Corn School: Does planting into green cover crops work?
Planting corn directly into a living cover crop before it is killed by herbicide or tillage is not something growers would have considered 30 years ago, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural affairs soil management specialist Jake Munroe.
More and more farmers, however, are now willing to take the leap thanks to advances in planter technology, herbicide options and a greater awareness of cover crop benefits to soil health. But does it work? Can growers realize the agronomic benefits while also harvesting reliable and reasonable yields?
Munroe worked with five farmers across Ontario in 2023 to help answer these questions. On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School, he shares observations from the individual farms, identifies common challenges, highlights differences across soil types, and defines key elements to success.
Overall, Munroe concludes that planting corn into green cover crop mixtures can work in Ontario. When yields were tallied for the five plant green farms that he followed in 2023, they yielded an average 193.7 bu/ac at 15.5% moisture, surpassing the county average yield for the fields by almost 30 bu/ac.
Success, however, requires an advanced level of management, and can carry a higher level of risk, Munroe says. In the video, he discusses his key takeaways, which include targeting modest spring cover crop growth to maximize benefits while reducing planting challenges. It's also important to consider cover crop seeding rate, date, number of overwintering species, and nutrient availability from manure.
Modifying the planter for better corn stands, especially in a no-till-plant green environment, is another key consideration - pneumatic downforce enables adjustments from the cab based on conditions, while hydraulic downforce helps place seed at the proper depth in thick, living plant material. Munroe also notes that all the farmers he followed employed some form of aftermarket closing wheel system to achieve seed slot closure.
Applying a higher-than-standard upfront nitrogen rate is also favourable. Four of five growers applied an upfront nitrogen rate over 45 lbs/acre. Munroe says ample early nitrogen is critical when planting green to help overcome nitrate tie-up by non-legume cover crops and compensate for cooler, slower-to-mineralize soils. He also recommends banding nitrogen and protecting any surface-applied N with a urease inhibitor.
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Like most Agronomic trials taken to yield, most to all of these trials lack accompanying environmental measurements like exact soil temperatures during the growth phases, especially during the germination/emergence phases. Aggressive cover crops plant residues will reduce soil temperatures drastically (-7 to -10 degrees), resulting of reduced emergence and yields.
When I planted native grass after a terminated wheat cover I had to replant the grass seed. Wheat has a natural herbicide to protect its next crop. If the soil has good fertility, a late cover crop will be of no help. This is a fad that has no benefit here in the US high plains.
Biggest thing to take away is put liquid on your planter. Carbon to nitrogen ratio is everything in your cover. In- furrow p,k, and using 30 units of nitrogen with the planter goes a long way. Colder soil temps with the cover crop the in furrow will get the germination higher because microbiology is slower with lower ground temps. Low salt infurrow and sugars for the win!
209bu/ac? Means nothing. What was the yield on the check? Was it replicated? Surprised this is coming from OMAFRA.