Northwest and Allee Research and Demonstration Farms

Optimizing Continuous Soybean Production

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Abstract

This research seeks to increase understanding and awareness of the potential benefits and weaknesses of the continuous soybean system with or without cover crops in Iowa. Adoption of this system could increase soybean acres and hence soybean production. Growing soybeans in succession might impact water balance and nitrogen cycling and might have undesired outcomes such as a yield penalty, pest and disease pressure build up, weed resistance, and loss of organic carbon soil. The proposed research answers important questions farmers ask, such as what is the magnitude of the soybean-soybean yield penalty, and how does it vary from year to year and from field to field? And are there pest/disease pressures built up in the soybean monocropping fields? These potential impacts are not currently quantified in Iowa because of the lack of research with long-term, continuous soybean trials.

How to Cite:

Freitas, C., Castellano, M., Licht, M. A. & Archontoulis, S., (2026) “Optimizing Continuous Soybean Production”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2025(1), 19-20.