Organic Row Cropping Systems, Cover Crops, and Soil Health in Central Nebraska from a Crop Consultant's Perspective.

1.0 CM CEU

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Certified irrigated organic crop production is a viable profitable system in central Nebraska.  A crop rotation of one year alfalfa or vetch, corn or popcorn, clear hila food grade soybeans, and winter wheat has been utilized on silt loam soils 2-3% OM.  Weed management in the corn and soybean rotation is the most challenging.  Using a propane flaming is imperative for adequate weed control. Proper scouting and applying organically approved spinosad products for corn borer in the corn and popcorn is important.

Cover crop utilized in conjunction with seed corn production has been good for nitrate uptake, soil erosion and grazing.  Implementing the traditional continuous corn or corn/soybean rotation has been more of a challenge.

Soil organic matter levels have been monitored on a yearly basis since the late 1980’s on conventional crop production and certified organic fields.  No significant changes have been detected.  Including cover crops on conventional seed corn/soybean rotated fields hasn’t made a difference in OM changes in the past 6 years.