Progress report for ONC22-101
Project Information
Combating challenges that threaten crop production across variable growing conditions is vital to mitigating the impacts of abiotic constraints on food production, profitability, and stewardship of natural resources. Of particular concern is heavy and frequent rainfall in the North Central Region. Heavy rainfall after planting, especially followed by dry weather, can cause the soil to form a surface crust, resulting in a hard, compact, and brittle surface soil. Farmers face seedling death and loss of productivity. The long-term goal of this project is to promote the successful adoption of a cover crop prior to soybean planting to improve system resilience to intense rainfall and soil crusting. Objectives include: 1) examine the use of a cover crop to physically protect the soil surface and reduce soil crusting after heavy rainfall events, improving soybean emergence, survival, and ultimately yield, and 2) develop research-based interactive learning modules to empower farmers to make decisions regarding implementation of cover crops on their farm. Outcomes are expected to lead to the development of economically-sustainable strategies that promote stewardship of natural resources.
Objectives of this project are to: 1) examine the use of a cover crop to physically protect the soil surface and reduce soil crusting after heavy rainfall events, improving soybean emergence, survival, and ultimately yield, and 2) develop research-based interactive learning modules to empower farmers to make decisions regarding implementation of cover crops on their farm.
Cooperators
- (Educator and Researcher)
Research
In fall 2022, three farmer cooperators were identified to participate in this on-farm research project. Treatments included: cover crop and non-treated control (no cover crop). Treatments were replicated 3-4 times within a field as strips. Farmers selected cover crop species and seeding rate based on their experience and interest. In spring 2023, the cover crops were terminated according to each farmer's standard practice and the entire field area was planted to soybean. In the spring, soybean plant population was measured. Soil temperature, moisture, and resistance were tracked every other week through summer. In the fall, farmers harvested their soybean. The entire trial will be repeated in 2024.
In 2023, the experiment was conducted at five on-farm locations. The prescence of a cover crop had no effect on soybean plant population at four out of five of the trial locations. At one location, there were 6,800 fewer soybean plants per acre where there was a previous cover crop. At two of the locations in 2023, the cover crop had no effect on soybean yield. Yield data from the remaining three locations are being analyzed. At three out of five of the locations, soil surface compaction was reduced by the prescence of the cover crop.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
This research was presented at the American Society of Agronomy International Annual Meeting in October 2023 by a graduate student. Farmer educational opportunities are planned for Spring and Summer 2024.