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Reduces insect pests Reduces soil compaction Reduces disease organisms and
Nitrogen fixation
window
environment protection function? Will wildlife need it for forage, coverage? Weed suppression? Does the soil need organic matter? Pest suppression?
Conventional seeding
Plow/disk Broadcast/drill
type/conditions Soil test and follow recommendations Use good, live seed Control weeds as much as possible
Wet
YES: Tall Fescue, Timothy, P. Ryegrass, Red Clover NO: All the rest
Legumes
Alfalfa
Perennial legume High nitrogen producer
80 lb/acre
Expensive to establish
Deep taproot can be hard to kill Does not tolerate acidic or wet soils Seedlings are not competitive with other
Annual Sweetclover
Annual legume Poor tolerance to cold Deep taproot Tremendous summer growth Seed in March, rate 10 to 15 lb/A Needs pH at or above 6.0 Soil builder, fertility source, subsoil aerator,
Cowpeas
Summer annual legume Good short season green manure crop Good nitrogen fixer, 40 lb/A Good for soil building on poor ground Seed at a rate of 30-40 lb/A Sow after danger of frost Attract many beneficial insects that prey on pests Suppress weeds, build soil, & prevent erosion Works well in sandy & clay soils Have value as a veggie crop if allowed to mature to podding stage
Crimson Clover
Winter annual legume Adapted to light, well drained soils
with adequate pH (above 6.0) Good nitrogen fixer, 80 lb/A Seed 20-30 lb/A in late Aug. thru Oct.
Use inoculant or pre-inoculated seed
much fall growth occurs Will winter kill if planted too late in fall Excellent for beneficial insects, bees & wildlife
Red Clover
Short-lived perennial legume Very good N producer, 80 lb/A Seeding rate of 6-15 lb/A
Use inoculant or pre-inoculated seed
October Can be overseeded into veggie crops late in their growth cycle (e.g. sweet corn, squash & pumpkins) Excellent food plot for beneficial insects & wildlife
White Clover
Perennial legume Ladino clover is a tall variety Common clover is lower growing Widely adapted, prefers higher pH 6.4 Long-lived with low maintenance Not very competitive with grasses unless
Hairy Vetch
Winter annual legume Widely used as a winter cover for
vegetable production Thick vines, climbing growth Great N producer, 100 lb/A Best suited to well drained soils Beneficial insect habitat Tolerates a wide range of pH Seed 20-25 lb/A in Sept & Oct
Hairy Vetch
Mixes well with Crimson clover
Grasses
Annual Ryegrass
Winter annual grass Germinates quickly Vigorous, competitive Excellent forage Tolerates acidity (pH 5.5), low fertility, and
poor drainage Forms dense cover, sod can create short term planting problems Seed 20-30 lb/A in Sept & Oct Interplant with clover Reseeds often difficult to eliminate
Barley
Winter annual grass (small grain) Not as tall as other small grains,
but does produce an abundance of growth Not tolerant of wet soils, or late planting Seed 90-120 lb/A, mid-Sept to early Oct
Cereal Rye
Winter annual Grows rapidly in Spring, deep rooted Very tolerant of low fertility & pH Used as weed suppressing mulch Reported to have some alleopathy, problem w/ some small seeded crops??? Excellent for winter erosion control Most winter hardy of annual grasses Best at recovering (recycling nutrients) Seed 60-120 lb/A, in late Sept to late Nov
Oats
Winter annual Excellent forage Great for quick growth Used primarily as a biomass
crop Good weed suppression & erosion control Seed 90-120 lb/A in Sept through Oct Excellent food plot for wildlife
Orchardgrass
Perennial grass Competes well in mixture with other
grasses and legumes Excellent cover for wildlife Preferred conservation cover for fallow fields, helps to suppress weeds Easy to establish Seed 15-20 lb/A, late Aug to early Sept
sorghum x sudangrass Tall growing, living mulch Produces abundance of dry matter Improves soil structure Growth can be tough to deal with
Not suitable for small growers
& foxtail
Wheat
Winter annual grass
Tall growing, living mulch Can produce an abundance of
dry matter Seed at a rate of 60-120 lb/A from mid-Sept to early Nov Excellent food plot for wildlife
Buckwheat
Summer annual (broadleaf plant) Has NO frost tolerance Tolerates wide range of soil
Rich in potassium Seed 50-60 lb/A from Spring to Aug Turn in before seeds set Beneficial insect habitat Excellent food plot for wildlife
Brassicas
Rapeseed, mustard, radishes, turnips Grow on well drained soils, wide pH range Rapid fall growth Great biomass production, decompose
quickly Deep taproot (reduce soil compaction) Release toxins that work against bacteria, fungi, insects, nematodes & weeds Excellent food plot for wildlife
Grass/Legume Mixtures
Perennial Seeding
crimson clover, red clover, or white clover + annual or perennial ryegrass, or orchardgrass
Grass/Legume Mixtures
Annual Seeding Small grain + crimson clover Small grain + hairy vetch Barley + crimson clover
sorghum/sudangrass
Barley Brassicas Cereal Rye/Ryegrass Oats Clover Winter Peas Hairy Vetch Wheat
Grain Drill
Broadcast Seeders
before planting
How to kill?
Tillage Mowing Rolling
Living Mulch
In Summary
Selection of cover crop
Goals?
Legumes N fixing Grasses organic matter, recycle nutrients, reduce
soil compaction Other crops weed suppression, attract beneficials, wildlife food plots