As part of the Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe Series, Joel Gruver of Western Illinois University presents “Solar Corridors for Soil Health”. This presentation was originally broadcast on July 21, 2021.
Solar corridor planting systems create new opportunities for using cover crops to enhance soil health on conventional and organic farms. This presentation will summarize lessons learned from 3 years of investigation of solar corridor planting systems at the WIU Organic Research farm and other farms experimenting with the practice. It will explore how strategic adjustment of crop spacing, both in-row and between rows, and complementary practices like carefully designed cover crop mixes and banding of N can greatly increase cover crop benefits while minimizing loss of crop productivity.
Contact Joel Gruver at: j-gruver@wiu.edu
