Rye Cover Crop Research [Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources] [Project]

Massive removal of stover from corn production systems for energy production is likely to cause significant environmental harm, including increased erosion, higher sediment and phosphorus loading of surface waters, loss of soil organic carbon, and increased nitrogen losses to ground and surface waters. It is critically important that new management systems be developed that will prevent these adverse impacts. A promising strategy involves the use of winter cover crops such as rye. A winter rye cover crop can provide surface protection against erosive losses, immobilize excess nitrogen, and provide an additional input of carbon to help maintain soil organic carbon. This project involves a two year on farm study to address the feasibility