Cover Crop Benefits During a Drought: Is it Worth Seeding Rye in a Corn Soybean Rotation in Eastern Nebraska?
Omaha, NE|Nov 3, 2022
Can it be too dry for cover crops? I've only used cover crops for the past 3 years. (Rye). I'm eastern Nebraska. We are extremely dry with not much rain in the nearby forecast. Is it worth the cost of seed to try too seed some rye? Corn soybean rotation. Would rye germinate even if there's no moisture in the top inch or if we do get enough rain to get it to germinate will it just die a week later?
Answers (5):
Nov 07, 2022
Can be too dry. Rye is pretty easy to germinate. But it’s going to use moisture as well.
Nov 07, 2022
It can be too dry. We tried to plant turnips as a cover crab and they sprouted and died. In another location we used wheat and three weeks later it came on. Just depends.
Nov 04, 2022
Another thing to keep in mind is that if the rye does grow, it will use any moisture you do have, which can be detrimental to your cash crop next spring. Unless you get adequate moisture this winter.
Nov 04, 2022
Yes. It can be. Depending on your sub moisture levels and whether it is irrigation or not, I would be hesitant to spend the money if you cant get it up
Nov 03, 2022
It definitely can be too dry. What’s your goal with the rye? Do you have subsoil moisture?