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Commentary: What is this journey so many people are talking about?

Don Donovan

August 9, 2021

3 Min Read
equipment planting into standing green cover crops
SOIL HEALTH GOAL: Roger and Nick Wenning, Greensburg, Ind., plant into standing green cover crops routinely. However, that’s not the best advice if you’re just starting your soil health journey. Tom J. Bechman

When you read about regenerative agriculture systems, one of the more common ideas you see is “Soil health is a journey.” I use the phrase frequently myself. Just what do we mean by this? What can you expect as you travel down your personal soil health journey?

When woodlands and prairies were converted to crop production, a slow decline in organic matter and soil productivity began. It became more pronounced after World War II, when farmers moved away from livestock and hay. After 75 years of row crop production, our soils have lost productivity and organic matter. They require supplemental commercial fertilizer and advanced genetics to produce a crop.

Just like it took time for the soil to degrade, it will take time for the regenerative process to build it back. So, when you hear a veteran soil health farmer talking about reducing commercial nitrogen for corn production, realize he or she may have spent more than 15 years getting to that point.

That’s 15 years of continuous no-till and cover crops building the soil and increasing organic matter and soil aggregation, as well as conducting on-farm trials to determine when commercial inputs could be reduced. You may have to change or diversify your cash crop system, or you may have to invest in different planting equipment.

If your goal is to reduce fertilizer inputs, it will take time. A cover crop system that raises soil organic matter levels and strip trials are needed to determine when you can reduce fertilizer levels and by how much. All systems must be economically feasible. You can’t risk yield and profit until you have a handle on how your system is functioning.

Herbicide angle

Another thing that experienced soil health farmers talk about is reducing their herbicide application needs due to cover crops. While this is a true statement, not all cover crops are created equal when it comes to weed control.

Cereal rye is the primary cover crop talked about when weed control is concerned, but even it must be managed correctly to gain weed control and reduce herbicide applications. For cereal rye to provide weed control late into the growing season, you must have a solid mat of high-carbon cereal rye straw on the soil surface to block the sun and deny weed seeds sunlight needed to germinate.

To maintain this mat, allow rye to reach maturity so the carbon level in the plant tissue will keep it from breaking down immediately. If you terminate the rye early — say when it is 15 inches tall — it is still very vegetative and will disappear quicker after termination.

Not every farmer is ready to plant into standing green cereal rye 6 feet tall the first year they plant cover crops. That is OK. It may take time to reach that comfort level.

Soil health is a journey. Each step taken leads you down the path to a healthier soil and producing a healthier crop, which will result in healthier consumers. If you need assistance, contact your local soil and water conservation district or Natural Resources Conservation Service office for more information.

Donovan is a district soil conservationist with NRCS. He writes on behalf of the Indiana Conservation Partnership.

About the Author(s)

Don Donovan

Don Donovan is a district conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service based in Parke County, Ind. He is a contributor to the Salute Soil Health column that appears regularly in Indiana Prairie Farmer on behalf of the Indiana Conservation Partnership.

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