Intersowing Cover Crops Into Standing Soybean in the Upper Midwest

Abstract

In order to reduce nutrient losses and soil erosion in the United States Upper Midwest following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], cover crops can be intersown into standing soybean. The objective of this study was to determine the establishment of intersown cover crops and their impacts on a soybean-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation. Four cover crops, winter camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz], winter pea [Pisum sativum ssp. arvense (L.) Poir], winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and radish (Raphanus sativus L.), were directly sown into the ground at the R4 and R6 stages of soybean at two locations, Prosper and Fargo, ND in 2016-2018. Results indicated intersowing cover crops have no impact on soybean yield, can produce above ground biomass which ranged from 0.44 to 3.04 Mg ha-1, and show potential to mitigate soil nitrate losses in areas that grow soybean as a cash crop.