2017
Introducing Cover Crops into Corn-Soybean Rotation
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
AgricultureField management
Parent Project:
Introducing Cover Crops into Corn-Soybean Rotation
Lead Principal Investigator:
Joshua Heitman, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
16-113
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
$7,851
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$7,851
Brief Project Summary:

Recent agricultural trends focus on soil management practices for maintaining physical, chemical and biological components of soil fertility that together comprise soil health. Recommendations to improve soil health focus on practices with the greatest potential to increase organic matter and nutrient cycling by biological processes. This research intends to assess changes to soil properties after introducing a winter wheat cover crop to a long-term corn and soybean rotation under different tillage systems, compare crop yields from different tillage systems with and without a cover crop and devise recommendations for cover crop use in corn-soybean rotations under a soil health management plan as promoted by federal agencies.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Cover crops are promoted as an important tool in soil health management. Many studies have shown that cover cropping improves soil fertility and soil conservation, but it is not clear how long it takes for improvements to be measurable. North Carolina has a hot and humid climate with unique challenges for crop and soil management, and NC growers may need alternative strategies or longer periods of time to achieve improvements observed elsewhere. This research will inform growers about potential benefits of adding cover cropping to a range of tillage systems for corn and soybean production in the NC piedmont.

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.