covercrops

Practical applications of cover crops: 

Practical applications of cover crops Species and systems for the Mid-Atlantic Region

Reasons to Cover Crop: 

Reasons to Cover Crop Soil improvement Organic matter, structure/tilth, nutrient holding capacity, soil health Nutrient cycling Nitrogen source with legumes Ground cover or mulch Erosion control, weed management, moisture management Pest management

What are your goals?: 

What are your goals? Soil improvement/better yields N Scavenging Erosion control Mulch for no-till N source for corn N source for vegetables Nematode management Permanent/reseeding cover Other?

Cover crops for soil improvement: 

Cover crops for soil improvement

Economics: 

Economics Short term Reduced inputs – N, herbicide, pesticides, other Long term Soil improvement $? Yield increase Yield stability Erosion control $? Soil health and pest management $?

Using cover crops: 

Using cover crops Winter annuals Summer annuals Perennials Covers Mulches Catch Crops Green Manure N sources

Systems and Tillage: 

Systems and Tillage Cover tilled in - conventional Mulch systems – No-till Reseeding cover with no-till Permanent/perennial cover with no-till or with perennial crops

Mulch systems – managing cover: 

Mulch systems – managing cover Standing Mechanical kill Mow Chop Roll/crush Non selective herbicides Low rate selective herbicides High rate selective herbicides Strip till with banded herbicide Heavy “Buffalo” cultivator

Winter Annual Legumes: 

Winter Annual Legumes Seed 3-6 weeks ahead of frost (Aug-Oct) Fall growth (Sept-Dec) Winter “dormancy” (Dec-Feb) Spring jump (March-May) Flowering (April-May) Seed formation (May-June Reseeding? Used ahead of spring planted crops for multiple purposes

Success with cover crops - innoculants: 

Success with cover crops - innoculants

Multi-season/perennial legumes: 

Multi-season/perennial legumes Late summer Aug-Sept Some fall growth Sept-Dec. Winter dormancy Dec-Feb. OR Frost seed Jan-March Spring growth Flower + seed May-June Re-growth Used in living mulch systems and ahead of late spring, summer, or fall planted crops

Cereals: 

Cereals Late Summer to Mid-Fall seeded normally (exc. Oats) Rye, wheat, barley, Triticale, oats. Significant fall growth Dormancy, spring oats winterkill Late winter-Mid spring rapid growth Head out, flower, seed and mature in May-July Most useful for winter nutrient recovery ahead of spring planted crops and erosion control. Make good mulch crops.

Other winter annual grasses: 

Other winter annual grasses Seed August – Nov Quick growth in fall Annual ryegrasses, bluegrasses, bromes, fescues Winter dormant Spring jump Head and seed in late spring. Used as catch crops, erosion control, and soil improvement ahead of spring planted field crops and vegetables Spring seeding ahead of summer vegetable crops

Perennial grasses – Cool season: 

Perennial grasses – Cool season Seed August – Nov Low-moderate fall growth perennial ryegrasses, bluegrasses, bromes, fescues, orchardgrass Winter dormant Spring growth Head and seed in late spring. Used as catch crops, erosion control, and soil improvement ahead of late spring-summer planted field crops and vegetables. Used in permanent crop situations such as orchards

Summer annual grasses: 

Summer annual grasses Plant in mid-late spring 6-12 weeks to flower Used as summer catch crops, green manure and mulch for fall crops Millets, sudangrass, sorghums

Warm season perennial grasses: 

Warm season perennial grasses Established in late spring from seed or sprigs Useful for perennial systems needing summer cover Overseed with ryegrass for winter cover Bermudagrass, native grasses (such as bluestems), switchgrass

Annual legumes: 

Annual legumes Late spring seeded Green manure or mulch crops N source Lespedeza, soybeans, cowpeas, mungbeans

Other annual Broadleaves: 

Other annual Broadleaves Diverse species from crucifers to amaranths Both winter and summer species Quick growth Green manure, catch crops, disease suppression, weed suppression

Legume-grass mixtures often perform better than either alone: 

Legume-grass mixtures often perform better than either alone

Rye and Hairy vetch are the king and queen of cover crops in the region: 

Rye and Hairy vetch are the king and queen of cover crops in the region

Mid-Atlantic hairy vetch systems: 

Mid-Atlantic hairy vetch systems corn vine crops tomatoes other vegetables Alone or with rye and or crimson clover

Hairy vetch system details: 

Hairy vetch system details Seed 3-6 weeks ahead of frost date 15-30 lbs/a (20-25) May be combined with 30-60 lbs. rye and crimson clover 8-12 lbs. Drill, or broadcast into standing crop Use early flowering varieties for May planted crops (AU Early Cover, AU Merit) Herbicide treat when in flower – for corn 2,4-D, other crops 2 apps. of Gramoxone or Roundup. Roll kill is a viable option at flower No-till seed or transplant into killed Vetch. Additional residual preemerge herbicides can be used

Rye as a cover crop: 

Rye as a cover crop Rye for nutrient recovery Rye as a mulch Rye in field crop systems Rye in vegetable systems

Successful Mid-Atlantic Cover Crops: 

Successful Mid-Atlantic Cover Crops Hairy Vetch to corn or sorghum Vetch to late vegetables Rye to corn or soybeans Rye to vegetables Wheat/barley to corn, soybeans, or vegetables Crimson clover to corn Field peas to corn Rye+Crimson to corn Rye+Vetch to corn or vegetables Rye+Vetch+Crimson to vegetables or corn Spring oats winter kill to early vegetables Ryegrass to corn, soybeans, or vegetables Crownvetch/Trefoil perennial cover with corn Subclover to corn or vegetables

Field crop rotations: 

Field crop rotations Corn-rye;FS Soybeans-rye Corn-rye;FS Soybeans-vetch Corn; wheat-DCSoybeans-overseed vetch Can substitute crimson clover for vetch in all 3 Irrig. Corn-os vetch;Irrig Corn-rye;FS soybeans os vetch (or wheat DC Soybeans os vetch) Cover crop legume substitutes – crimson clover, field pea, sub clover, others? Rye substitute – triticale, wheat, barley, ryegrass, Others?

Systems incorporating grazing: 

Systems incorporating grazing Rye fall and spring graze to field crops or vegetables Rye plus crimson clover spring graze to field crops Ryegrass fall and spring graze to field crops Rye plus other winter legumes spring graze to field crops

PSU Living mulch system: 

PSU Living mulch system Birdsfoot trefoil and Crownvetch living mulch

Crimson Clover: 

Crimson Clover Cool-season annual legume 12-20" tall Biomass 4,500-5,000 lb/a N content 2.4% Flowers April-May Matures May-June Taproot Plant 10-30 lbs/a Versatile in cropping systems in the mid-Atlantic

Field peas: 

Field peas Winter-annual legume Native to Europe, North Africa, or Western Asia Cvs include 'Early Austrian', 'Dixie Wonder', 'Magnus', and 'Miranda'. The latter two mature early and are very vigorous. Flowers early March-May Seed mature mid-April-June 'Austrian Winter' pea attains a height of 26" in monoculture; 'Magnus' is taller Biomass 6,000-8,500 lb/acre N content about 3-4% Used as cover crop in rotation with vegetable and field crops Does not re-establish itself: requires annual reseeding Plant 50-90 lbs/a

Woollypod vetch: 

Woollypod vetch Cool-season annual legume 18-27" tall, but will climb Biomass 6,000 lb/a N content 4.2% Flowers March-May Matures April-June Tolerates moderately close mowing in winter Self-reseeding 'Lana' is only commercial cv. Residue decomposes rapidly Aggressive climber Winter survival? Seed 15 lbs/a

Bigflower Vetch: 

Bigflower Vetch Similar to hairy vetch in adaptation and culture 2-3 weeks earlier 1/3 as much biomass May fit better in some cropping systems Finding seed can be a problems

Crownvetch: 

Crownvetch Perennial legume. Native of central and southern Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Crownvetch is a hardy, deep-rooted plant. Used in soil stabilization and erosion control for roadsides, steep banks, and noncropland areas. Used in permaculture and living mulch systems. Seeded at 5 lbs/a

Subterranean Clover: 

Subterranean Clover Cool-season annual legume 6-15" tall Biomass is about 5,000 to 9,600 lb/a N content 2.3% Flowers April-May Matures May-June Self-reseeding Many cvs available with varying heights and maturity dates. Tolerates low fertility and low pH Used as a living or dying mulch with vegetables Plant 12-20 lbs/a

Red Clover: 

Red Clover Short-lived, perennial legume. Late summer or winter frost seeding Seed 10-15 lbs./A Many varieties Best used for late summer/fall crops or as a plow-down in mid spring

White clover: 

White clover (Dutch White Clover, New Zealand White Clover, Ladino Clover) Trifolium repens Perennial legume Many forms Flowers from April to December Height 8-10" Biomass production per year is about 11,100-22,200 lb/acre N content 2% Plant 3-7 lbs/acre Usefull in permanent cover systems

Arrowleaf clover: 

Arrowleaf clover YUCHI is the best-known variety of this annual legume. Drill 3-4 lbs./A or broadcast 9 lbs./A. Arrowleaf clover has good drought-tolerance; requires a warm climate and soil pH of 6.0. Widely cultivated in Southeast.

Berseem Clover: 

Berseem Clover Winter kills below 20F Winter-annual legume Native to the Mediterranean region Cvs include 'Bigbee' and 'Multicut' Biomass up to 15,500 lb/ace with multiple mowings N content 2.6% Flowers May-June Does not self-reestablish: requires annual sowing Limited use until more cold hardy varieties are developed

Rose Clover: 

Rose Clover Native to the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Asia Minor Does well on acid, infertile, droughty, soils Intolerant of flooding and of competition Taproot extends to over 78" in depth Flowers from April-May Seed matures in May and early June Height 3-18" Biomass 6,200 lb/acre N content 2% Sown in mixes with burr medic and subterranean clover Winter hardy here?

Other Clovers: 

Other Clovers Kura clover Hop clover

Annual Sweetclover: 

Annual Sweetclover About the crop A true annual; survives only one winter. Deep taproot and well-developed root system. Needs soil pH of 6.0 for proper nodulation; otherwise, widely adaptable. Can help make P and micronutrients more available to subsequent crops. Seed 15-25 lbs./A

Yellow Sweetclover: 

Yellow Sweetclover Biennial legume. Blooms in late spring the year after seeding. Deep, strong taproot. Useful for breaking up soil pans. Draws up nutrients from deep in soil profile. Can supply about 100 lbs. of plowdown N/A). Provides good weed control because of competitive nature in second year Residues of yellow-blossom sweetclover have allelopathic effect weeds including green foxtail and canada thistle Seed 9-15 lbs./A Can be toxic to livestock

Black medic: 

Black medic Annual or perennial legume related to alfalfa Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and East Africa Cv 'Virgo' performs well in the northeastern U.S. Seed at 6-15 lbs/a Cold tolerant Height is 24" N content is 1.5% Does best on fertile, calcareous soils

Burr Medic: 

Burr Medic Winter-annual legume, alfalfa relative Native to the Mediterranean region Several varieties available Flowers March-May. Height is 14" in monoculture, taller when grown with oat Biomass production is up to about 8,300 lb/acre N content is 1.18-1.65% Tolerates low rainfall and grass competition better than subterranean clovers Tolerates clayey and sandy soils 15-30 lbs/a Killed at 18 F. Winter kill?

Slide44: 

Hairy Vetch 80-250 lbs/a Crimson clover 50-130 Field peas 50-150 Red clover 60-110 Sub clover 30-90 White clover 80-100 Berseem clover 90-250 Sweetclover 50-100 Bigflower vetch 30-90 Black medic 30-60

Ryegrass: 

Ryegrass Other common name: Italian Ryegrass Winter-annual grass Introduced from Europe Many ryegrass cvs available such as Marshall Overseeded for pasture in the south Does well on heavy, waterlogged soils About 36-48" tall Biomass about 4,700-8,500 lb/acre N content about 1.3% Flowers May-June Often volunteers Plant 10-60 lbs/a (30-35) Catch crop, soil improvement, erosion control, and mulch crop