Cover Crops: The guide zeroes in on cereal rye as the best option for the region’s farmers, given its robust biomass production, but it also covers alternate cover crop options. Ultimately, the authors run through a detailed list of considerations, including:
- Growing season windows
- Termination timing
- Fertilization needs
- Seeding rates
- Variety selection
- Seeding methods
The section on cover crops also digs into the ins and outs of roll-crimping techniques, as well as the biology of how cereal rye mulch can suppress weeds.
Growing Better Soybeans. The guide covers a basic but essential tactic of growing soybeans that are better equipped to outcompete weeds. The authors explain how to maximize weed control with soybean variety selection, seeding rate, seeding methods and row spacing.
In-Season Weed Management Options. With herbicides and tillage out of the discussion, the guide examines some less common in-season control options, namely:
- High-residue cultivators: This type of equipment aims to minimize soil disturbance, but does dig in enough to sever weed roots. Some considerations are frequency of passes, wet soil conditions, residue effects and costs.
- Inter-row mowing: This section examines the use of inter-row mowers, which chop weeds down to a couple inches above the soil surface, primarily in 30-inch soybean row systems.
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