Update:
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CCSP Large Plot Conversion
The CCSP (Conservation Cropping Systems Project) has been in operation since 1999. The goal of the project is to demonstrate and do research to promote the adoption of farming practices that limit or stop soil erosion. Practices that work must of course be economic. If we lose our soil, economics become unreasonable also. In other words, don’t kill the goose laying the golden eggs.
Our work in 2016 was to convert our small plot site into one of larger plots. We wanted to do this to be more efficient with time and money, also to be able to use large farm equipment. We still have kept 25 of our smaller 60-200ft plots that are a very nice size to do university research, and small-scale demonstrations. The transition went very smoothly aided by extremely nice growing conditions.
We planted soybeans in two of the larger plots, and several of the small 60-220 ft. plots. Our goal was to get to the large plots and to thereafter do side by side demonstrations of different conservation practices with in the large plots of the same crop. For the 2016 cropping year we pulled out several yield tests from the old plots showing the above average yields from a year with nice growing conditions. All plots were no-till and all plots yielded well with numbers ranging from 50-64 bushels.
Rye was flown on by airplane August 22, 2016 in part of the largest soybean plot and also the large corn plot. The “catch” was good. Not perfect but more than adequate to aid in excess soil moisture uptake and prevent wind erosion. If we had cattle there would have been an opportunity for spring grazing and certainly an area for calving.
In dry conditions, planting soybeans in a cropping system utilizing conventional tillage can leave lighter soils vulnerable to both wind and water erosion due to the low amount of residue left behind after harvest. In wetter conditions, there is an extended period in the fall from full maturity until harvest where no moisture is being used. By flying on rye as a cover crop into our no-till fields in August, we are able to lessen the effects of extreme precipitation. In drier conditions we have increased residue and decreased disturbance in order to reduce erosion. On the flipside, in wet conditions we have increased active growing days and organic matter to assist in water uptake. By incorporating rye cover crops into our no-till soybean rotation with comparable yields, we have shown that we can that we can maintain average soybean yields while reducing erosion and increasing organic matter.