VERONA, Wis. — Your soil is your greatest resource, and managing your soil through use of cover crops can bring the benefits of better soil health, economic returns, and help to meet environmental goals. Including cover crops in your cash crop operation can make sense over the long haul.
“One of the long-term benefits to cover cropping is improved moisture availability through better infiltration and retention of water. This means crops will be better able to withstand short dry spells, leading to more stable yields,” said Dr. Jim Friedericks, AgSource Laboratories’ Outreach and Education Advisor.
Most growers who use cover crops expect to see increased organic matter in the soil, less erosion, fewer weeds, and even more beneficial insects. Increasing the organic matter in the soil with cover crops has additional benefits, including:
- Reducing soil compaction which encourages root development in the corn or soybeans planted next, and allows for greater aeration for better soil microbial growth.
- Reducing surface evaporation which helps retain moisture for primary crops.
- Increasing the nutrient holding capacity of the soil. Image 1. Water holding capacity as influenced by organic matter
Often there are increased yields of the next crop planted after a cover crop. Yield is influenced by several soil characteristics including nutrient availability and the physical traits of the soil, both of which can benefit from cover crops.
Cover crops are also useful in nitrogen (N) management, according to research conducted for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Nitrogen is lost through leaching of nitrate from the soil. A cover crop such as rye grass will utilize this available nitrogen and can reduce loss by about 30 percent, Friedericks said.
Phosphorus (P) losses, which usually take place through wind and water erosion of the soil, can be reduced with cover crops by about 28 percent, said Friedericks.
He added that cover crops not only improve soil health by increasing organic matter and improving soil structure, but they also create a more stable and active microbial population in the soil. “Soil organisms actually have increased growth around plant roots where they utilize soil nutrients and organic matter for their metabolism, releasing those nutrients over time where plant roots can easily absorb them,” he explained.
When a cover crop is used in a corn and soybean rotation there is a chance of yield loss with corn. Friedericks noted that research from Iowa State University shows that killing the cover crop at least two weeks before planting can reduce the chances of that yield reduction.
“A soil health test will reveal organic matter levels and nitrogen levels that can aid in the decision of the mix of cover crops to use,” he noted. “Testing will also help track the benefits of cover crops over several growing seasons.”
According to the USDA, common cover crops in the Upper Midwest include winter rye and winter wheat. Oats, spring wheat, hairy vetch, red clover, sweet clover, turnips, rapeseed, radishes and triticale, are also effective but are less common.
To learn more about cover crops contact your local Extension office or NRCS office. For more information on soil health testing, visit www.tinyurl.com/AgSourceSoilHealth.
AgSource is a leader in agricultural and environmental laboratory analysis and information management services. A subsidiary of Cooperative Resources International, AgSource provides services to clients in the United States and across the globe. Learn more at www.AgSourceLaboratories.com.
— AgSource Laboratories
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