(Butler)

Weed control continues to be one of the biggest obstacles that organic growers face. Cover crops are one of many tools that organic growers use to control weeds, but research is still lacking in the southeast to guide organic grain producers in cover crop management. In particular, there is great interest among producers in ‘tillage’ radish as a cover crop to control weeds and improve soil properties but little available research information from the region on the use of this cover crop in organic systems. Our objectives are to (1) evaluate impact of various cool-season cover crops (cereal rye, crimson clover, hairy vetch, ‘tillage’ radish, and rapeseed) on weed control in conventionally-tilled organic soybean production systems, and (2) evaluate impact of various cool-season cover crops on soil properties and cash crop performance in conventionally-tilled organic soybean production systems.