Cover Crop Initiative Project field day

CONTINUED FROM PAGE A18 and Hazlet) outperformed all other treatments despite heavy winter grazing by Canadian Geese.

“The rye varieties rebounded remarkably in the spring with conducive soil temperatures for growth,” said Thapa. Although most species demonstrated good establishment in the fall, a few struggled with the weather. The low, freezing temperatures and frost damage resulted in the winter kill of oats, barley, peas, and brassicas.

Graduate students Grace Emperatriz Pacheco Jiron and Bridget McKinley play a key role in the project. They are measuring the productivity of different cover crop varieties, above and below ground, and assessing their impacts on various soil properties to aid soil quality enhancement.

“The project is still in its early stages and halfway through,” Hird said. “The partnership has afforded us the opportunity to learn about each other and open opportunities at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s research extension plots to study cover crops to maintain soil health and possible forages.”