Jennifer Woodyard and Nathan Johanning – University of Illinois Extension; Shalamar Armstrong – Purdue University
February 2019
Illinois Cover Crop Recipe – Post Soybean, Going to Corn: Use Oats/Radish
Jennifer Woodyard and Nathan Johanning – University of Illinois Extension; Shalamar Armstrong – Purdue University
February 2019
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
INTRODUCTION
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a corn-soybean rotation. Planting a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop is often the easiest way to introduce cover crops into your rotation.
PLANNING AND PREPARATION
– Planning—Educate yourself. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
– Corn hybrid and planting—If possible, plant the preceding corn crop early and use an early maturity corn hybrid. One strategy is to use cover crops on the field you usually harvest first, on sloping ground, or on a field where you can watch it regularly, and to plant your earliest maturity hybrid on that field.
– Residual corn herbicides—Cereal rye can be seeded and a successful stand will occur in the fall following most of the spring-applied residuals used in corn. However, if cereal rye will be grazed or fed to livestock, there are some restrictions (see Resources section).
– Seed purchase—Order cereal rye seed early. Named varieties can produce substantially more growth or more predictable growth and maturity, but they are more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Start with VNS seed with a good germination rate purchased from a reputable seed dealer. Note that this means the seed has been cleaned, tested for germination, and has a seed tag even though it is VNS.
FALL WORK
– Corn harvest—Harvest fields where cereal rye is to be planted as early as possible.
– Tillage or no-tillage—To allow for adequate cover crop growth, it is best or easier if no full-width tillage is planned for after rye planting or before intended rye termination date. Thus, it is easier to integrate cover crops into no-till or strip-till systems.
– Timing of planting—Ideally, plant cereal rye as soon after harvest as possible and before two weeks after the 50% frost date. In northern Indiana, this would be before Nov. 10; in southern Indiana, before Nov. 25. Use the Selector Tool for more precise dates for your county.
– Seeding rate—Drilled seeding rate: 45–60 lbs./acre. Broadcast with shallow incorporation: 50–65 lbs./acre. These rates are based on high-quality seed with germination rates of 85–98%.
– Planting method—Drill to 0.75–1.50 inches deep or broadcast with shallow incorporation. An air-seeder mounted on a vertical tillage tool can also be used.
– Fertility or liming—If applying P, K, or lime, complete the application prior to the seeding operation or apply to the growing rye before the ground freezes. If it is necessary to inject manure, low-disturbance injectors are available that will cause minimal damage to the cereal rye. Surface application of liquid manure on top of the rye is not recommended. Surface broadcast of dry manure or litter should be done prior to seeding, but 4 tons or less can be applied to growing cereal rye with minimal damage by using modern spreading equipment that provides even distribution.
Figure 1: Terminate cereal rye growth when approximately 6 inches in height (shown here). (Eileen Kladivko)
SPRING WORK
– Scouting—In the spring, scout your cereal rye cover crop to determine how well it is growing and its coverage. But if rainfall is below normal, scout also to monitor soil moisture in case earlier termination is needed.
– Termination timing—Terminate the cereal rye in the spring when plants are 6 to 12 inches tall and actively growing or about two weeks before planting soybean— whichever comes first. Many growers will successfully plant soybean into terminated cereal rye much taller than 12 inches, especially if weed control is a primary purpose, but new cover crop users should terminate when the cereal rye is smaller (see Figure 1).
– Termination herbicide—Cereal rye can easily be terminated with a full rate of glyphosate (minimum of 1 lb. acid equivalent [ae]/acre) after dormancy breaks in the spring. Effectiveness and rapidity of termination improves if rye is rapidly growing and air temperatures are warmer. Larger rye, rye past the boot stage, or rye sprayed during cooler weather can be more difficult to kill or will die more slowly. Be careful of metribuzen and metribuzen premixes antagonizing glyphosate if weather is cool and cloudy near the application date.
– Termination modifications for dry weather—Watch the weather and be ready to modify your termination plans. In a dry spring, the cereal rye cover crop has the potential to use moisture that the cash crop will need, so terminate cover crops sooner to allow rainfall to make up the deficit.
– Termination modifications for wet weather—In a wet spring, when it has been very difficult to get into the fields to spray, be ready to take advantage of any break in the weather and/or use low axle weight sprayers. If projected soybean planting is less than 10 days away and the rye is tall, then it often works better to spray within a day or two of planting. It is usually better to plant either into brown, dead rye plants or into standing green plants rather than into large, dying, yellow/green (“rubbery”) cereal rye plants that have fallen on the soil surface and formed a mat. See Purdue Extension publication AY-353-W (in Resources section) for more details.
– Soybean planting—It is usually best to no-till plant soybean into the dead/dry or standing cereal rye cover crop. Almost all modern planters and drills are fully capable of planting soybean into a cereal rye cover crop. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant into the cover crop residue as usually some adjustments are needed.
– Scouting—After soybean planting, scout for soybean emergence and population. Additionally, scout for weeds since substantial cereal rye residue can often delay emergence of annual weeds, which may delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
RESOURCES
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Managing Cover Crops: An Introduction to Integrating Cover Crops into a Corn-Soybean Rotation (Purdue Extension publication AY-353-W)
Residual Herbicides and Fall Cover Crop Establishment (Purdue Extension Weed Science publication)
Terminating Cover Crops: Successful Cover Crop Termination with Herbicides (Purdue Extension publication WS-50-W)
Recommended Cover Crop Seeding Methods and Tools (Agronomy Technical Notes)—available from the USDA–Natural Resources Conservation Service
AUTHORS
Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; and Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council
REVIEWERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University; Barry Fisher, USDA-NRCS; William Johnson, Purdue University; Tom Kaspar, USDA–Agricultural Research Service (retired); DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; and Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
THE MIDWEST COVER CROPS COUNCIL (WWW.HTTPS://WWW.MIDWESTCOVERCROPS.ORG) AIMS TO FACILITATE WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF COVER CROPS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL/OUTREACH RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, CONDUCTING NEW RESEARCH, AND COMMUNICATING ABOUT COVER CROPS TO THE PUBLIC.
FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS PROVIDED BY MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION.
Revised May 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2019 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-104)
Iowa State University Extension (CROP 3159)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a soybean-corn rotation. Often the easiest place to begin is to plant a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop following corn, so consider starting with the companion recipe titled Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye (publication MCCC-103; see Resources).
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Read about cover crops. Go to field days. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on purpose and objectives.
- Soybean cultivar and planting—If possible, plant preceding soybean crop early and use an early-maturity-group cultivar. Some possible strategies are to try cover crops in a field that is usually harvested first, on sloping ground, or where you plan to plant your earliest-maturity-group soybean cultivar.
- Residual soybean herbicides—Oats can be planted in the fall and produce a successful stand following spring application of most residual soybean herbicides. If the oats are grazed, there are some time-interval restrictions. (See Resources.)
- Seed purchase—Order oat seed early, usually by early August. Named oat varieties can produce substantially more growth, but they are usually more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Use good quality seed that has been cleaned, tested for germination and weed seed contamination, and purchased from a reputable seed dealer.
Fall Work
- Soybean harvest—Harvest fields where oats are to be planted as early as possible. This is not as critical if cover crops are seeded before harvest.
- Tillage or no-tillage—Generally, it is easier to integrate cover crops into no-till or strip-till systems. If full-width tillage is planned, it should be delayed until after the oats are killed by freezing in late fall to allow time for oat cover crop growth. Usually it is more desirable to delay tillage until spring to maintain surface cover and prevent erosion.
- Timing of planting—Oats are relatively frost tolerant but are not winter hardy. In general, oats will grow well in the fall if they are planted at least six weeks before the average hard frost date (28ºF). To allow for adequate growth, in northern Iowa this should be before September 9; in central Iowa, before September 16; and in southern Iowa, before September 23. (See Cover Crop Management publication in Resources.)
- Seeding rate—Minimum seeding rate: 60 lbs./acre. Beginners should consider higher seeding rates for broadcast seeding methods with or without incorporation. Note that these rates assume the seed will have germination rates greater than 85%.
- Planting method—Aerial seed with a plane or helicopter or broadcast/drop seed with a ground-based vehicle into the standing soybean crop. In most of Iowa, aerial or broadcast seeding should take place in late August and/or just before soybean leaves begin to yellow. Rainfall after seeding is essential for establishment, but normal average weekly rainfall totals in Iowa decrease as fall progresses, so in most years, it is usually better to seed late in August rather than wait for leaf yellowing.
- Alternative planting method—Drill to a depth of 0.75–1.50 inches or broadcast with shallow incorporation to less than 1.50 inches immediately after soybean harvest but before recommended dates above. For this method, the seeding rate is also 60 lbs./acre.
- Scouting—In the fall, scout your oat cover crop to determine how well it is growing and its coverage.
- Fertility or liming—Surface applying P, K, or lime before the ground freezes can be done without harming the cover crop too much if the soil is not too wet, although some damage will occur in the wheel tracks. If P, K, or N fertilizer, or manure is injected in the fall, it is usually best to wait until after the cover crop has winter-killed. In this case, use a low-disturbance applicator to minimize incorporation of surface residues.
Spring Work
- Scouting before planting—In the spring, scouting relative to the cover crop is usually not needed because it has winter-killed.
- Termination—Unlike overwintering cover crops, oats winter-kill, so termination is not needed.
- Corn planting—Almost all modern row planters are fully capable of planting corn into a dead oat cover crop and soybean residues without preplant tillage. Row cleaner attachments can sometimes be beneficial to increase soil warming. As usual, check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant because some adjustments may be needed with higher residue levels.
- Starter fertilizer—If N fertilizer has not been applied before planting, consider equipping your corn planter with a 2×2 starter fertilizer applicator and aim for a starter fertilizer rate between 30–50 pounds of actual N per acre.
- Scouting after planting—As usual, scout for corn emergence, population, and insect pests after planting. Additionally, scout for weeds because substantial oat and soybean residue may delay emergence of annual weeds, which may then delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
Resources
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Cover Crop Management (Iowa Agronomy Technical Note 38)—available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Effect of residual herbicides on cover crop establishment (Iowa State Extension and Outreach Integrated Crop Management Encyclopedia Article)
Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye (Iowa Cover Crop Recipe series, MCCC-103)—available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Authors
Tom Kaspar, USDA-ARS (retired); Mark Licht, Iowa State University (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)
Reviewers and Contributors
Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University; Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Keith Kohler, USDA-ARS; Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council; DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; and Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Acknowledgments
This publication was developed with contributions and collaboration from Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
Revised May 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2019 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-103)
Iowa State University Extension (CROP 3158)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a corn-soybean rotation. Planting a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop is often the easiest way to introduce cover crops into your rotation.
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Read about cover crops. Go to field days. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on purpose and objectives.
- Corn hybrid and planting—If possible, plant preceding corn crop early and use an early maturity hybrid. Possible strategies are to use cover crops in a field that is usually harvested first, on sloping ground, or where you plan to plant your earliest maturity hybrid, corn silage, or seed corn.
- Residual corn herbicides—Cereal rye can be planted in the fall and produce a successful stand following most spring-applied residual corn herbicides. If cereal rye is grazed or harvested for forage, there are some time-interval restrictions. (See Resources.)
- Seed purchase—Order cereal rye seed early, usually by early August. Named rye varieties can produce substantially more growth and have predictable development, but they are usually more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Use good quality seed that has been cleaned, tested for germination and weed seed contamination, and purchased from a reputable seed dealer.
Fall Work
- Corn harvest—Harvest fields where cereal rye is to be planted as early as possible.
- Tillage or no-tillage—Generally, it is easier to integrate cover crops into no-till or strip-till systems. If full-width tillage is planned, do it immediately after corn harvest or delay it until after the planned cover crop termination date in the spring to allow time for cover crop growth.
- Timing of planting—Ideally, plant cereal rye as soon as possible after corn harvest and before two weeks after the average hard frost date (28˚F). In northern Iowa, this would roughly be before October 21; in central Iowa, before October 28; and in southern Iowa, before November 7. (See Cover Crop Management publication in Resources).
- Seeding rate—Minimum seeding rate: 45 lbs./acre. Beginners should consider 55 lbs./acre for drilled seed and 61 lbs./acre for shallow incorporation. Note that these rates assume the seed will have germination rates greater than 85%.
- Planting method—Drill to a depth of 0.75–1.50 inches or broadcast with shallow incorporation to less than 1.50 inches.
Spring Work
- Scouting before planting—In the spring, scout your cereal rye cover crop to determine how well it is growing and its coverage. If rainfall is below normal, then scout to monitor soil moisture in case earlier cover crop termination is needed.
- Termination timing—Terminate the cereal rye in spring when the plants are 6 to 12 inches tall and actively growing or more than 10 days before planting soybean—whichever comes first. Many experienced cover crop users will successfully terminate cereal rye much taller than 12 inches or less than 10 days before planting, but termination and planting may be more difficult for new users.
- Termination herbicide—Cereal rye can easily be terminated with a full rate of glyphosate (1 lb. acid equivalent/acre) after the rye begins growing in the spring. Effectiveness and rapidity of termination improves if rye is rapidly growing and air temperatures are warmer (> 60˚F). Larger rye, rye past the boot stage, or rye sprayed during cooler weather can be more difficult to kill, may require higher glyphosate rates, or will die more slowly. Use best management practices for glyphosate to improve effectiveness.
- Termination modifications for wet weather—In a wet or windy spring, when it has been very difficult to get into the fields to spray, be ready to take advantage of any break in the weather and/or use low axle weight sprayers. If projected soybean planting is less than 10 days away and the rye is tall, then it often works better to spray a day or two before planting. Crop insurance requires that cover crops be terminated at the very latest by five days after soybean planting in the southeastern two-thirds of Iowa and before soybean planting in the northwestern one-third of Iowa.
- Soybean planting—It is usually easiest to no-till plant soybean into the dead, brown cereal rye cover crop. Almost all modern row planters and drills are fully capable of planting soybean into a dead cereal rye cover crop. If wet or windy weather has delayed cereal rye termination, it is usually better to plant into standing green plants rather than into large green plants that are dying and have fallen on the soil surface, forming a mat. For either scenario, check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant because some adjustments are usually needed.
- Scouting after planting—Scout for soybean emergence, population, and insect pests. Additionally, scout for weeds because substantial cereal rye residue often can delay emergence of annual weeds, which may then delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
Resources
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Cover Crop Management (Iowa Agronomy Technical Note 38)—available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Effect of residual herbicides on cover crop establishment (Iowa State Extension and Outreach Integrated Crop Management Encyclopedia Article)
NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines: Non-Irrigated Cropland—available from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Post Soybean, Going to Corn: Use Oats (Iowa Cover Crop Recipe series, MCCC-104)—available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Authors
Tom Kaspar, USDA-ARS (retired); Mark Licht, Iowa State University (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)
Reviewers and Contributors
Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University; Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Keith Kohler, USDA-ARS; Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council; DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; and Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Acknowledgments
This publication was developed with contributions and collaboration from Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
Revised May 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2019 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-102)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
Fitting cover crops into rotation can be challenging depending on which crops are grown. That challenge is further enhanced by a short growing season in this region. If you have a small grain or other short-season crop in rotation, it is easier to fit a cover crop after an early crop harvest. Farmers interested in using cover crops could consider including small grains in rotation to create that window of opportunity for cover crops when first starting this practice.
It is highly recommended that each producer identify specific goals for each field/farm and choose cover crops that can provide functions to achieve those goals. Functions and goals of cover crops for a basic recipe are described in Table 1.
Basic Starting Points for Common Crop Sequences
The following mixes are selected for North Dakota because they should be low risk for herbicide carryover injury and have a low chance for becoming weedy. The general recipe includes a grass (such as cereal rye and oats) and a brassica (most commonly radish). Producers can add flax to either if a three-species mix is desired. Recommended seeding rates for these mixes are included in Table 2.
- Spring or winter wheat–soybean: Cereal rye, radish, flax – Early fall harvest of wheat broadens options and will provide more benefit. Consider using a stripper head for wheat to leave residue standing and avoid a mat, or straight cut wheat as high as possible. Covers should be drilled immediately after field is harvested to maximize time for growth. Cereal rye, radish, and flax mixture will help manage soil moisture, cover the soil, promote infiltration, and provide food for beneficial insects. Cereal rye should be monitored closely for moisture use in the spring. If the seedbed is drying too quickly, the rye needs to be terminated. If there is excess moisture, the rye can continue to grow and soybean can be planted into the living cereal rye (called planting green). Terminate the cereal rye with a full rate of herbicide. Make sure disk openers on planting equipment are sharp to cut through residue.
- Corn-soybean: Cereal rye or barley, and radish – Given limited to no growing time following corn harvest, interseeding of corn is preferred between V5- to V8-stage corn, depending on available equipment clearance and access to the field. Broadcast or aerial seeding of cereal rye or barley, and radish will help manage water and salinity, compete with weed pressures, and promote soil aggregation. Manage corn residue both on the back of the combine and by using a non-chopping head to leave cornstalks standing. The mat of cornstalks created by a chopping head will result in wet soil conditions the following spring and cornstalks blowing across the field over winter. Cereal rye will overwinter and provide spring cover crop growth and water management.
- Soybean-corn: Barley and radish – Covers should be drilled immediately after field is harvested to maximize time for growth. Barley and radish have some cold tolerance. Having these cover crops will help reduce erosion, manage salinity, and promote infiltration. Cereal rye prior to corn is higher risk and requires specific management in the spring. Broadcasting cover crops into soybean prior to leaf drop is also an option, but this requires more experience to get timing correct to avoid possible smearing on the beans from green material.
- Soybean-soybean: Cereal rye or barley – Covers should be drilled immediately after field is harvested to maximize time for growth. Cereal rye or barley will help reduce erosion, and cereal rye will overwinter to use moisture in the spring.
Four Tips for Using Cereal Rye
- Depending on conditions, cereal rye can be seeded late into the fall, with a majority of growth occurring in the spring.
- Increase rates with later seeding dates.
- Use higher rates when broadcasting versus drilling.
- Terminate 14 days in advance of planting corn, and never use cereal rye before a wheat or barley crop.
Table 1. Functions and goals of cover crops
| Functions | Description and Goals | Cover Crops |
| Soil Builders | Crops with fibrous root systems add organic matter to the soil and build aggregation. | Cereal rye, oat, barley, triticale |
| Nitrogen Fixers | Legume crops fix atmospheric N2 by symbiotic association with soil bacteria. | Forage pea, field pea, winter Austrian pea, faba bean, clovers |
| Nutrient Capture or Release | Plants with a taproot that reaches 4-6 ft. deep capture nutrients lost from the crop rooting zone. Flax also releases P from the soil, increasing its availability. | Radish, rapeseed, flax |
| Soil Looseners | The thick taproot of brassicas reduces soil compaction and increases water infiltration. | Radish, rapeseed |
| Soil Erosion Preventer | Cereals cover the soil in late fall, and winter-hardy cereals provide soil cover and protection in the spring. | Cereal rye, barley, oat |
| Weed Suppression | Crops release allelopathic compounds, reducing the growth of weeds. | Cereal rye |
| Water Management | Winter-hardy crops use moisture early in the spring. | Cereal rye |
Table 2. Seeding rate for crops in mixes or alone
| Crop Sequence | Crops | Planting Method | Seeding Rate* (lbs./acre) |
| Wheat-soybean | Cereal rye, radish, flax | Drill | 30, 2, 2 |
| Corn-soybean | Cereal rye or barley, and radish | Aerial broadcast | 50 or 50, 2 |
| Soybean-corn | Barley, radish | Drill | 30, 2 |
| Soybean-soybean | Cereal rye or barley | Drill | 30 or 30 |
*These seeding rates are based on high-quality seed with germination rates of 85-98% and purity >90%.
Resources
North Dakota State University Soil Health
Midwest Cover Crops Council: North Dakota
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Authors
Abbey Wick, Department of Soil Science, North Dakota State University, email: abbey.wick@ndsu.edu; Marisol Berti, Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, email: marisol.berti@ndsu.edu; Lee Briese, Centrol Crop Consulting, Jamestown, ND, email: lee.briese@huskers.unl.edu
Reviewers and Contributors
Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; Tom Kaspar, USDA–Agricultural Research Service (retired); Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council; DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
Revised November 2018
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2018 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-100)
Purdue Extension (AY-356-W)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a corn-soybean rotation. Planting a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop is often the easiest way to introduce cover crops into your rotation.
Planning and Preparation
• Planning—Educate yourself. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
• Corn hybrid and planting—If possible, plant the preceding corn crop early and use an early maturity corn hybrid. One strategy is to use cover crops on the field you usually harvest first, on sloping ground, or on a field where you can watch it regularly, and to plant your earliest maturity hybrid on that field.
• Residual corn herbicides—Cereal rye can be seeded and a successful stand will occur in the fall following most of the spring-applied residuals used in corn. However, if cereal rye will be grazed or fed to livestock, there are some restrictions (see Resources section).
• Seed purchase—Order cereal rye seed early. Named varieties can produce substantially more growth or more predictable growth and maturity, but they are more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Start with VNS seed with a good germination rate purchased from a reputable seed dealer. Note that this means the seed has been cleaned, tested for germination, and has a seed tag even though it is VNS.
Fall Work
• Corn harvest—Harvest fields where cereal rye is to be planted as early as possible.
• Tillage or no-tillage—To allow for adequate cover crop growth, it is best or easier if no full-width tillage is planned for after rye planting or before intended rye termination date. Thus, it is easier to integrate cover crops into no-till or strip-till systems.
• Timing of planting—Ideally, plant cereal rye as soon after harvest as possible and before two weeks after the 50% frost date. In northern Indiana, this would be before Nov. 10; in southern Indiana, before Nov. 25. Use the Selector Tool for more precise dates for your county.
• Seeding rate—Drilled seeding rate: 45–60 lbs./acre. Broadcast with shallow incorporation: 50–65 lbs./acre. These rates are based on high-quality seed with germination rates of 85–98%.
• Planting method—Drill to 0.75–1.50 inches deep or broadcast with shallow incorporation. An air-seeder mounted on a vertical tillage tool can also be used.
• Fertility or liming—If applying P, K, or lime, complete the application prior to the seeding operation or apply to the growing rye before the ground freezes. If it is necessary to inject manure, low-disturbance injectors are available that will cause minimal damage to the cereal rye. Surface application of liquid manure on top of the rye is not recommended. Surface broadcast of dry manure or litter should be done prior to seeding, but 4 tons or less can be applied to growing cereal rye with minimal damage by using modern spreading equipment that provides even distribution.
height (shown here). (Eileen Kladivko)
Spring Work
• Scouting—In the spring, scout your cereal rye cover crop to determine how well it is growing and its coverage. But if rainfall is below normal, scout also to monitor soil moisture in case earlier termination is needed.
• Termination timing—Terminate the cereal rye in the spring when plants are 6 to 12 inches tall and actively growing or about two weeks before planting soybean— whichever comes first. Many growers will successfully plant soybean into terminated cereal rye much taller than 12 inches, especially if weed control is a primary purpose, but new cover crop users should terminate when the cereal rye is smaller (see Figure 1).
• Termination herbicide—Cereal rye can easily be terminated with a full rate of glyphosate (minimum of 1 lb. acid equivalent [ae]/acre) after dormancy breaks in the spring. Effectiveness and rapidity of termination improves if rye is rapidly growing and air temperatures are warmer. Larger rye, rye past the boot stage, or rye sprayed during cooler weather can be more difficult to kill or will die more slowly. Be careful of metribuzen and metribuzen premixes antagonizing glyphosate if weather is cool and cloudy near the application date.
• Termination modifications for dry weather—Watch the weather and be ready to modify your termination plans. In a dry spring, the cereal rye cover crop has the potential to use moisture that the cash crop will need, so terminate cover crops sooner to allow rainfall to make up the deficit.
• Termination modifications for wet weather—In a wet spring, when it has been very difficult to get into the fields to spray, be ready to take advantage of any break in the weather and/or use low axle weight sprayers. If projected soybean planting is less than 10 days away and the rye is tall, then it often works better to spray within a day or two of planting. It is usually better to plant either into brown, dead rye plants or into standing green plants rather than into large, dying, yellow/green (“rubbery”) cereal rye plants that have fallen on the soil surface and formed a mat. See Purdue Extension publication AY-353-W (in Resources section) for more details.
• Soybean planting—It is usually best to no-till plant soybean into the dead/dry or standing cereal rye cover crop. Almost all modern planters and drills are fully capable of planting soybean into a cereal rye cover crop. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant into the cover crop residue as usually some adjustments are needed.
• Scouting—After soybean planting, scout for soybean emergence and population. Additionally, scout for weeds since substantial cereal rye residue can often delay emergence of annual weeds, which may delay the application of post-emergence herbicides.
Resources
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Managing Cover Crops: An Introduction to Integrating Cover Crops into a Corn-Soybean Rotation (Purdue Extension publication AY-353-W)
Residual Herbicides and Fall Cover Crop Establishment (Purdue Extension Weed Science publication)
Terminating Cover Crops: Successful Cover Crop Termination with Herbicides (Purdue Extension publication WS-50-W)
Recommended Cover Crop Seeding Methods and Tools (Agronomy Technical Notes)—available from the USDA–Natural Resources Conservation Service
Authors
Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; and Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council
Reviewers and Contributors
Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University; Barry Fisher, USDA-NRCS; William Johnson, Purdue University; Tom Kaspar, USDA–Agricultural Research Service (retired); DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; and Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
Revised May 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2019 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-101)
Purdue Extension (AY-357-W)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a soybean-corn rotation. Often the easiest place to begin is to plant a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop following corn, so consider starting with the companion recipe titled Post Corn, Going to Soybean (publication MCCC-100/AY-356-W; see Resources).
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Educate yourself. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
- Soybean variety and planting—If possible, plant the preceding soybean crop early and use an early maturity soybean cultivar. One strategy is to use your earliest- maturity-group soybeans on the fields where you plan to seed cover crops and plant those beans first.
- Residual soybean herbicides—Because oats are very tolerant of most soybean residual herbicides, few restrictions apply unless grazing is being considered. Radish is more sensitive and will likely be harmed if ALS-type (group 2) or PPO-type (group 14) herbicides are used in the soybean cropping season. (See Resources.)
- Seed purchase—Order cover crop seed early. Named oat varieties grow well but are more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Start with VNS seed with a good germination rate purchased from a reputable seed dealer. Note that this means the seed has been cleaned, tested for germination, and has a seed tag even though it is VNS. Although usually not less expensive than oat seed, spring barley can be used instead. For cover crop radishes (daikon type), be sure to purchase a single variety from a reputable seed dealer since mixed varieties may bolt or go to seed rather than producing the desired large amounts of biomass and roots.
Fall Work
- Soybean harvest—Harvest fields where a mix of spring oats/radish are to be planted as early as possible.
- Timing of planting—Ideally, plant oats/radish immediately after harvest. In most of Indiana, this should occur by the third week in September. See Selector Tool (in Resources section) for more precise dates for your county.
- Planting method—Drill to a depth of 0.25–0.50 inch or broadcast, but note that incorporation of the seed, if any, should be light since excessive disturbance of soybean stubble may negate any benefit of the cover crop. See Resources for more details on seeding methods.
- Seeding rate in oats/radish mix—Drilled: oats, 30–60 lbs./acre; radish, 2–3 lbs./acre. Broadcast: oats, 35–65 lbs./acre; radish, 3–4 lbs./acre.
- Aerial seeding or overseeding—An alternative to seeding after harvest is to do aerial seeding with a plane or helicopter or overseeding with a ground-based vehicle.In most of Indiana, seeding should take place in late August or by the first week of September and before 25% of the soybean leaves have yellowed and dropped. Rainfall after seeding is essential for establishment.
- Seeding rate for overseeding—For oats: 40–60 lbs./acre; for radish: 3–4 lbs./acre.
- Tillage or no-tillage—To allow for adequate cover crop growth, it is best if no full-width tillage takes place until oats/radish have been killed by freezing temperatures. If tillage is used, it is usually better to wait until spring in order to maintain surface cover to prevent erosion.
- Fertility or liming—If applying P, K, or lime, complete the application prior to the seeding operation or apply to the growing oats/radish before the ground freezes. If it is necessary to inject N fertilizer or manure in the fall, a low-disturbance applicator should be used to minimize reduction in surface residues.
Spring Work
- Starter fertilizer—Strongly consider equipping your corn planter with 2×2 starter fertilizer, and aim for a starter fertilizer rate between 30–50 pounds of actual N per acre.
Resources
Cover Crop Selector Tool — available from the Midwest Cover Crops Council
Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye (Indiana Cover Crop Recipe series, MCCC-100/AY-356-W)
Managing Cover Crops: An Introduction to Integrating Cover Crops into a Corn-Soybean Rotation (Purdue Extension publication AY-353-W)
Residual Herbicides and Fall Cover Crop Establishment (Purdue Extension Weed Science publication)
Terminating Cover Crops: Successful Cover Crop Termination with Herbicides (Purdue Extension publication WS-50-W),
Recommended Cover Crop Seeding Methods and Tools (Agronomy Technical Notes)—available from the USDA–Natural Resources Conservation Service
Authors
Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University; and Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council
Reviewers and Contributors
Marisol Berti, North Dakota State University; Barry Fisher, USDA-NRCS; William Johnson, Purdue University; Tom Kaspar, USDA–Agricultural Research Service (retired); DeAnn Presley, Kansas State University; Vaughn Sothman, Sharp Brothers Seed Co., Kansas; and Anne Verhallen, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
The Midwest Cover Crops Council aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
Revised May 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2019 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Daniel Smith and Matt Ruark – University of Wisconsin-Madison
May 2017
Considerations for Cover Crop Interseeding
Source link here.