2018
Double-cropped soybeans vs cover-cropped soybean - which is more profitable
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Field management Nutrient managementSoil healthTillageYield trials
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Trenton Roberts, University of Arkansas
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
QSSB
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
$50,000
Institution Funded:
Arkansas State University
$50,000
Brief Project Summary:

This research plans to compare the productivity and profitability of double-crop soybean rotations with full-season soybean production following winter fallow or winter cover crops. Efforts determine the potential yield differences and limitations of soybean rotations that include winter cover crops when compared to a wheat soybean double-crop rotation, identify the primary risks and rewards of implementing winter cover crops into a soybean rotation rather than a standard full-season soybean production system or a winter wheat and soybean double-crop system and then provide economic analysis on the data obtained from field trials to identify the most profitable production system.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Data will be collected annually and compiled over time to compare the short-term and long-term effects of winter cover crop species selection. It may take several years for these systems to reach equilibrium due to the changes of both cover cropping and no-till management practices. Our goal is to monitor these changes and collect data on how the different rotations influence soybean crop management, input costs and overall production.

Each season the profitability of each production scenario will be determined and compared. Results will be presented at producer meetings and incorporated into extension guidelines to help producers with their soybean management plans. Crop rotations that provide the best yield and highest profitability will be identified and compared to provide producers with a range of information to help guide management decisions.

Final Project Results

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.