2020
Soybean Response to Sulfur and Rye Cover Crop Management Techniques
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Dakota Soybean Council
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
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
$7,600
Institution Funded:
North Dakota State University, Carrington Research Extension Center
$7,600
Brief Project Summary:

In south-central North Dakota, soybean response to soil- and foliar-applied sulfur will continue to be examined and data used for statewide sulfur fertilizer recommendations. There is growing interest in cover crops for benefits including reduction of soil erosion and increasing soil productivity. While there is ongoing research in the Red River Valley on the use of winter rye as a cover crop with soybean, research expanded to south-central North Dakota would help this region’s soybean farmers as they adopt cover crops. Also, researchers will examine rye seeding rates based on fall dates and evaluate the impact on soil cover and moisture, weed management, and soybean yield. 

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension specialists

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Final Project Results

Update:

View uploaded report Word file

View uploaded report 2 Word file

View uploaded report 3 Word file

Soybean response to sulfur and rye cover crop management techniques
Research:
• Trial 1: Conducted at Carrington Research Extension Center (CREC) Tri-county research site (Wishek area) during 2018-19 using preplant, soil-applied sulfur (S) as MES15 (Mosaic) or foliar-applied as MAX-IN S (Winfield).
• Trial 2: Commenced in 2018 at the Tri-county research site with the following treatments: 1) soybean grown without rye as a cover crop; 2) rye terminated with glyphosate one month before soybean planting; and 3) rye terminated with glyphosate at soybean planting.
• Trial 3: Conducted at the CREC starting in the fall of 2018, to evaluate rye plant stands with selected seeding rates and fall dates, and effect on following season’s ground cover, soil moisture, weed suppression, and soybean yield.

Why the research is important to ND soybean farmers:
The goal of this project is to continue building NDSU databases on soybean yield impact with three trials examining specific plant nutrition and establishment factors:
? S fertilizer: Is there a consistent yield response to soil- or foliar-applied S?
? Rye as a cover crop: Will winter (cereal) rye as a cover crop impact soybean yield while providing soil benefits compared to conventional soybean production?
? Rye fall seeding dates and rates: What is the best rye seeding rate and established stand, based on fall seeding dates and following season factors affecting soybean production including ground cover, soil moisture, and weed suppression with rye?
Findings of the research:
• Trial 1: Average seed yield increase was 3.2 bu/A and 1.2 bu/A with soil- and foliar-applied S, respectively, compared to the untreated check. Yield response was statistically significant for the soil-applied S in 2019, likely due to high rainfall that occurred during the growing season, but product plus application costs were similar to revenue with the additional yield.

• Trials 2 and 3: Research continues in 2021 and requires multiple years of data before reaching conclusions.
Benefits/Recommendations to ND soybean farmers and industry:
• Trial 1: Results of this research were considered in the revised NDSU Extension circular ‘Soybean Soil Fertility’.
• Trial 2: Timing of rye termination with glyphosate needs to be carefully considered to balance the benefits of the cover crop while preserving soil moisture for the soybean crop.
• Trial 3: Rye fall seeding dates and rates had minimal effect on soil cover and moisture, control of grass weeds, and performance of soybean.

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.