Our study of October 2023 through September 2024 demonstrates that the interaction between cover crops and cash crops significantly influenced key soil nutrients, notably Bray II phosphorus (P), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), magnesium (Mg), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), and copper (Cu). Cover crops alone also significantly impacted most measured elements, including organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Our findings highlight that cover crops like hairy vetch and rye significantly improve soil organic matter, nutrient release, and nutrient retention, which can benefit subsequent cash crops. Overall, the results suggest that the strategic use of cover crops can enhance soil fertility and contribute to sustainable crop production, with potential long-term benefits for soil health and crop performance. Cover crops, particularly hairy vetch, significantly increased soybean root dry biomass. Greater soybean root biomass suggests greater nitrogen fixation and/or more mycorrhizal colonization in soybean. Hairy vetch produced the highest root biomass (8.6 g), while cotton led cash crops with 6.51 g. These results highlight the potential of cover crops to enhance soil health, soybean root development, nitrogen fixation, and/or mycorrhizal colonization in soybean, which are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Hairy vetch and winter wheat produced the highest soybean yields (47 Bu/acre), while radish performed moderately. The no-cover crop treatment yielded 44 Bu/acre, outperforming rye, which had the lowest yield (39 Bu/acre). These results show that cover crop selection significantly affects soybean yield, with hairy vetch and winter wheat being the most beneficial.

Results of this year show that cover crops like hairy vetch and rye significantly improve soil organic matter, nutrient release, and nutrient retention, which can benefit subsequent cash crops. Cover crops, particularly hairy vetch, significantly increased soybean root dry biomass. Greater soybean root biomass suggests greater nitrogen fixation and/or more mycorrhizal colonization in soybean. These results highlight the potential of cover crops to enhance soil health, soybean root development, nitrogen fixation, and/or mycorrhizal colonization in soybean, which are crucial for sustainable agriculture. Hairy vetch and winter wheat produced the highest soybean yields (47 Bu/acre), while radish performed moderately. These results show that cover crop selection significantly affects soybean yield, with hairy vetch and winter wheat being the most beneficial. Overall, the US soybean farmers will benefit from growing hairy vetch for better soil health, soybean root development, nitrogen fixation, mycorrhizal colonization in soybean, and higher soybean yield.