In the pages of No-Till Farmer we’ve extolled the virtues of planting green many times, acknowledging there will be some trial and error getting the planting timing, equipment and termination right.

If you’re fighting waterhemp and Palmer amaranth in soybeans – which traditionally don’t offer as many chemical herbicide solutions as with corn – a recent study shows planting soybeans green, and integrating that with proper pre emergent herbicides, can be an effective way to fight them off or reduce their impact.

The research information published in the journal Weed Science found beans over a cereal rye cover crop was effective, according to Rodrigo Werle, a cropping systems weed scientist at University of Wisconsin Extension and a member scientist at the Weed Science Society of America.

Pairing cover crops with pre-emergence herbicides provided an even greater benefit than either practice alone, the authors found. Planting soybeans great provided a 44% 44% reduction in Palmer amaranth density, for example, compared to no-till.

Using pre-emergent herbicides resulted in a 68% reduction in Palmer density compared to no pre-emergent product.

The findings come from 10 U.S. states -- Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin -- during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons.

Naturally, you get a double-shot of benefits here, the study notes, as planting green gives cereal rye more time to grow and generate biomass to suppress weeds, rather than killing rye a week or two before planting.

And healthier stands of cereal rye contribute even more to reducing erosion, increasing soil organic matter and improving soil health, the authors note.

As you may already know, soybean yield response to planting green varies, so attention to detail is essential.

″Soybean stand was a key factor in maintaining soybean yields compared to no-till when planting green,″ emphasizes Werle. ″Farmers should follow best management recommendations for proper planter and equipment set-up to ensure effective soybean establishment under high levels of cereal rye biomass when planting green. Enough soil moisture is also critical for success planting green.”

I think this study shows that while cover crops can be a valuable tool for controlling weeds, it’s not a good idea to abandon traditional weed-control methods unless that’s your operational goal. Otherwise, look for ways covers and herbicides can work together on your farm. You might be able to increase soil health, control weeds and increase the effectiveness of your herbicides at the same time.

For some additional resources on planting green, CLICK HERE to check out a special report we published on the practice.