2019
Economic and environmental impact of dual-use cover crop species in Tennessee no-till soybean/corn rotations
Home
Contributor/Checkoff:
Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
DiseaseField management Pest
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Virginia Sykes, University of Tennessee-Institute of Agriculture
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
19-154-P
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Tennessee Soybean Promotion Board
$45,000
Institution Funded:
University of Tennessee-Institute of Agriculture
$45,000
Brief Project Summary:

Cover crops provide many ecological benefits including reduced soil erosion, reduced nutrient leaching, and enhanced water holding capacity. Another potential benefit is the use of these cover crops as a forage for livestock production. Limited information is available comparing cover crop species and variety adaptation and ecological impacts in either conventional or dual-use (cover crop/forage) cover crops in Mid-South soybean systems. The objectives of this study are to assess impacts of conventional and dual-use cover crop systems on weeds, slugs/insects, and diseases and assess within-species variation and identify regionally adapted cover crop varieties.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, livestock producers

Information And Results
Project Deliverables

Cover crop seeding rates and corn and soybean fertility will follow UT extension guidelines. Fertility rates will be based on soil test results from the fallow (no cover) plots and will be applied equally to all plots in order to gauge potential nitrogen credits from each species.

Findings from this project will be presented throughout regional meetings, field days, blog posts, and Extension agent in-service training events. Co-PIs will work together to develop cover crop species Extension fact sheets which will include information on regional adaptation, economic benefits, and ecological impacts. A web-based application will also be developed to further simplify producer utilization of best practices identified in this study. Users will be allowed to input various cover crop/ cash crop combinations and management practices (e.g. dual use vs. single use, short season vs. long season) and an algorithm will be used to populate data on appropriate cover crop management practices, soil health benefits, potential weed and insect issues, nutrient benefits, and potential yield and economic return of cover crop species grown in Tennessee and the mid-South.

Final Project Results

Updated February 3, 2021:

View uploaded report Word file

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.