Update:
In this study at two sites on contrasting soils, we have been monitoring the leaching of nitrogen using suction lysimeters all winter long and into spring. We have overcome some issues with getting samples under some soil conditions by installing and modifying the lysimeters. The samples from the lace emitters are still being analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus using the Auto analyzer in our lab. Cover crop biomass was sampled and measured in late November and early December of 2021 to document the fall nitrogen uptake. A peer-reviewed paper in the journal of environmental quality was recently published that shows that reductions in nitrogen loss during winter and spring are driven by the amount of nitrogen taken up in late fall.

This spring in plots slated to be planted to soybean, we are imposing early medium, and late cover crop termination dates. The early termination was accomplished on April 11th, 2022. The mid termination will be accomplished in early May simultaneous with soybean planting. And the late termination will be performed a week to 10 days after soybean planting.

Slugs can cause a great deal of damage to young seedlings of soybeans and corn. Some farmers are concerned that cover crops may make slug damage worse, especially the practice of planting green. As part of the planting green study, we are monitoring slug populations and damage in soil conditions that may affect these factors. In early April we installed 48 slug traps and collected soil moisture, soil surface temperature, and data on slug numbers on two dates. The slug monitoring activity will intensify as we get close to planting and for the two weeks following planting. We accept to complete our slug monitoring in early June and couple that with measurements of soybean stand density and growth in June as well as final yields next fall.