Seeking Two Farm-Cooperators for Cover Crop Study

Seeking Two Farm-Cooperators for Cover Crop Study

This 3-year on-farm research project will be evaluating the influence of a winter rye cover crop on water erosion and soil health in sloping and sandy soils.  The project begins Fall 2016 with the planting of the rye cover crop.
 We are looking for two farmer cooperators:

-Farmer-cooperator 1: rainfed field with >5% slope under corn-soybean rotation in eastern Nebraska.

-Farmer-cooperator 2: irrigated field with sandy soil, low organic matter (about 1%), and under continuous corn or corn rotation (corn-soybean or corn-corn-soybean) in central or west-central Nebraska.

 Three treatments will be established:

1) control (no cover crop); 2) pre-harvest planted cover crop; 3) post-harvest planted cover crop

The three treatments will be replicated six times for a total 18 plots (Figure 1). The size and general layout of the plots and the number of corn rows per plot can be modified depending on the field size and farmer equipment.

 The farmer-cooperators will:

Perform the typical farming practices in his/her field with two modifications:

  1. Plant rye cover crop before crop harvest around mid-September with a Hagie planter for six plots (blue plots) and drill a rye cover crop on six plots after harvest (green plots).
  2. Spray cover crops with a herbicide in spring before planting.

The cost of the rye seed, renting the Hagie planter, rental of a drill (if needed), and cover crop spraying with herbicide will be covered by UNL. The farmer will also be compensated for use of the field at a rate of $1000 per year ($3,000 for three years).

 The UNL research team will:

-Conduct simulated rainfall in spring (for information on water erosion and water quality)

-Soil sample once a year to examine nitrate leaching and soil health properties

 Figure 1:
Figure 1: Plot layout of cover crops in sloping or sandy soil. Plot size, layout, and number of rows per plot can be modified based on field size or farmer equipment.

Interested in being involved with this project?

Let us know by filling out this form. 

If you have questions about this project, please contact:
Sabrina Ruis at 
sruis2@unl.edu or 608-515-9238
or Laura Thompson at 
laura.thompson@unl.edu or 402-472-8043


Funding for this project is provided by the Nebraska Corn Board.

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