Mikenesd - 6/30/2024 21:29

Plant an oat cover crop

Researchers at the University of Minnesota report that planting oats as a competition crop just ahead of planting soybeans, and then killing the cover crop with glyphosate at a height of 10 to 12 inches, has proved to be a consistently effective management practice. The oat crop absorbs enough excess nitrate-nitrogen and soil moisture to keep soil iron available to the soybean crop.

Timing is important, however. Killing the cover crop at 10 inches allows enough growth for the cover crop to influence soil conditions, but not enough growth to compete with the soybean stand.