Cover crops for different functions

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 22nd 9 weeks.

20th 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 20th 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 Beet cyst nematode

Rhizoctonia.

Lesion Nematodes.

Weed pressure decrease

Oil Radish , Mustard

Oil Radish – multi res.

Oil Radish, Bristle Oat

Oil Radish ,Mustard Phacelia

Soil structure Drainage Organic matter

Soil structure

Oil Radish / Rye / Phacelia

Bristle oat .

Reduce

erosion

Cover the soil

Aeration

Root mass

Bristle Oat

Oil radish

Phacelia –Rye

Catch Nitrogen Prevent leaching 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

TRV

Rhizoctonia

Common Scab, Lesion Nem.

PCN

Oil Radish

Oil radish

Brazil Oat , Radish.

Solanum Sys.-s.nightshade.

Bio-fumigant mix .

Soil

improvement

Humus

Drainage

Soil structure

Oil Radish , Rye

Reduce

erosion

Cover the soil

Aeration

Root mass

Brazil Oat

Oil radish

Phacelia , Rye

Catch

Nitrogen

Prevent leaching Bristle Oat , Oil Radish

Rye, Phacelia , Mustard

Fix Nitrogen Fix N , catch N ,

soil structure

Vetch

Rye / vetch mix

Thank you.