2019
Sustainable system approach for improving soil health and managing soybean production
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Iowa Soybean Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
AgricultureBiodiversityCarbonField management Land Use SustainabilityU.S. Soy reputation
Parent Project:
Sustainable system approach for improving soil health and managing soybean production
Lead Principal Investigator:
Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Iowa State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Marshall McDaniel, Iowa State University
Asheesh Singh, Iowa State University
+1 More
Project Code:
450-30-60
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Iowa Soybean Association
$70,342
Institution Funded:
Iowa State University
$70,342
Brief Project Summary:

Optimal systems approaches to soybean productions integrate best management practices with the best crop varieties. This research tests the three-way interaction between no-till, cover crops and three soybean varieties. The main goal is to document the agronomic, soil health, water quality and economic benefits of a systems approach. This goal can be realized through comparison of tillage, cover crop and soybean varieties in a systems approach to investigate its agronomic and economic value for soybean production, determining the effects of the stacking conservation practices and varying soybean varieties on soil health physical, chemical and biological indicators and their relationships to soybean productivity and determining the effects of the stacking conservation practices and varying soybean varieties on water quality.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents, NGOs

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Update:
This project was established in the fall of 2017 to determine the water quality, productivity, soil health and economic benefits of integrating cover crop and tillage systems (no-till, NT, and chisel plow, CP) in a soybean production system. The findings of this work demonstrate the short-term benefits of cover crop and NT in improving soil health as measured by the improvement of water infiltration and reduction in nitrate leaching under cover crop as compared to non-cover crop treatments, as well as the economic outcomes of cover crop use and NT. The seeding of cover crop before and after soybean crop in the Des Moines Lobe area is encouraged given the unique cold and wet soil conditions early in the spring. The integration of cover crop in the short-term as well as in the long-term is a good management practice for soil health and productivity, coupled with no-till. From this study, there are potential benefits to the soil health such as increase in water infiltration and reduction in nitrate loss over the short duration of the experiment. This is useful information for farmers who are considering transitioning to sustainable practices. Soybean yield was affected by tillage in 2018, with CP resulting in a 4.5 bu*ac-1 higher yield than NT, and higher yield in cover crop plots compared to non-cover crop plots in 2019 by 3.4 bu*ac-1. As noted in the previous progress report hyperlink, water quality is improved with the implementation of cover crops, with a reduction in water nitrate as well as soil nitrate by 29% and 44%, respectively. The economic analysis indicates increased costs associated with cover crops and decreased costs associated with NT, and when an increase in yield was obtained using cover crops, the increase in economic gains was enough to counteract the costs associated with planting cover crops.

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This project was established in the fall of 2017 to determine the water quality, productivity, soil health and economic benefits of integrating cover crop and tillage systems (no-till, NT, and chisel plow, CP) in a soybean production system. The findings of this work demonstrate the short-term benefits of cover crop and NT in improving soil health as measured by the improvement of water infiltration and reduction in nitrate leaching under cover crop as compared to non-cover crop treatments, as well as the economic outcomes of cover crop use and NT. The seeding of cover crop before and after soybean crop in the Des Moines Lobe area is encouraged given the unique cold and wet soil conditions early in the spring. The integration of cover crop in the short-term as well as in the long-term is a good management practice for soil health and productivity, coupled with no-till. From this study, there are potential benefits to the soil health such as increase in water infiltration and reduction in nitrate loss over the short duration of the experiment. This is useful information for farmers who are considering transitioning to sustainable practices. Soybean yield was affected by tillage in 2018, with CP resulting in a 4.5 bu*ac-1 higher yield than NT, and higher yield in cover crop plots compared to non-cover crop plots in 2019 by 3.4 bu*ac-1. As noted in the previous progress report hyperlink, water quality is improved with the implementation of cover crops, with a reduction in water nitrate as well as soil nitrate by 29% and 44%, respectively. The economic analysis indicates increased costs associated with cover crops and decreased costs associated with NT, and when an increase in yield was obtained using cover crops, the increase in economic gains was enough to counteract the costs associated with planting cover crops.

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.