Cover crop species Cover crops for different functions Paul Brown
Kings A division of Frontier. Non combinable crops. Cover crops, Forage, Conservation. Close Links with Frontier Agronomy
Cover Crops A very wide range of crops grown between cash crops. They are primarily used to :-- Reduce nutrient loss Nitrogen the key. Hence often called Green manures or Catch crops Reduce erosion. Improve soil organic matter /soil nutrients. Conserve moisture. Improve drainage. Reduce soil pests, soil disease and weeds.
3 Basic groups of Cover crops -- and 1 sub group Segmented by Nitrogen influence :-- -- Soil Structure -- Erosion control and OM. -- Nitrogen fixing -- legumes. High Nitrogen prices. Need time, soil temperature -- Catch crops -- capture soil N, retain it and recycle it. Fast growing annuals that scavenge for N, even at low temperatures. Improve efficiency. Recent developments with catch crops offer the opportunity to reduce soil pests and diseases. -- Nematode reducing Catch crops
Choosing a cover crop It will pay to select crop species and variety carefully. These factors need to be considered :-- What do you want the crop to do? What else could the crop do for you? What soil type? What pest and disease problems exist? Nematodes. What is the sowing time and length of growth? What is the rotation and the next crop? Best place in rotation? How will the cover crop affect the cash crops? Plus Stewardship ELS, Feed value, Game cover.
Types of cover crop Soil Structure improvement. Rye Phacelia Westerwolds ryegrass. Mustard Winter turnip rape. Fix N and soil structure. Red clover Vetch Yellow Trefoil Rye and vetch mixtures Nectar flower mixtures
Phacelia.
August sown Vetch.
Autumn Vetch Fix N October 22 nd 9 weeks.
20 th Oct 9 weeks Nodules
Vetch Nodules at 9 weeks
Nectar flower mixtures.
Types of cover crop Capture N and improve soil. Mustard Oil Radish Phacelia Rye Westerwolds ryegrass Forage rape Capture N, improve soil and reduce nematodes and diseases Oil Radish Brown mustard and white mustard Radish and Mustard mixtures Bristle or Brazilian oat
Doncaster trial Mustard class 1 Radish class 2
Oil Radish 20 th Oct--9 weeks
Oil Radish -2012 Oct
Oil Radish Leafy. Frost tolerant -6º C Quick growing Late flower. Grazing regrowth BCN Nematode control Good nutrient catch Deep tap root Low Club root risk
Doncaster trial Mustard class 1 Bristle Oat.
Nematode reducing catch crops There are 3 types :-- Crops with specific nematode resistance. Crops with multiresistance. Biofumigant crops. Effective use requires detailed knowledge of soil pests. Do understand the relationship with other crops in a rotation. Requires a quick growing high density crop - agronomy. Plus all the usual cover crop benefits.
Seed rate and costs approx. CROP SEED RATE KG/HA PRICE / KG SEED / HECTARE Multi.res.Radish 22 3.80 84 Class 1 Radish 20 3.00 60 BioFum blend 20 4.70 94 Mustard Basic 20 1.80 36 Brazil Oat 90 1.45 130 Forage Rye 100 0.65 65 Westerwolds ryegrass 30 3.00 90 Phacelia 10 3.80 38 Vetch 55 1.15 63 Crimson Clover 10 5.40 54 Rye / Vetch mix 85 0.86 73
What drives success? It s all about Tonnage produced of DM Treat them like a real crop. Choose the best species and variety. The right seed rate needs to be high. Early sow length of time and soil temperatures. Cultivations suitable but not expensive. Fertiliser Nitrogen and Sulphur for brassica. Incorporate / destroy at right time. Typically 30 kg / N / ha caught in 1.0 ton Dry matter
Sugar Beet crop. Goal Detail Cover crop solution Crop hygiene Soil structure Reduce erosion Beet cyst nematode Rhizoctonia. Lesion Nematodes. Weed pressure decrease Drainage Organic matter Soil structure Cover the soil Aeration Root mass Catch Nitrogen Prevent leaching Oil Radish, Mustard Oil Radish multi res. Oil Radish, Bristle Oat Oil Radish,Mustard Phacelia Oil Radish / Rye / Phacelia Bristle oat. Bristle Oat Oil radish Phacelia Rye Oil radish, Rye, Mustard Fix /catch Nitrogen Prevent leaching /Fix N Soil Structure / OM Vetch. Rye Vetch mix
Potato crop. Goal Detail Cover crop solution Crop hygiene Soil improvement Reduce erosion Catch Nitrogen TRV Rhizoctonia Common Scab, Lesion Nem. PCN Humus Drainage Soil structure Cover the soil Aeration Root mass Prevent leaching Oil Radish Oil radish Brazil Oat, Radish. Solanum Sys.-s.nightshade. Bio-fumigant mix. Oil Radish, Rye Brazil Oat Oil radish Phacelia, Rye Bristle Oat, Oil Radish Rye, Phacelia, Mustard Fix Nitrogen Fix N, catch N, soil structure Vetch Rye / vetch mix
Thank you.