Winter Rye Cover Crop Effect on Cash Crop Yields: Year 3

Published Mar 7, 2012

Abstract

Cover Crops are an important addition to any farming system to improve soil quality and decrease soil erosion or nutrient loss. Farmers are concerned that a winter rye cover crop could negatively impact their cash crop yields. Cover crop had no affect on corn yield at eight site-years, however it negatively impacted corn yield at six sites in 2010 and one site in 2009 where the cover crop was not properly managed. Cover crop either positively affected or did not affect soybean yield in 10 out of 10 site-years. Cover crop did not affect corn silage yield.