The early signs of corn and soybean in particular ready for harvest are around the corner, and it is time to think about your next season conservation plans.
Soybean residue is highly degradable and has very limited life time before it gets decomposed and disappears, leaving minimum protection to soil from unexpected rain events. The degradable nature of soybean residue is linked to the low C:N ratio (30:1) compared to corn (75:1). That means soybean fields have very minimum protection and any soil disturbance can do significant damage to soil and water quality through soil erosion.
Generally, conventional tillage whether in corn or soybean ground can be damaging to soil. Research shows limited advantage to tilling corn ground for next season soybean. For more information check: No-Till is Better Choice for Soybean after Corn
Related articles:
Hold Off on Tillage This Fall, Keep Soil Covered
Soil Health Benefits for Sustaining Crop Production
Photo: Soybean in no-till by Mahdi Al-Kaisi.
Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on September 13, 2016. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.
- Retired Professor of Soil Management/ Environment and Extension Soil and Water Specialist