Soybeans into standing rye, leave rye standing?

[Brinktown]

We’ve got about 7 acres of food plots. One plot about 3 acres and two longer strip plots 2 acres each. We tried conventional tilling and planting soybeans a few years ago in the 3 acre plot. The deer kept them mowed down. Have the itch to try again this year. Planning to plant all 7 acres. Plots are currently rye and clover (leftovers of LC mix) from last fall, rapidly growing tall and relatively thick. I am considering no tilling the beans into the standing rye, or broadcasting into the standing rye, and in either case leaving the rye standing. I will spray the plots at planting to terminate the rye and clover. Hoping the standing rye will make it more difficult for the deer to nip all the new beans to the dirt and maybe deter them from our beans in favor of the farmer’s next door. Do you all think this would work? Ideally, if the beans survive and make pods, I would no till or broadcast rye into the standing beans this fall and start the process all over again next year. If I can’t borrow a no till drill, would broadcasting beans without rolling or mowing the rye to cover the beans be effective? Probably depends on rain...


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[Brinktown]

This is what the rye and clover looked like end of June last year. Should be similar but not as thick this year.




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[DocHolladay]

I don't think you would have any issues with drilling into the rye and leaving it standing. I would probably let it be and die on its own. This will let it go to seed for turkeys, deer and birds and you will get volunteer rye this fall and the clover will also be protected from the heat of summer and last a little longer for more available food/nutrition. Both will also provide nutrients for the soybeans as they grow. Then sometime this fall, it depends on your bean variety, I would go in and broadcast your fall blend with some brassicas mixed in.

 

[George]

Broadcast soy beans would be a waste of seed.

G

 

[Brinktown]

Thanks for the replies. Interesting idea to let the rye go to seed. Would provide more protection for the young bean plants and I like the idea of the rye reseeding itself. Do you think the clover will compete too much with the drilled beans? Below photo, same plot as photo above, two weeks after mowing the rye last year, this is what the clover looked like. There should be similar clover coming up with the rye this year. Maybe the answer is the clover would provide good cover too, and if needed spray the clover later after the rye naturally terminates.




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[swat1018]

I'm getting ready to do something similar in NEMO, but I don't have clover in my rye to contend with. I planted it with this in mind, I'll no-till.

 

[Brinktown]

Here is a good series of photos I found showing your scenario with no clover to deal with.

http://plantcovercrops.com/photo-diary-soybeans-planted-into-a-cereal-rye-cover-crop/


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