How do you get the benefits of a cover crop and eliminate the issues of not enough time and labor in the fall? Is that even possible? Did you know only 5% of Iowa’s row crop acres are cover cropped, compared to most neighboring states having 10% of their acres covered?
Watch the most recent webinar with Dr. Gabrielle Myers on her research comparing perennial groundcover, interseeded cover mixtures, and no cover in a continuous corn system: Assessing the Impact of Perennial Groundcover and Interseeded Annual Cover Crops on Corn Yield and Drainage Water Quality.
One difference between a normal cover crop system and perennial groundcover or interseeded annuals is the time of year planting and terminating or suppression occurs.
Dr. Myers then discussed the results of a 3-year study – in which the farm (located in NE Iowa) got significantly less rain than usual. The Kentucky Bluegrass (perennial) averaged no yield effects on the corn crop and greatly reduced the nitrate concentration in tile water. And that was with less than 10% of the plot being covered due to poor establishment!
Research is continuing, in fact this year a summer dormant seed (Radix Hybrid bulbosa) was planted and with all the rain, it has established very well.
Tune in next week with Adam Schnieders and Justin Clark as they talk about the “DNR Cover Crop Seed Production Project” and watch any previously recorded webinar from our website or our YouTube channel.
Iowa Learning Farms 