Source link here.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-126)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
A canning or processing crop such as green bean, sweet corn, or pea is harvested early or by midsummer and offers an excellent window to get adequate cover crop growth before any following crop. Cover crops following canning crops will protect soil from erosion and improve soil structure after heavy harvesting equipment is used to take off the canning crop. Some canning crops leave significant residual nitrogen (N) in the soil that is vulnerable to leaching, and a cover crop can retain that soil N for future crops. Since growers follow canning crops with any number of different rotations, a fast-growing species such as oats mixed with a light seeding of radish is a safe choice as both will winter-kill. With this combination, no spring termination is needed, and there is little chance of tying up N for the following year.
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Educate yourself. Go to field days, learn from farmers who are currently planting cover crops, read about cover crops, check out cover crop research results from local universities, and work with your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Identify your goals in planting a cover crop as these will drive many decisions. Start small, and choose a field that has low weed pressure to create the best conditions for success. Consult with your crop insurance representative to ensure planned practices will not affect your insurance coverage.
- Canning crop management—Follow best management practices regarding fertility and weed management, and make sure to notify the canning company that you’re planning on a cover crop after a canning crop harvest.
- Residual herbicides—Commonly used herbicides can negatively impact cover crop establishment, so check the history of herbicide application for your field. Oats can tolerate many preemergence and postemergence herbicides. However, if the oats/radish biomass is to be grazed or used for feed or forage, you must follow the rotational crop restrictions listed on the label of any applied herbicides. Rotational restrictions should be checked for herbicides used in the current and previous cropping season if the cover crop is to be grazed or used for feed or forage. (See Using Herbicides and Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean in Resources.)
- Seed purchase—Order cover crop seed early from a reputable source. If you grow your own, get it tested for germination, purity, and weed seed. Named varieties can produce more growth and have more predictable development, but they are usually more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Use good quality seed that has been cleaned and tested for germination and weed seed contamination. Utilize local sources of seed as much as possible to help prevent the introduction of invasive noxious weeds such as Palmer amaranth.
- Fertility or manure—Fall fertilizer incorporation could damage the cover crop and destroy any structure gained, so plan to apply any needed fertility after the cover crop has winter-killed. If manure will be applied in the fall, use low-disturbance injectors to minimize damage to the cover crop.
Summer/Fall Field Work
- Timing of cover crop planting—After canning crop harvest, some light tillage may be necessary to create a seedbed for the cover crop. Using a leveling tool such as a vertical tillage bar with an air seeder on top allows for tilling and seeding the cover crop at the same time. Try to time seeding when rain is in the forecast, or if you use irrigation, you can water in the seed for reliable establishment.
- Planting method—Drill the seed to a depth of 0.75 inch, or broadcast the seed with a shallow incorporation to less than 1 inch to allow for good seed-to-soil contact and enhanced establishment.
- Seeding rate—For oats, a minimum seeding rate of 21 lbs./acre of pure live seed (PLS) is suggested when seed is drilled or incorporated. The seeding rate should be increased to a minimum of 45 lbs./acre of PLS if broadcast. For radish, the rate is 1.2 lbs./acre if drilled or incorporated, and 1.7 lbs./acre if broadcast. These rates are based on a mixture of 70% oats–30% radish. If another ratio is desired, rates should be adjusted using the Minnesota Cover Crop Design Tool (see Resources).
- Tillage—No fall tillage is needed. The oat/radish residue will freeze, then decompose over the winter, and a cash crop such as field corn or soybeans can be no-tilled into the residue if you wish. While full-width tillage may be used in the spring, this will reduce soil structural improvements the cover crop provided over the winter.
- Future considerations—An oat/radish mixture is promoted here as the entry-level cover crop mixture post-canning crop. In future years, you may consider grasses that survive the winter (e.g., winter rye or triticale) for spring erosion control or legumes (e.g., crimson clover, which winter-kills, or red clover, which survives the winter) to supply N to the next cash crop. However, both of these options will have separate considerations and management recommendations. Use the Cover Crop Selector Tool (see Resources), or visit with local representatives of NRCS or Extension for more specific information on seeding other species.
Spring Work
- Scouting—In the spring, scout the remaining cover crop residue, and note whether any oat seed that remained dormant over the winter begins to sprout in the spring. Any grass-target herbicide should take care of these escapes.
- Cash crop planting—Most modern row planters are fully capable of planting corn or soybeans into residue from a dead oat/radish cover crop. Row cleaner attachments may be beneficial. Check planting depth and seed furrow closure shortly after beginning to plant in case any planter adjustments are needed, such as increasing down pressure to move through increased residue.
- Scouting after planting—After planting, scout for emergence and population as well any insect, disease, or weed pressure.
Resources
University of Minnesota Extension Cover Crop website
Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from Midwest Cover Crops Council
Minnesota NRCS Resources, including Minnesota Cover Crop Design Tool
USDA-NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
Using Herbicides and Cover Crops in Corn and Soybean (University of Minnesota Extension)
Authors
Anna Cates, University of Minnesota Extension; Ashley Gallagher, Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District (Minnesota); Steve Lawler, Mower Soil and Water Conservation District (Minnesota); and Matt Ruark, University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension
Reviewers and Contributors
Carl Rosen, University of Minnesota; Ken Schroeder and Dan Smith, University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension; and Carissa Spencer, Minnesota NRCS
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
March 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2021 by MCCC. All rights reserved.
Eric Lee-Mader, Anne Stine, Jarrod Fowler, Jennifer Hopwood and Mace Vaughanby – Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation with contributions from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
August 2017
Kim Cassida and Phil Kaatz – Michigan State University Extension
November 2019
Recommended Hay and Pasture Forages For Michigan
Source link here.
Kim Cassida and Joe Paling – Michigan State University Extension
February 2020
2019 MSU Cover Crop Variety Test Report
Source link here.
University of Wisconsin, Nutrient and Pest Management Program
Cover Crop Termination Options
Source link here.
Daniel Smith, Matt Ruark, Shawn Conley – University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin Extension
August 2017
Herbicide Considerations for Cover Crop Establishment
Source link here.
Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC-117)
This publication is intended to provide a starting point for farmers who are new to growing cover crops. With experience, farmers may fine-tune the use of cover crops for their systems.
Introduction
The following recipe provides an introductory approach to integrating a cover crop into a soybean-corn rotation. Often the easiest place to begin is to plant a cover crop ahead of a soybean cash crop following corn, so consider starting with the companion recipe titled Post Corn, Going to Soybean (publication MCCC-116; see Resources).
Planning and Preparation
- Planning—Educate yourself. Start small. Be timely. Prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
- Soybean variety and planting—If possible, plant the preceding soybean crop early and use an early maturity soybean cultivar. One strategy is to use your earliest-maturity-group soybeans on the fields where you plan to seed cover crops and plant those beans first.
- Residual soybean herbicides—Because oats are very tolerant of most soybean residual herbicides, few restrictions apply unless grazing is being considered. Radish is more sensitive and will likely be harmed if ALS-type (group 2) or PPO-type (group 14) herbicides are used in the soybean cropping season. (See Resources.)
- Seed purchase—Order cover crop seed early. Named oat varieties grow well but are more expensive than VNS (variety not stated) seed. Start with VNS seed with a good germination rate purchased from a reputable seed dealer. Note that this means the seed has been cleaned and has a certified lab-tested germination tag. Spring barley may be more expensive but can be used instead of oats. For cover crop radishes (daikon type), be sure to purchase a single variety from a reputable seed dealer. Seeding rate calculations are based on one of two factors: pure live seed (PLS) or seed count. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) calculations for Ohio are based on pure live seed for compensation.
Fall Work
- Soybean harvest—Harvest fields where a mix of spring oats/radish are to be planted as early as possible.
- Timing of planting—Ideally, plant oats/radish immediately after harvest. In most of Ohio, this should occur by the third week in September. See Selector Tool (in Resources section) for more precise dates for your county.
- Planting method—Drill to a depth of 0.25–0.50 inch or broadcast, but note that incorporation of the seed, if any, should be light since excessive disturbance of soybean stubble may negate any benefit of the cover crop. For more details on seeding methods, visit the MCCC website.
- Seeding rate in oats/radish mix—Drilled: oats, 30–60 lbs./acre PLS; radish, 2–4 lbs./acre PLS. Broadcast: oats, 33–60 lbs./acre PLS; radish, 3–5 lbs./acre PLS. (See Calculating Pure Live Seed section below.)
- Aerial seeding or overseeding—An alternative to seeding after harvest is to do aerial seeding with a plane or helicopter or overseeding with a ground-based vehicle. In most of Ohio, seeding should take place in late August or by the first week of September and before 25% of the soybean leaves have yellowed and dropped. Rainfall after seeding is essential for establishment.
- Seeding rate for overseeding—For oats: 40–60 lbs./acre PLS; for radish: 4–6 lbs./acre PLS.
- Tillage or no-tillage—To allow for adequate cover crop growth, it is best if no full-width tillage takes place until spring, after the oats/radish have been killed by freezing temperatures. It is best to maintain surface cover to prevent erosion and nutrient runoff.
- Fertility or liming—If applying P, K, or lime, complete the application prior to the seeding operation or apply to the growing oats/radish before the ground freezes. If it is necessary to inject N fertilizer or manure in the fall, a low-disturbance applicator should be used to minimize the reduction in surface residues.
Spring Work
- Starter fertilizer—Strongly consider equipping your corn planter with 2×2 starter fertilizer, and aim for a starter fertilizer rate between 30–50 pounds of actual nitrogen (N) per acre. Extra nitrogen is needed in the spring to decompose the additional cover crop residue.
- Scouting—If corn color is light green or slightly off-color, N deficiency may be an issue and extra N should be applied. Tissue test for N sufficiency. Scout for true armyworm, cutworm, slug, and vole damage.
Calculating Pure Live Seed
Pure live seed (PLS) indicates the amount of seed in the container that is capable of developing into seedlings. To calculate PLS, the percentage of pure seed listed on the seed label of a cultivar is multiplied by the percent germination (also listed on the seed label). For example: 90% pure seed of the cultivar x 80% germination = 72% PLS.
To determine how much seed to plant, divide 100 by the percentage PLS (72 in this example): 100 ÷ 72 = 1.4. Therefore, 1.4 pounds of seed with a purity of 90% and a germination of 80% would be needed for each pound specified in the desired seed mixture.
Resources
Post Corn, Going to Soybean: Use Cereal Rye (Ohio Cover Crop Recipe series, MCCC-116)
Herbicide Rotation Restrictions in Forage and Cover Cropping Systems (University of Wisconsin Extension publication)
Calculating the Price of Pure Live Seed (PennState Extension website)
Cover Crop Selector Tool —available from Midwest Cover Crops Council
Using Cover Crops to Convert to No-till (Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet SAG-11)
Understanding Soil Microbes and Nutrient Recycling (Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet SAG-16)
Authors
Sarah Noggle, Ohio State University Extension; and James J. Hoorman, Hoorman Soil Health Services (Note: This publication was adapted with consent from MCCC under a joint project to produce customized introductory guidance about cover crops for all member states/provinces.)
Reviewers and Contributors
Jason Hartschuh, Ohio State University Extension; Eileen Kladivko, Purdue University; Anna Morrow, Midwest Cover Crops Council; Eric Richer, Ohio State University Extension; Alan Sundermeier, Ohio State University Extension
The Midwest Cover Crops Council (www.https://www.midwestcovercrops.org) aims to facilitate widespread adoption of cover crops throughout the Midwest by providing educational/outreach resources and programs, conducting new research, and communicating about cover crops to the public.
Funding for this project was provided by McKnight Foundation.
January 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2020 by MCCC. All rights reserved.