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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #420548
Research Project: Innovative Cropping System Solutions for Sustainable Production on Spatially Variable Landscapes

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Do crop rotation and cover crops impact soil health and productivity in Missouri soybean systems?

Author
item REINBOTT, TIMOTHY - University Of Missouri
item Veum, Kristen
item KANDANOOL, DIVYA - Orise Fellow

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/26/2024
Publication Date: 10/26/2024
Citation: Reinbott, T.M., Veum, K.S., Kandanool, D. 2024. Do crop rotation and cover crops impact soil health and productivity in Missouri soybean systems? [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, November 11-13, 2024, San Antonio, Texas. Paper No. 161512. Available: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2024am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/161512

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cover crops have been shown to impact soil health parameters and grain yield. Previous research has shown that including wheat in a rotation can improve soil health indicators particularly water stable aggregate stability (WSA). This study was undertaken in central Missouri to compare soil health indicators and yield (grain and forage) in relation to crop rotation length and cover crops. Initiated in autumn 2015, five different rotations lengths were established: 1 year-continuous corn or soybean, 2 year-corn/soybean, 3 year -corn/soybean/wheat, 4 year-corn/soybean/wheat/red clover and 5 year-corn/soybean/wheat/2 years alfalfa. Each phase of each rotation was present each year. As a control, a perennial cool season grass, tall fescue, and a native warm season grass, switchgrass, were also established in 2015. Each plot (except tall fescue and switchgrass) was split into no cover crop or a mixed cover crop of cereal rye, Austrian winter pea, hairy vetch and crimson clover and planted in October after corn and soybean harvest. Corn and soybean were planted “green” into the cover crop and the cover crop terminated by herbicide. Winter wheat was planted in October after soybean harvest and red clover was overseeded into the wheat in late winter. Generally, as the rotation length increased corn and soybean yield was greater. Cover crops had little effect on corn or soybean yield regardless of rotation length. As rotation length increased WSA was greater in corn, soybean and wheat with the greatest improvement during the corn and wheat rotation phase. WSA in the soybean phase was significantly lower compared to corn or soybean. Total soil microorganism weight as determined by PLFA analysis indicated was only greater following cover crops under longer rotations of three or more years. This study indicates that rotation length has a much greater impact on yield and soil health than winter annual cover crops.