Roots Break Barriers

We are testing 5 different cover cropping options to determine which, if any, can fix either of two major soil challenges, compaction, or a zone of low pH. Follow this hashtag on social media to see study updates ~> #RootsBreakBarriers

• Created simulated soil profiles within clear sleeves placed into PVC tubes that were sunk in the ground to create controlled soil profiles with realistic weather conditions and soil insulation.
• Planted several cover crop species and combinations and will be able to assess root penetration of these challenging zones at several different sampling dates.
• Four replications of each treatment combination will be sampled at the typical cover crop termination time, corn v10, and corn harvest.
• At each sampling date we will assess above ground biomass as well as a thorough investigation of the rooting characteristics.
• Determine whether the corn roots followed the cover crop roots by assessing root penetration and void channels, root biomass, and carbon to nitrogen ratio by depth in the soil profile.