Injecting Manure into Growing Cover Crops Can Cut Pollution, Boost Corn Crops

Compared to traditional surface application, injecting dairy farm manure into a live cover crop in early spring reduces ammonia escape, nitrous oxide emissions, soil nitrogen loss

By Jeff Mulhollem posted on October 14, 2024 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Source: Penn State University Extension

Compared to traditional surface application, injecting dairy farm manure into a live cover crop in early spring reduces ammonia escape, nitrous oxide emissions, soil nitrogen loss

Is Planting Green a Useful Tool for Managing Multiple-Resistant Waterhemp?

January 19, 2023 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Termination

Source: Penn State University Extension

For the past two years, we have been participating in a multi-regional US Soybean Board funded experiment that is investigating the effects of planting green on no-till soybean production and management of multiple-resistant waterhemp populations. Planting green is the delay of cover crop termination until after cash crop planting, which is a departure from the standard practices of terminating a cover crop 10-14 days prior to planting. Our coordinated project focused on no-till soybean (30" row spacing; Enlist system) preceded by cereal rye (60 lb/ac) that was sown after field corn.

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.

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Cover Cropping in Integrated Farming Systems

Last week we had boots on the ground at the Big Soil Health Event in Cedar Falls, Iowa where agronomist David Kleinschmidt emphasized the importance of considering Carbon to Nitrogen ratios of cover crops and residues.

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