Cover crop species, seeding rate, and planting method:
This project has been funded by the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board for two years. We compare two cover crop species (wheat or cereal rye) at two seeding rates (30 lbs seed / acre or 100 lbs seed / acre) using two methods (broadcast or drilled) to plots with no cover crop. We measure ground cover over the winter; weed density in the fall, winter, and spring; cover crop and weed biomass; and soybean establishment, growth, and yield. In 2018, we will finish our third year of this trial, so stay tuned for the final results!
This project has been funded by the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board for two years. We compare two cover crop species (wheat or cereal rye) at two seeding rates (30 lbs seed / acre or 100 lbs seed / acre) using two methods (broadcast or drilled) to plots with no cover crop. We measure ground cover over the winter; weed density in the fall, winter, and spring; cover crop and weed biomass; and soybean establishment, growth, and yield. In 2018, we will finish our third year of this trial, so stay tuned for the final results!
Marestail (horseweed; Conyza canadensis) biology and management:
While we collect a lot of data on how our treatments affect marestail density and biomass, we have two trials devoted just to this problem species. One is in its second year and is funded by the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board. With their support, we received a grant from the USDA (AFRI Crop Protection and Pest Management program) to expand this work. Across both trials, we track marestail emergence time (see photo below on the left), population density (middle photo below), and use combinations of cover crops and fall- and spring-applied herbicides (see photo below on the right) to assess the optimal management strategies. The timing of management depends when these plants emerge, and with data from our colleagues (at Southern Illinois University, Kansas State University, and the University of Missouri), we will try to model emergence with soil moisture, temperature, and other factors.
While we collect a lot of data on how our treatments affect marestail density and biomass, we have two trials devoted just to this problem species. One is in its second year and is funded by the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board. With their support, we received a grant from the USDA (AFRI Crop Protection and Pest Management program) to expand this work. Across both trials, we track marestail emergence time (see photo below on the left), population density (middle photo below), and use combinations of cover crops and fall- and spring-applied herbicides (see photo below on the right) to assess the optimal management strategies. The timing of management depends when these plants emerge, and with data from our colleagues (at Southern Illinois University, Kansas State University, and the University of Missouri), we will try to model emergence with soil moisture, temperature, and other factors.
Optimizing cropping systems for resilience to stress: role of maturity group selection and cover crops on yield, weeds, insects, and microbes:
Kentucky's corn/full-season soybean rotation often seeks to maximize bean yield by planting "longer-season" soybeans that will be harvested late in the fall. But, as we saw in 2017, fall weather can be unpredictable--some harvest operations were pushed into late November because of wet conditions. Harvesting in mid- to late-October also doesn't leave much time to plant cover crops. What if we used shorter-season soybeans, say MG3, that could be harvested earlier? This project examines trade-offs associated with that decision. I am working with folks at the University of Nebraska and Ohio State University, and with Dr. Montse Salmeron at UK. She is a crop modeler who can take our yields and detailed information about soybean development to predict yields in variable environments. My role is to study how different cover crop planting dates (from early September through late October) influence weeds through the fall, winter, spring, and into the next rotational corn crop. The photos below show our cover crop (a mix of oats and rye) planted on different dates in Fall 2017. We chose this mix because (1) this trial looks at potential for forage production and (2) oats perform better than cereal rye and wheat when planted earlier in the fall. The oats have since died, so only the cereal rye is left. (There is a lot going on with this trial... stay tuned for updates as we move into our spring weed counts, spring herbicide applications, cover crop burndown, corn planting, corn weed counts...................)
Kentucky's corn/full-season soybean rotation often seeks to maximize bean yield by planting "longer-season" soybeans that will be harvested late in the fall. But, as we saw in 2017, fall weather can be unpredictable--some harvest operations were pushed into late November because of wet conditions. Harvesting in mid- to late-October also doesn't leave much time to plant cover crops. What if we used shorter-season soybeans, say MG3, that could be harvested earlier? This project examines trade-offs associated with that decision. I am working with folks at the University of Nebraska and Ohio State University, and with Dr. Montse Salmeron at UK. She is a crop modeler who can take our yields and detailed information about soybean development to predict yields in variable environments. My role is to study how different cover crop planting dates (from early September through late October) influence weeds through the fall, winter, spring, and into the next rotational corn crop. The photos below show our cover crop (a mix of oats and rye) planted on different dates in Fall 2017. We chose this mix because (1) this trial looks at potential for forage production and (2) oats perform better than cereal rye and wheat when planted earlier in the fall. The oats have since died, so only the cereal rye is left. (There is a lot going on with this trial... stay tuned for updates as we move into our spring weed counts, spring herbicide applications, cover crop burndown, corn planting, corn weed counts...................)
Using cover crops for grazing or forage production:
With Dr. Bob Pearce and Dr. Ben Goff, we have a series of trials in strip-till or no-till tobacco that examine some questions related to using cover crops for grazing or forage: How do common tobacco herbicides influence cover crop establishment and performance? Does removing the aboveground biomass impact the efficacy of soil residual herbicides, compared to having a cover crop residue on the soil surface? How is weed management affected? Does grazing (either rotationally or a mob graze) have the same effect as using a forage harvester? (Yes, we measure tobacco yield too!) We will complete the final year of this trial in 2018. The Burley Tobacco Growers Co-op, the Council for Burley Tobacco, Altria Corp., and KTRDC have provided funding for these projects.
With Dr. Bob Pearce and Dr. Ben Goff, we have a series of trials in strip-till or no-till tobacco that examine some questions related to using cover crops for grazing or forage: How do common tobacco herbicides influence cover crop establishment and performance? Does removing the aboveground biomass impact the efficacy of soil residual herbicides, compared to having a cover crop residue on the soil surface? How is weed management affected? Does grazing (either rotationally or a mob graze) have the same effect as using a forage harvester? (Yes, we measure tobacco yield too!) We will complete the final year of this trial in 2018. The Burley Tobacco Growers Co-op, the Council for Burley Tobacco, Altria Corp., and KTRDC have provided funding for these projects.