Soil health and economics from long-term cover cropping

Mikayla Tabert

In this project, we are seeking to complete the Soil Health Partnership’s 5-year research on the impact of cover crops. The SHP’s intent with this trial was to evaluate the long-term effects of integrating cover crops into the cropping system for five growing seasons. The crop rotation was to include corn and wheat, and soil sampling and all economic data collected. When SHP was dissolved in the spring of 2021, we decided we wanted to continue the trial to truly see the effects of a longer duration (5 years) rather than just two years. We are hoping to demonstrate lasting economic and soil health benefits of integrating cover crops into the crop rotation and to provide other growers the financial incentive to adapt cover crops into their cropping systems. This is becoming increasingly important as there will likely be more policies and regulations regarding cover crops and soil sustainability. If cover crops do improve soil health and profitability, they could be a useful tool to help MN corn growers be environmentally and economically sustainable.

Planned rotation and cover crop treatments:
2019: corn was interseeded at V4 growth stage
2020: soybean was interseeded 6/29
2021: wheat followed by cover crop
2022: sunflowers interseeded at V4 growth stage
2023: corn interseeded at V4 growth stage