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compaction

May 15 2013

Myths Debunked on Cover Crops and Colder Soil Temperatures? – Final Report

Sometimes apparent myths prove to be true and sometimes they prove to be…myths! 

In March 2013 I asked my brother Don Robison from Robison Farms to help me figure out how cover crops might effect soil temperatures.  We have looked at data in previous posts trying to answer the question “Do Cover Crops that Survive the Winter Keep the Soil Colder in the Spring than Fall-Tilled Soil?”

Now I have asked Don to chart all of his data that he has taken since late March in fall-tilled soil, no-till soil, no-till soil with cover crop annual ryegrass, and a lawn.  Don added a test of taking moisture readings as well because “we know” that no-till soils are “always wetter and colder than fall-tilled soils.”  At least that is common “knowledge” from many farmers I talk to from Minnesota to Missouri and points eastward.

Don made some comments that I believe are helpful:

  • The soil type in the lawn is Miami silt loam, while the fields are Crosby silt loam.
  • The no-till w/o cover crop test had a compaction layer at ~3-9″ deep in this area in our compaction tests we conducted in 2012.  Don’s thought is that where he is doing the tests had a compaction layer closer to the 3″ depth (so there is less percolation).
  • Don reports “No conclusions yet and maybe there won’t be any, but an interesting trend I’m starting to see is that in this cool wet spring, the conventional tillage does not seem to be living up the reputation of being warmer and easier to till in the spring than no till.  That may very well change when the rainfall and temperatures become more like you would expect to see in the planting season.”

Data reveals that cover crops do not appear to be keeping the soil colder.

It appears that our no-till soils with cover crops has consistently been warmer or just as warm as the fall-tilled soils.  I am placing the charts below for you to observe the data.

Robison Farms Soil temperatures Spring 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Soil Moisture Sp 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Air Temperatures Sp 2013

 

 

 

 

 

Robison Farms Rainfall data Sp 2013

 

 

 

Written by Dave Robison · Categorized: Cover Crop Benefits, Cover Crop Research, Cover Crops effect on spring Soil temperatures, Misinformation and Myths · Tagged: compaction, cover crops, myths about cover crops, myths in agriculture, myths in farming, soil temperatures, spring 2013 farming, water infiltration and percolation, wet soil

Nov 10 2011

Cover Crop Field Day Set at Robison Farms

CISCO Seeds, Robison Farms, and Dougherty Fertilizer are sponsoring a Cover Crop Field Day and Root Dig at the Greenwood, Indiana farm. If you’ve not had an opportunity to see cover crops in a real life farm setting, this will be a great meeting for you . There will be multiple species available to look at and expert agronomists on hand to answer questions.

 

When:

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 from 2-4 P.M.

Location:

Corner of Five Point Road (300 East) and Main Street (Rocklane Road) east of Greenwood, IN

Contact:

If you have questions or need further information contact  Don Robison at donrobison@ciscoseeds.com or 317-357-7013

  • Rain or shine we will have a gathering (call if the weather is bad for “plan B”)

 

Cover Crop Field Day Highlights

Come see ten different mixes and/or species of cover crops in a large plot setting.
  • 1100’ lineal feet of cover crop plots
  • 10 different mixes or straight species shown
  • guaranteed weather! (not saying what kind)
  • working with NRCS, SWCD, and Dougherty Fertilizer
  • root digs (weather contingent)
  • Cover Crop Agronomists on hand for tours and Q/A sessions
  • See over 150 acres of various Cover Crops withing 1/2 mile of plots

 

Purpose of the cover crop field day

To see different species of cover crops in a real to life situation. This was a soybean field that had the cover crops applied over the top of the standing crop at roughly 50% leaf drop.

 

Species You Will See

 

  • Radishes
  • Turnips
  • Crimson Clover
  • Oats
  • Winter Rye
  • Annual Ryegrass
  • Austrian Winter Peas
  • Several Mixes including the above species

 

 

 

Directions:

From Indianapolis

  • Take I-65 South to Exit 99. Turn Left at end of ramp and travel 1.5 miles east to the plots

From Louisville

  • Take I-65 North to Exit 99. Turn Right at end of ramp and travel 1.5 miles east to the plots

From Columbus, OH

  • Take I-70 West to Indianapolis, follow 465 South to I-65 South to Exit 99. Turn Left at end of ramp and travel 1.5 miles east to the plots

From Terre Haute

  • Take I-70 East to Indianapolis, follow 465 South to I-65 South to Exit 99. Turn Left at end of ramp and travel 1.5 miles east to the plots

 

Just down the road we plan on digging another pit where Annual Ryegrass and Appin Turnips were applied after hog manure was knifed in after wheat.

Written by Dave Robison · Categorized: Cover Crop Plots, Education, Field Days · Tagged: aerial application of cover crops, Annual Ryegrass, Austrian Winter Peas, cocktail mixes, compaction, corn, Cover Crop Benefits, cover crop mixes, cover crop plots, cover crop radishes, cover crop seeding rates, cover crops, Crimson Clover, earthworms, flying cover crops into corn, Groundhog radish, no-till, Oats, oats and radishes, oilseed radishes, Radishes, reducing compaction, scavenge nitrogen, seeding rates, soil compaction, soybeans, tillage, timing of planting cover crops, Wheat, Winter Cereal Rye, winter rye

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