Soil microbiota affect crop productivity via nutrient movement to plant roots, disease incidence, and other specialized relationships including nodule formation in soybean (Glycine max L.). Field studies were initiated in Lansing, MI to determine the impact of three cover crops and four fertilizer sources on soybean emergence, height, nodulation, grain yield, soil respiration, and spatial/temporal changes in microbial diversity, community structure, and community composition. A significant 5 bu ac-1 yield decrease occurred in 2013 when hairy vetch preceded soybean. Soil respiration was greatest following chicken manure but never significantly greater than following inorganic fertilizer. Cover crop and fertilizer source both exhibited the ability to alter soil microbial community composition within a single growing season indicating that grower management can influence soil health in production agriculture. Lodged wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) can result in harvest difficulties and yield loss. Trinexepac-ethyl is a newly labeled plant growth regulator (PGR) for application to wheat in Michigan designed to decrease internode length and increase stem thickness to reduce lodging incidence. Field studies were initiated in Deckerville, MI and Lansing, MI to determine the effects of PGR rate, timing, and interaction with three N rates on winter wheat height, lodging, and yield. PGR application reduced plant height, decreased lodging by 67-83%, and increased grain yield 5% across four site years. When lodging risks are increased (i.e., varieties with poor stem strength and/or greater than average height), wheat may warrant PGR application, and applications should occur early in stem elongation to maximize production opportunities.
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