News

ISU cover crop research showing economic benefits

A professor of agronomy at Illinois State University says research is showing the economic benefits of cover crops.

Dr. Rob Rhykerd says the practice is a long-term investment.

“In the first few years, you might not really see these returns, but after you know a 5- or 10-year period of adopting these systems, improving soil health, that’s where we see we can begin to back off some of the inputs.”  He says, “We are seeing some increased yields.”

He says the system can eventually lead to fewer below and above ground inputs.

“If we can increase the soil organic matter content in soil, as that mineralizes through the growing season, it will release a little bit more nitrogen and phosphorus.”  He says, “So maybe we can back off nitrogen fertilizer a little bit.  We can also use our cover crops to help with some weed suppression, then we can back off some herbicide application.”

Rhykerd tells Brownfield cover crops can also bring added revenue from incentive and carbon programs.

“Plants grow, they’re pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere, and then as the plants die and some of that stays in the soil as soil organic matter.”  He says, “Organic matter is about 50% carbon, so maybe some carbon payments.”

He says another hidden benefit is the soil’s increased water holding capacity, which can make the cash crop more resilient to environmental stress. 

Rhykerd says Illinois State is continuing its long-running cover crops research this growing season.

AUDIO: Dr. Rob Rhykerd – Illinois State University