nitrogen

Which Cover Crops Bloom Early Enough to Benefit Following Corn Crop?

By John Hart posted on April 2, 2024 | Posted in Soil Health, Termination

Source: Farm Progress

A benefit of legumes is that they can mine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash from the subsoil. Frame said a goal of the research is to discover if those nutrients from the cover crop can be used by the cash crop following the cover crop.

How Cover Crop Species & Termination Time Affect N Release

By Gustavo Pesini, Tuana Ferreira de Almeida, and Andrea Basche posted on August 7, 2023 | Posted in Soil Health, Termination

Source: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Cropwatch

While later cover crop termination in the spring can allow for more biomass accumulation, such later termination can change the C-to-N composition of the plants impacting residue decomposition. Therefore, identifying the best time for cover crop termination to provide optimal N cycling benefits can help farmers make decisions about cover crop management.

Growing Nitrogen with Legume Cover Crops

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but price fluctuations of fertilizers leave farmers looking for alternative solutions. Planting legumes as a cover crop can increase soil nitrogen and perhaps even reduce reliance on fertilizers.

By Brook Wilke posted on May 12, 2023 | Posted in Soil Health, Investing in Regenerative Ag

Source: Michigan State University Extension

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, but price fluctuations of fertilizers leave farmers looking for alternative solutions. Planting legumes as a cover crop can increase soil nitrogen and perhaps even reduce reliance on fertilizers.

Winter Cover Crops Could Reduce Nitrogen in Drainage Water by 30%

April 25, 2023 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: University of Illinois

As Corn Belt states seek ways to curb nitrogen flow from farms into the Gulf of Mexico, new University of Illinois research adds evidence for winter cover crops as an important part of the solution.

Scientists Identify Cover Crops That Keep Nitrogen in Soil

July 25, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: High Plains Journal

To keep nitrogen where it can do the most good, a team of ARS scientists is developing new techniques for cover crop breeders. Their goal: to help the breeders identify plants whose extended underground root systems (known as the rhizosphere) are most effective at keeping nitrogen in the soil.

Farmer in Wales Cuts Fertilizer Use with New Grazing Methods, Cover Crops

July 5, 2022 | Posted in Grazing, Soil Health

Source: Farmers Weekly

Andrew Rees started to question the grassland management at Moor Farm, Haverfordwest, where he farms with his wife, Vicky, and mother, Jean, three years ago. Since then, he has cut nitrogen use by more than 60% and planted herbal leys or cover crops across a fifth of the farm.

[Podcast] Reducing Inputs, Boosting Yields at Starkey Farms in Indiana

May 26, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

In this week's edition of the Cover Crop Strategies podcast, brought to you by La Crosse Seed, we’re paying a visit to Starkey Farms, a seventh-generation family farm just outside of Indianapolis. Co-owner Mike Starkey’s been no-tilling since 1989. He started using cover crop mixes on his corn and soybeans in 2005.

Biological Nutrient Uptake Observed in Regen Soils

May 12, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Ohio's Country Journal

This ecologically‐based agricultural approach uses microbes and carbon compounds to produce crops naturally rather than relying entirely on highly soluble “salty” nutrient inputs for plant nutrition.

Studying Cover Crop Decomposition and Nitrogen Release During Growing Season

May 11, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: University of Nebraska

To help understand cover crop decomposition and N release throughout the growing season, University of Nebraska researchers designed a study using “litterbags” — a common method to research crop decomposition. This research is part of the Precision Sustainable Agriculture (PSA), a collaborative project supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Sustainable Agricultural System Coordinated Agricultural Projects from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Penn: Consider Early Kill for 2022 Non-Legume Covers

April 25, 2022

Source: Penn State Extension

When a cover crop is terminated, the fresh residue is broken down by microbes in the soil. These microbes use N and other key nutrients found in the cover crop residue as fuel sources for the break-down process. However, if there is not enough N in the residue to complete the process, microbes will use N from the soil instead.