Does Grazing Cover Crops Negatively Impact Soil and Crop Yields?
April 29, 2021
Grazing cover crops can be a potential option to re-integrate crops with livestock production and reverse the adverse effects of separating crops and livestock production, despite soil compaction concerns.
Can Cover Crops Offset the Negative Impacts of Corn Silage?
April 28, 2021
UNL researchers discerned varied results from a study on reducing soil compaction and wind/water erosion on fields harvested for corn silage by planting cover crops.
Strategic Tillage for the Improvement of No-Till Cropping Systems
January 21, 2020
The practice of OT once in 5 to 10 years or more is not likely to adversely affect no-till systems. However, to be beneficial, the OT has to be well-planned and implemented to target a well-characterized problem such as a weed control or compaction problem.
Cover Crops and Carbon Sequestration: Benefits to the Producer and the Planet
March 11, 2019
This student study of a four-year research project found cover crops may significantly improve soil aggregation and particulate organic matter concentration in the short-term, which suggests the potential for cover crops storing soil carbon in the long term.
How Does Cover Crop Planting Date Affect Soil’s Susceptibility to Water Erosion?
March 11, 2019
This Nebraska student study of how cover crops planted pre- and post-harvest affected soil erodibility found that the amount of water-stable aggregates and biomass production increased with pre-harvest planting.
Cover Crop Grazing: Impacts on Soils and Crop Yields
January 22, 2019
Results from a three-year study in rainfed and irrigated no-till cropping systems in Nebraska suggest that moderate cattle grazing of cover crops may not negatively impact soil properties and crop production.
Cover Crops Benefit Nebraska Agroecosystems In Many Ways
January 9, 2019
Across Nebraska, the use of cover crops is increasing. Most commonly, winter cover crops are planted during the fallow period between corn or soybean harvest and the next crop. However, other windows for cover cropping exist in Nebraska.
Cover Crop and Crop Residue Management: How Does it Affect Soil Water in the Short and Long Term?
August 13, 2018
How you manage your soil today impacts its productivity tomorrow. This article focuses on how plant residue management and cover crop use affect water infiltration and plant available water.