2022 Impact of Winter Rye Planting Date and Seeding Rate on No-till Soybeans

Soybeans are grown for human consumption, animal feed, and biodiesel. Locally, soybean production is increasing as farms strive to build sustainability and resiliency on their farms. Cover crops are an integral component of the Vermont agricultural system. Cereal or winter rye is commonly planted in this region as a cover crop because it is a cold-hardy species that grows quickly in the fall and continues to produce more biomass the following spring. Because winter rye can be planted late in the season, it allows farmers the opportunity to plant a fall cover crop even after harvesting full season crops like corn. Farmers are looking to maximize the benefits of cover crops while minimizing any negative impact on the cash crops. Timely termination in the spring is crucial; winter rye can tie up resources like water and nitrogen in the soil, making them less available to the cash crop. Additionally, rye can continue to grow if not terminated properly resulting in weed pressure and resource competition. Evaluating the impact of cereal rye planting date and seeding rate on cover crop establishment will help us determine if seeding rate should be increased as planting dates get later. We would expect that as planting dates of cereal rye extend into October, higher seeding rates may allow for increased soil protection late in the season. In addition, we expect that earlier planting dates and higher seeding rate will also have an impact on spring cover crop biomass. We will evaluate spring biomass followed by termination of the cover through rolling and crimping. Finally, we will determine the impact of these cover crop practices on soybean yields. The University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils (NWCS) Program, as part of a grant from the Eastern Soybean Board, and in collaboration with the Northeast Cover Crop Council (NECCC), conducted a trial with the goal to 1) understand the impact of winter rye planting date and seeding rate on establishment and biomass production, and 2) investigate the yield response of no-till soybeans planted into rolled down winter rye.