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Complex cover crops may increase yields significantly

A soil health researcher says cover crops have the potential to improve corn yields significantly. Dr. Hans Kok of the Indiana Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative says researchers are working with complex cover crop systems planted in the summer months following the wheat harvest.

“These are multi-mixes, probably about fifteen species of cover crops including millets, sorghum, grasses, buckwheat and sunflowers and a whole bunch of stuff that we normally do not use as a cover crop” says Kok

Kok says when the cover crops are planted following wheat harvest and are left to grow to full maturity, the plants can reach as high as seven feet tall by winter. Once winter is over, no-till corn can be planted in the field.

“Because it’s all melted down, there’s actually not much left at corn planting time next spring and we have seen some dramatic yield increases in corn.” says Kok.

Kok told farmers at the Hardin County Ohio Field Day some test plots had a 40 percent potential yield increase. He says researchers are also looking at farm finances to ensure planting complex cover crops is economically feasible for farmers.

Audio: Dr. Hans Kok