Cover Crops for Resilient Corn Systems
South Carolina’s sandy soils face low nutrient retention and poor water-holding capacity. Cover crops offer a pathway to increase organic matter, reduce nutrient loss, and improve long-term productivity.
This project aims to quantify how cover crop biomass translates into measurable gains in soil health and corn yield.
The study integrates field trials and laboratory analyses:
Cover crops established in fall 2025
Multiple sampling events (three major sampling periods)
Measurements include:
Soil physical properties (bulk density)
Chemical properties (pH, nutrients, C and N levels)
Biological activity (microbial processes)
Nutrient cycling and leaching
Cover crop biomass and nutrient contribution
Corn will be planted following cover crop termination, with ongoing monitoring of:
Growth and development
Nitrogen use efficiency
Final yield
Field plots have been successfully established, and baseline soil data has been collected to support future comparisons. Cover crops have been planted and are developing as expected, contributing to early-stage observations. To better align with biological growing cycles and ensure meaningful results, the project timeline has been extended.
Next steps will focus on quantifying biomass production and nitrogen contribution from winter through spring 2026. Corn will then be planted and monitored throughout the spring and summer growing season. The project will conclude with an evaluation of yield outcomes and soil health improvements in fall 2026.
This project will ultimately provide guidance on how much biomass is needed to justify cover crop investment, a key economic question for growers.
This information is from the 2025 research project, Optimizing Cover Crop Biomass to Enhance Soil Health and Corn Yield. The lead was University of Clemson researcher Rongzhong Ye. Project sponsored by the South Carolina Soybean and Corn Boards.
