5 Tips for Success in Organic, No-Till Soybeans

Imagine being able to raise organic soybeans as a labor saving and soil building crop.

For Dr. Joel Gruver, professor of soil science and sustainable agriculture at Western Illinois University, this has been the goal for some of the soybeans grown at the Allison Organic Research & Demonstration Farm  for over a decade. When Joel started investigating no-till soybean production in 2009, he focused on comparing conventional till and no-till systems for a few years. After demonstrating that no-till soybean production could be a viable system, he shifted to comparing different no-till soybean production practices with a goal of fine-tuning no-till soybean production to reduce risk and enhance compatibility within crop rotations.

No-till soybean production success hinges on sufficient weed suppression from the cover crop.

The Allison Farm has a long history of organic production: most fields have never received herbicides and the first field was organic-certified in 1997; the whole farm has been certified since 2009. As a result, all organic no-till research at the Allison Farm has been conducted in fields with large weed seed banks (unlike fields transitioning from conventional management).

Joel joined our shared learning call earlier this month to share his insights of raising and experimenting with organic no-till soybeans.

Here are five key take-aways:

1. Optimize rye growth for weed suppression and effective rye termination

Joel emphasized that effective weed suppression by a rolled cover crop requires a strong uniform stand of a high biomass cereal grain such as cereal rye, triticale or cover crop mixtures. Early planting of the cereal grain and a favorable seedbed are both key to reducing risk of inadequate cover crop growth, and both are much easier to achieve following a small grain crop.

For example, the field planted to no-till soybeans at the Allison Farm this summer (2021) produced a small grain crop in 2020.  Soon after a late July harvest of mixed oats and peas, the field received shallow tillage to terminate weeds and promote digestion of crop residues. A second shallow tillage pass occurred shortly before cereal rye -either Progas hybrid rye or ND Gardner open pollinated cereal rye-  was drilled on September 18, 2020. The second tillage pass terminated a strong stand of volunteer oats and peas creating a weed free seed bed with good nutrient availability for the rye. In addition to rye, some plots were also drilled to supplemental species (e.g., 4010 peas, Survivor winter peas, radishes, crimson clover, balansa clover, buckwheat and flax) on September 19 and 20.

The open-pollinated rye began shedding pollen on May 13, 2021, about a week before the hybrid rye. Almost three weeks later, on June 3, 2021, soybeans (Blue River 34A7, a tall, leafy organic variety used for most no-till soybeans studies at the Allison Farm since 2009) were planted on 30” rows at a target population of 195,000/acre. High cover crop biomass levels (5-7 dry biomass tons/acre) were measured for all plots a few days before planting. On June 8, 2021, the field was rolled with a 15 foot I&J roller crimper resulting in very effective knock-down of rye in the early dough stage.

Roller crimping when the rye is at dough stage enables a more thorough roll-down.

From 2009-2016, all no-till soybean studies at the Allison Farm were drilled on 7.5” rows. Since 2018, all no-till soybean plots have been planted with a JD 1760 corn planter to improve seed placement into moisture and provide the option of cultivation.

2. In fall, be selective in picking a field for no-till, organic soybeans

Joel commented that no-till soybean fields should be carefully selected.

Perhaps most important, fields should have low weed pressure with special emphasis on perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, bindweed, horsenettle, quack grass and trees that are not strongly suppressed during no-till soybean production.

In addition, good control of summer annuals during previous season(s) reduces risk. Recently produced high viability summer annual weed seeds laying near the soil surface are more likely to germinate in a no-till environment than deeper older seeds.

Fields coming of out conventional production with a history of good chemical weed control are good candidates for success.

Fields coming out of corn are much more likely to have produced well fed weeds (and seeds) than fields coming out of small grains or forages. Fields coming out of corn are also likely to be high residue, low N environments that can’t be planted early.

Fields that are broadcast seeded to cover crops without incorporation (e.g., aerial seeding or ground based seeding into standing corn) are much less likely to result in strong uniform stands of cover crops.

3. Check again in the spring

Joel recommended assessing cover crop stands in the spring to evaluate weed suppression potential.

Fields with variable cover crop stands (e.g., due to poor establishment, winter-kill or flooding) or visible weeds should transition to plan B-Z (e.g., grazing or hay production, small grain harvest, conventional till soybeans).

Another critical condition for success is adequate moisture in the soil profile and/or a high chance of moisture recharge. Joel explains, “Cereal rye does a great job of pulling moisture out of the soil – both the surface and the whole soil profile – with its high water demand when it is at, and for a few weeks after, anthesis. Surface soil conditions can go from ideal moisture to too dry very quickly.”

4. Plant soybeans later and deeper than you might otherwise

About five years ago, Joel transitioned from drilling no-till soybeans on 7.5” rows to planting on 30” rows using a precision corn planter to achieve uniform seed placement. Planting deeper – at least two inches deep – increases the likelihood of adequate moisture and strong stand establishment. Crusting is unlikely when a field surface is covered with a thick mat of cover crop residue, so soybeans can emerge from more than 2.5 inches.

Planting later (e.g., late May – early June) increases the likelihood of a good stand of soybeans emerging quickly from warm soils. Planting on 30” rows accelerates in-row canopy development (200,000 seeds/acre on 30” rows equates ~11 seeds per row foot) and leaves the possibility of high residue cultivation.

Soybeans were planted into 5-7 tons dry biomass/acre.

Planting later followed by roll/crimping after planting will allow rye to reach the milk to dough stage, resulting in full and permanent knock down of rye with pretty much any type of roller.

Joel likes to roll about a week after planting and commented that rolling after soybeans reach V2-V3 adds risk because both the crimper and rye stems can act as a guillotine for elongated soybean seedlings.

5. Have a backup plan for if conditions aren’t right

So what do you do if you don’t check the stand and moisture boxes? Joel says, “You should probably pull the plug and not do organic, no-till soybeans in that field.” One option is converting to tillage-based soybeans, with the caveat that it may be difficult to adequately process the abundant rye residues to allow effective field operations. Even if your planter can handle the residue, your cultivation system might not be able to. Removing the rye residues by grazing, or harvesting for straw, hay or silage are options. Flail-chopping can also make the rye residues more manageable for future field operations.

If no-till, organic soybeans isn’t in the cards, reverting to cultivation is an option.

Joel would be happy to hear from producers who are thinking about experimenting with a similar system, so feel free to contact him using the phone number and email on his page.