systems approach in soybean production through Outreach and

Education (see previous section)
2. Intermediate outcomes:
• Greater understanding of individual and interactive effects of tillage, cover crop, and soybean varieties on soil health, water quality, and yield.
3. Long-term outcomes:
• Potential greater adoption of stacked, systems approach and improvement of Iowa’s soil health and water quality.
• Potential greater agronomic benefits and profitability associated with the proposed system.

Update:
This project was established in the fall of 2017 to determine the water quality, productivity, soil health and economic benefits of integrating cover crop and tillage systems (no-till, NT, and chisel plow, CP) in a soybean production system. The findings of this work demonstrate the short-term benefits of cover crop and NT in improving soil health as measured by the improvement of water infiltration and reduction in nitrate leaching under cover crop as compared to non-cover crop treatments, as well as the economic outcomes of cover crop use and NT. The seeding of cover crop before and after soybean crop in the Des Moines Lobe area is encouraged given the unique cold and wet soil conditions early in the spring. The integration of cover crop in the short-term as well as in the long-term is a good management practice for soil health and productivity, coupled with no-till. From this study, there are potential benefits to the soil health such as increase in water infiltration and reduction in nitrate loss over the short duration of the experiment. This is useful information for farmers who are considering transitioning to sustainable practices. Soybean yield was affected by tillage in 2018, with CP resulting in a 4.5 bu*ac-1 higher yield than NT, and higher yield in cover crop plots compared to non-cover crop plots in 2019 by 3.4 bu*ac-1. As noted in the previous progress report hyperlink, water quality is improved with the implementation of cover crops, with a reduction in water nitrate as well as soil nitrate by 29% and 44%, respectively. The economic analysis indicates increased costs associated with cover crops and decreased costs associated with NT, and when an increase in yield was obtained using cover crops, the increase in economic gains was enough to counteract the costs associated with planting cover crops.

View uploaded report

View uploaded report 2

This project was established in the fall of 2017 to determine the water quality, productivity, soil health and economic benefits of integrating cover crop and tillage systems (no-till, NT, and chisel plow, CP) in a soybean production system. The findings of this work demonstrate the short-term benefits of cover crop and NT in improving soil health as measured by the improvement of water infiltration and reduction in nitrate leaching under cover crop as compared to non-cover crop treatments, as well as the economic outcomes of cover crop use and NT. The seeding of cover crop before and after soybean crop in the Des Moines Lobe area is encouraged given the unique cold and wet soil conditions early in the spring. The integration of cover crop in the short-term as well as in the long-term is a good management practice for soil health and productivity, coupled with no-till. From this study, there are potential benefits to the soil health such as increase in water infiltration and reduction in nitrate loss over the short duration of the experiment. This is useful information for farmers who are considering transitioning to sustainable practices. Soybean yield was affected by tillage in 2018, with CP resulting in a 4.5 bu*ac-1 higher yield than NT, and higher yield in cover crop plots compared to non-cover crop plots in 2019 by 3.4 bu*ac-1. As noted in the previous progress report hyperlink, water quality is improved with the implementation of cover crops, with a reduction in water nitrate as well as soil nitrate by 29% and 44%, respectively. The economic analysis indicates increased costs associated with cover crops and decreased costs associated with NT, and when an increase in yield was obtained using cover crops, the increase in economic gains was enough to counteract the costs associated with planting cover crops.