2018
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
$12,627
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$12,627
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

A winter wheat cover crop was implemented into along-term corn-soybean rotation with a range of tillage systemsin the piedmont. After three years, the cover crop did not improve soil health according to current tests, nor did it improve yield. Reduced tillage systems with or without cover crops had better soil health than severe tillage systems.Soil testing and nutrient management according to NCDA&CS recommendations provided good results for soil fertility for all tillage systems.

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.