Evaluation of Cover Crop Mixture on Row Crop Productivity through Quantified Soil Health and Crop Production

The benefits from cover crops can be enhanced when targeting some functional aspects of cover crops. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) belongs to the legume family and it is an organic nitrogen producer while rapeseed (Brassica napus) is a member of the brassica family and accumulates glucinolates in tissue. Glucosinolates are sulfur compounds known for their effectiveness on suppressing soil pathogens and parasitic nematodes. A mixture of the two functional cover crops would benefit row crop operations through supplying low-input organic nitrogen fertilizer and natural soil pathogen preventive. One concern related to cover crop cultivation is termination of cover crop growth before row crop planting. Incorporation or chemical burndown are the commonly applied practices known to be effective in suppressing cover crop. A three year field trial will occur at an EQIP participating producer’s location to evaluate/ demonstrate the benefit from legume/brassica cover crop applications and cover crop residue management. The detailed project goal is to quantify potential benefits from the projected cover crop application practices on soil health parameters such as soil physical/ chemical properties, soil pathogen suppression, and crop productivity.