CROP RESIDUE

Leaving stubble on fields reduces erosion

Whether it’s stubble from harvest last fall or this summer, leaving stalks in the field helps farmers using conservation tillage systems.

Planning and selection make double cropping possible

Farmers sometimes plant wheat in the fall. After harvesting that crop in early summer, farmers can plant soybeans directly into the stubble left behind. Wheat and soybeans work well in this system and farmers are careful to select the right varieties.

Crops

Planting winter wheat to harvest in early summer ahead of planting soybeans is the most traditional double-crop system in Missouri. Other crops that have been explored include canola with soybeans.

Varieties

Farmers select an early crop variety that matures in time to be harvested in the early summer. When following with soybeans, the soybean variety is usually one with a medium length growing season so they mature before frost becomes a threat.

Timing

The timing for double-cropping is critical. The first crop is planted in the fall. It then emerges, remaining dormant through the winter. Growth resumes early in the spring when temperatures become warmer. Shortly after harvesting the first crop in early summer, the second crop goes into the ground.

Stubble from last year’s soybeans or this year’s wheat improves the field for another crop

Prevents soil erosion

Standing stubble keeps the top layer of soil on the field by slowing winds and rains that may remove soil.

Increases moisture

Soil with more organic matter retains more water, making this practice important for areas that may experience dry times during the growing season.

Helps with pest and weed control

An early season cover, such as cereal rye, helps with early season weed control in soybeans by providing a mulch to prevent weed germination. By not planting the same crop back to back, pest infestations can be reduced.

Explore other regenerative soybean production practices

Carbon capture and sequestration

With the right systems and practices in place, farmers can enhance soil quality and retention of carbon making it stable there for years.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CARBON

Water quality management

Water is critical regardless of the crop. Implementing environmental practices to keep water safe for using in the community, watering animals and irrigating fields is important to soybean farmers.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER QUALITY

Nitrogen fixing

While all plants need nitrogen to grow, soybeans can fix nitrogen with the aid of nitrogen fixing soil bacteria. Through a symbiotic relationship with soil microbes, soybeans convert nitrogen to a usable form.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NITROGEN AND SOYBEANS

Greenhouse gas emissions

Conservation tillage systems help soybean farmers reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve air quality by reducing trips across the field.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Tillage

Soybeans are well suited for conservation tillage systems including no-till, reduced-till and vertical tillage that help to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and improve soil health.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TILLAGE SYSTEMS