Continuous No-Till and Cover Crops – Boosting Soil Organic Matter, Carbon, and Crop Yields
Since 1969, select farm plots at the University of Illinois have been in continuous no-till. In that time, the measure of organic matter has been boosted three-fold – from about 1 percent to 3.2 percent, without use of cover crops. In the same period, rotating between corn and soybean crops, the stored carbon in that soil has risen from 25,200 lbs per acre to 99,300 lbs.
It’s said that agriculture is a significant contributor to the carbon load in the atmosphere (estimated at about 8%) and that conventional tillage is largely to blame. Mike Plumer, a University of Illinois Extension educator who has done extensive no-till research, believes farms are a potential ally in lowering the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Plumer has also been an avid promoter of cover crops as a companion to no-till.
“Conventional tillage burns carbon and decreases organic matter,” he said. “Cover crops essentially speed the recapture of organic matter and carbon in the soil.” He points to annual ryegrass as an example. “Its network of deep roots sequester carbon over the winter while increasing organic matter, rebuilding soil structure more quickly than by no-till alone.” Cover crops also reduce erosion, store nitrogen, mine deeper minerals and, particularly in the case of annual ryegrass, produce channels for subsequent corn and soybean crops to follow, allowing them access to deeper moisture in dry years.
In a 2 year, replicated study on a southern Illinois farm where corn yields were compared with conventional, no-till and no-till with annual ryegrass, Plumer found that crop productivity increased substantially with annual ryegrass. Moreover, the yield increased as the years in no-till and cover crops increased. Here’s a brief look at the data, collected during 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Type of tillage / Ave. yield in bushels/acre
Conventional - 52.5
Conventional (1st yr), No-till (2nd) - 61.5
No-till - 79.0
No-till w/annual ryegrass cover crop - 121.0
In 2006 and 2007, the weather was exceptionally dry. In 2008, a more normal rainfall year, average yield on the no-till with cover crop land was 169 bu/ac.
Note, the soil at this farm has a layer of fragipan. Annual ryegrass excels at eliminating compaction. Yield differences between conventional and no-till with cover crop would less dramatic in a normal year.
Positive results like these have encouraged farmers throughout the Midwest to adopt no-till and cover crops. Government agencies including the USDA/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) are incentivizing and advising farmers, helping with conservation plans and practices to sequester carbon.
For more information: www.ryegrasscovercrop.com
Tags: Annual ryegrass, carbon sequestration, cover crop, Dan Towery, Mike Plumer, organic matter, soil-based carbon
Mark Trumm, a Wisconsin farmer asked: Was thinking of putting annual rye grass in a field that we usually have corn but floods out every year. It would be a field that we would graze beef cow/calves or yearlings on. Any advice on annual rye grass would be greatly appreciated.
Here’s what I answered…but am seeking more input from others in the Midwest with more experience with annual ryegrass as year-round pasture.
I’d like to encourage you to look at the Annual Ryegrass website or contact Dan Towery at dan@agconservationsolutions.com. He’s familiar with use of Annual Ryegrass for cover crops as well as forage in the Midwest. Dale Mutch is another cover crop expert, at Michigan State University.
It sounds like you’ll plan to keep it in pasture from now on? And it sounds like you’ll be ripping the soil before planting? Annual ryegrass is notable among cover crops in its deep rooting. It’ll break up hard pan and allow you to quit tilling there altogether. It tolerates wet planting conditions but it’s a cool season grass. Thus, pasturing your cattle on it all summer - it might be too much stress for the plant.
Often, farmers plant annual ryegrass after harvest and let it continue to grow all winter and spring, until just before planting corn and soybeans.
Tags: Annual ryegrass, Dan Towery, deep rooting, forage, No-Till, No-Till corn and soybean
Continuous No-Till and Cover Crops – Boosting Soil Organic Matter, Carbon, and Crop Yields
Since 1969, select farm plots at the University of Illinois have been in continuous no-till. In that time, the measure of organic matter has been boosted three-fold – from about 1 percent to 3.2 percent, without use of cover crops. In the same period, rotating between corn and soybean crops, the stored carbon in that soil has risen from 25,200 lbs per acre to 99,300 lbs.
It’s said that agriculture is a significant contributor to the carbon load in the atmosphere (estimated at about 8%) and that conventional tillage is largely to blame. Mike Plumer, a University of Illinois Extension educator who has done extensive no-till research, believes farms are a potential ally in lowering the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Plumer has also been an avid promoter of cover crops as a companion to no-till.
“Conventional tillage burns carbon and decreases organic matter,” he said. “Cover crops essentially speed the recapture of organic matter and carbon in the soil.” He points to annual ryegrass as an example. “Its network of deep roots sequester carbon over the winter while increasing organic matter, rebuilding soil structure more quickly than by no-till alone.” Cover crops also reduce erosion, store nitrogen, mine deeper minerals and, particularly in the case of annual ryegrass, produce channels for subsequent corn and soybean crops to follow, allowing them access to deeper moisture in dry years.
In a 2 year, replicated study on a southern Illinois farm where corn yields were compared with conventional, no-till and no-till with annual ryegrass, Plumer found that crop productivity increased substantially with annual ryegrass. Moreover, the yield increased as the years in no-till and cover crops increased. Here’s a brief look at the data, collected during 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Type of tillage / Ave. yield in bushels/acre
Conventional - 52.5
Conventional (1st yr), No-till (2nd) - 61.5
No-till - 79.0
No-till w/annual ryegrass cover crop - 121.0
In 2006 and 2007, the weather was exceptionally dry. In 2008, a more normal rainfall year, average yield on the no-till with cover crop land was 169 bu/ac.
Note, the soil at this farm has a layer of fragipan. Annual ryegrass excels at eliminating compaction. Yield differences between conventional and no-till with cover crop would less dramatic in a normal year.
Positive results like these have encouraged farmers throughout the Midwest to adopt no-till and cover crops. Government agencies including the USDA/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) are incentivizing and advising farmers, helping with conservation plans and practices to sequester carbon.
For more information: www.ryegrasscovercrop.com
Tags: all cover crops, Annual ryegrass, annual ryegrass as a cover crop, carbon sequestration, crop yield, Mike Plumer, No-Till, No-Till corn and soybean, No-Till farming, organic matter, soil compaction, soil-based carbon, sustainable agriculture, University of Illinois
Since 1969, select farm plots at the University of Illinois have been in continuous no-till. In that time, the measure of organic matter has been boosted three-fold – from about 1 percent to 3.2 percent, without cover crops, according to Mike Plumer, the natural resources management educator at the university Extension. He said that in the same period, rotating between corn and soybean crops, the stored carbon in that soil has risen from 25,200 lbs per acre to 99,300 lbs.
“Cover crops essentially speed the recapture of organic matter and carbon in the soil,” Plumer said. He points to annual ryegrass as an example. “Its network of deep roots sequester carbon over the winter while increasing organic matter, rebuilding soil structure more quickly than by no-till alone.” Cover crops also reduce erosion, store nitrogen, mine deeper minerals and, particularly in the case of annual ryegrass, produce channels for subsequent corn and soybean crops to follow, allowing them access to deeper moisture in dry years.
In a 2 year, replicated study on a southern Illinois farm where corn yields were compared with conventional, no-till and no-till with annual ryegrass, Plumer found that crop productivity increased substantially with annual ryegrass. Moreover, the yield increased as the years in no-till and cover crops increased. Here’s a brief look at the data, collected during 2006 and 2007 seasons. Note that the weather was very dry and the soil features a signature fragipan layer.
Type of tillage Ave. yield in bushels/acre
Conventional 52.5
Conventional (1st yr), No-till (2nd) 61.5
No-till 79.0
No-till w/annual ryegrass cover crop 121.0
Tags: Annual ryegrass, annual ryegrass as a cover crop, carbon sequestration, crop yield, deep rooting, fragipan soil, macropores, Mike Plumer, No-Till farming, University of Illinois
Cover crops continue to gain in popularity, as I saw first-hand at the National No-Till Conference in Des Moines last week. Hundreds stopped by the Ryegrass Commission booth, to ask questions and share info about their experience.
One of the most gratifying things about people’s comments about annual ryegrass: 1) that growers from farther afield are using annual ryegrass with success; I talked to farmers from Kansas and Nebraska who are sold on the grass for their crop rotation. And, 2) the number of acres farmers are committing to annual ryegrass continues to grow as their experience grows. Some, who were just experimenting with it a couple years ago said they’re expanding to several THOUSAND acres!
The other buzz at the conference is a trend towards cover crop “cocktails,” blends of crops that may reduce the risks and increase benefits of solitary crops. For example, some are planting crimson clover with annual ryegrass, which combined, could deliver an amazing 135 lb./acre of fixed nitrogen. While more expensive to seed, the savings in N in the following year would make up that cost.
The drawback to this sort of “cocktail” approach to cover crops…some were talking about a mix of 6 - 12 different seeds, and that could begin to be very spendy. In general, you should aim at keeping the price/acre at about $30.
Tags: Annual ryegrass, annual ryegrass as a cover crop, cover crop blends, National No-Till Conference, No-Till
A recent column in the NY Times by James McWilliams discussed the debate in Congress about carbon cap and trade, and how agriculture fits into the puzzle.
He said the recent announcement by the EPA to regulate carbon marks a step forward, increasing pressure on Congress to pass the legislation. But he says it’s also a “wake up call” to growers. “Climate-change legislation — insofar as it hinges on cap-and-trade rather than a carbon tax — could be quite advantageous to agriculture,” McWilliams said.
Since the legislation will rely more on buying carbon credits than a carbon tax. Hence, growers will have credits to sell others by virtue of their carbon-sequestering practices, i.e. those in no-till and those using cover crops. McWilliams explains:
Indeed, through a wide variety of carbon sequestering techniques that are achievable in most agricultural operations — things like preserving pastureland, improving soil quality, planting trees, transitioning to no-till farming, cultivating perennials, reducing fertilizer application, etc. — agriculture could significantly counteract the increasing costs of fuel and fertilizer that cap and trade would cause while improving a much-maligned agricultural environment. It could profit while going eco-correct.
Financial projections on this score are optimistic. Fred Yoder, former president of the National Corn Growers Association, claims that, with “a properly constructed system,” farm revenues could grow by as much as $13 billion a year. A recent study undertaken by the University of Tennessee’s Bio-Based Energy Analysis Group (and released in November by the 25x’25 Carbon Work Group) found that, even with the increased energy costs, farmers would see positive net returns on all major crops.
But McWilliams warns that if the EPA gets agressive with capping emissions, then farmers might then be dumped into the same category as other consumers…cars and coal-fired power plants. What a tragedy to have that happen, he said, a situation where farmers would be fined but also denied financial incentives…a double whammie.
Tags: Annual ryegrass, carbon cap and trade legislation, carbon sequestration, EPA regulating carbon emissions, No-Till
