South Dakota State University

college of agriculture & biological sciences

Cropping Systems Research

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The SDSU Plant Science Department website is maintained by Julia Fausti in accordance with SDSU guidelines.

Last updated 3 November 2009

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Agronomic Systems research is about more than just soil or soil cover.  Many obstacles must be overcome when adding cover crops to any South Dakota system:

· Short growing season  If the cover is planted in the fall, after harvest of some crops, there is not much (if any) time for establishment.  Sowing in the spring is hampered by wet soils, cold conditions, and short time to plant the primary crop. 

· Low precipitation levels (almost half of what is available in the more eastern states of the US)  A cover crop must not utilize too much of the water needed for the cash crop.  Open, non-snow covered fields may lead to a spring water deficit at times and a cover crop may exacerbate this in the early spring when the crop needs water for germination and early growth. 

· Some crops may be more suited to cover crops than others. The cover crop may act as a weed and specific biotypes may be needed that die off quickly or changes in sowing date, area, etc. need to be worked out. 

· Insect, disease, and other pests must not be harbored by the cover crop. 

 

Collaborative teams have been conducting this research at a number of sites, concentrated at Dakota Lakes, West River Agricultural Center, Brookings, and South East Research farm.  Research has investigated the impact of cropping sequence, fallow, no-tillage, alternative crops, best management practices, and cover crops on productivity, soil organic C, yields, and soil water storage. 

 

Agronomic systems research has lead to these regional impacts:

· No-tillage research has resulted in the ability to crop corn and soybean further west in the state;

· No-tillage research has reduced the need to including fallow in the rotation;

· Research on the importance of including cover-crops in the rotation has been initiated;

· Research on the importance of diverse cropping systems in semi-arid regions has been initiated; and

· Interagency and department research teams have been created.