Research

SARE Cover-Crop Diversity in No-Till Systems Final Report (2015). PDF available HERE.

Or, visit the SARE website: http://mysare.sare.org/mySARE/ProjectReport.aspx?do=viewProj&pn=ONE13-177

Summary
In 2013 and 2014, the UVM Extension Champlain Valley Crop, Soil and Pasture Team based in Middlebury, Vermont partnered with four farms to evaluate two cover crop mixes in winter wheat and corn silage systems, as well as Tillage Radish in a pasture system. Four replicated trials were planted and evaluated for both fall and spring performance in percent ground cover, biomass, and nutrient uptake. Our focus was primarily on the heavier clay soils; however, much of the information from this project is applicable across the Champlain Valley (and beyond).

During the project time frame, Vermont had the wettest two consecutive months on record in May and June of 2013. As a result, it was a challenging farming year. Cash crop planting was delayed, as were mid-season fertilizer applications and weed control applications. This resulted in poor cover crop established in some locations and rendered only one research site that produced usable data.

The data collected in fall 2013 showed the lower seeding rates (50 pounds per acre) of our two different mixes interseeded into corn fields, performs comparably or better than the control plots of 100 pounds of winter cereal rye in percent cover, dry matter yields, and nutrient uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fall. However, the data also showed winter rye out competed other treatments in the percent cover, dry matter yields, and nutrient uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the spring of 2014.  As a result of this project, we increased farmer interest and adoption in utilizing cover cropping and no-till systems in corn silage production. Not only did farms who participated in the project try new farming practices, but other farmers who heard about the project through our monthly newsletter, by attending the Farmer Field Day, and who received technical assistance have showed an increasing interest and adoption of these projects. This preliminary project has led to subsequent grant projects looking at cover crops in no-till systems.

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More Final Reports to Come! We have three projects that will be ending this year. One on soil health and two on cover crops.