An Evaluation of Crop Rotation and Soil Nutrients in the Midsouth.

Due to the dramatic increase in corn acrage in the Midsouth, plus the consideration of grain sorghum on dry land acrage, an evaluation of the impact of these crops on fertility and economics of soybean production in this region is the focus of a project funded by the Mid-South Soybean Promotion Board. This study will reveiw the economic and fertility advantages and/or disadvantages of a small grain crop rotation with soybeans in the Midsouth.

Numerous studies show that both corn and soybeans benefit from a rotational cropping system.  This research has specifically been conducted in the Midwest by both Perdue and Iowa.  A report from Nebraska showed that dryland corn following soybeans yielded 17% more than corn following corn (Varvel and Wilhelm, Vol. 95 p. 1220-1225, 2003).  

Will these values hold true in the Midsouth? The soil properties present a different environment for off-season maintenance, higher temperatures,and a decrease in dryland crop yeild could be factor into the outcome of the research.

The study was established in 2014, with alll plots following a year of full season soybean.  The study has 24 treatments,  replicated 4 times,  in 7 locations through the Midsouth in five states.  

Data from the first year shows a variety of economic and enviromental effects to the crop yield.  Insect, herbicide drift, and rain fall all effected the plots. The study will be replicated for 5 years.