MARSHALL, Ill. — Cover crops offer a multitude of benefits, which include reducing soil compaction & soil erosion, improving water holding & water infiltration capacity, and helping to manage nitrogen. To this last point, cover crops impact on soil nitrogen cycling is of particular importance, especially when considering their potential to ‘trap’ soil nitrate thereby benefiting water quality. This N-scavenging is largely done by non-legume cover crops, such as annual ryegrass and cereal rye that actively take up nitrate during the fallow season and reduce losses to tile drains.
However, a question remains: While winter cover crops can tighten the N cycle & keep nitrate out of tile drainage water, is there a yield-cost to doing so?
This is the question that Lowell Gentry, Principal Research Specialist in Agriculture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has sought to address. Gentry’s research group has been investigating the use of cover crops in corn and soybean production systems, looking at the relationship between cover crop N uptake, soil nitrate and ammonium level, and tile nitrate loads.
“Our research demonstrates that cereal rye after corn can reduce tile nitrate loss by 40% without negatively impacting soybean yield. However, our research also shows that cereal rye ahead of corn can decrease early corn growth, which translated into lower yields at harvest. We are working on a costs/benefits analysis comparison of these various systems over time,” says Gentry.
Gentry will be presenting on this topic at the biennial Soil Fertility Webinar, to be held on Thursday, February 28, 2019. The webinar will focus on soil fertility from a nutrient management standpoint, presented by University of Illinois Extension Educators Jesse Soule, Talon Becker, and Phillip Alberti. “Those in attendance will hear about the latest University of Illinois research on cover crops impacting soil nutrient availability, as well as the impacts of long term crop rotations and tillage. Other presenters from Western Illinois University and the Illinois SWCD will discuss nutrient management in organic systems, and a farmer-led program to improve soil health,” says Soule.
Registration is $45 per person for Certified Crop Advisors who want to obtain continuing education units (CEU) and $15 for those wish to attend but not obtain CEUs. Registration costs includes lunch. Pre-registration is required by February 26. Registration for Clark County can be made online (go.illinois.edu/soil) or by calling the Clark County Extension Office (217) 826-5422.
To find a hosting location near you, please contact Jesse Soule by email (jsoule2@illinois.edu) or by phone (217) 826-5422,
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the Extension Office. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.
Certified Crop Advisors will receive 2.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management and 2 CEUs in Soil and Water Management by attending this seminar.
— University of Illinois Extension
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