By Andi Anderson
Recent research discussed in the Episode 80 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast explored how conservation tillage and fertilizer practices affect soybean production, soil erosion, and farm profitability.
The study was led by University of Illinois Assistant Professor and Extension agronomist Giovani Preza Fontes and was inspired by damaging dust storms that occurred across Illinois and the Midwest, including a tragic event near Springfield in 2023.
The research focused on an important question for farmers: can conservation practices reduce soil erosion without lowering crop yields or profits? Soil erosion is a major concern because it can reduce soil quality, damage water resources, and increase long-term farming risks.
While no-till and cover crops are known to limit soil loss, adoption of these practices remains limited across Illinois due to concerns about cost and yield risk.
To examine these issues, researchers compared soybean performance under four systems: conventional tillage, strip-till, no-till, and no-till with a cereal rye cover crop.
Each system was also tested with different fertilizer strategies, including no fertilizer, nitrogen only, and nitrogen with sulfur. The goal was to evaluate not only yields, but also overall production costs and returns.
Early in the growing season, soybeans that received starter fertilizer showed more green growth. However, these early advantages disappeared later in the season.
By harvest, there were no yield differences between fertilized and unfertilized fields, indicating that starter fertilizer did not increase final production.
Soybean yields remained steady across most tillage systems, averaging 76 to 78 bushels per acre. No-till with a cover crop produced slightly lower yields, but the difference was small.
When economic factors were considered, no-till systems provided the highest returns due to lower input and labor costs. Systems with cover crops had higher expenses because of seed, planting, and termination costs.
The study showed that reduced tillage systems can protect soil, maintain yields, and improve profitability.
Cover crops offer additional environmental benefits but may require more investment, especially in the early years. Overall, the research helps farmers make informed decisions that balance conservation, cost, and long-term sustainability.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski
Categories: Illinois, Crops, Soybeans