COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — Many farmers in recent years have gained experience with cover crops and they have been able to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages associated with their use. Some producers have experimented with elaborate species mixes, while others have stuck to simpler options. If you are new to the idea or use of cover crops, you might want to choose the latter.
Purdue experts Eileen Kladivko and Shalamar Armstrong, along with Anna Morrow of the Midwest Cover Crops Council, recently authored two publications about simple Indiana cover crop recipes for the novice cover crops user.
Part of planning to use cover crops is taking time to educate yourself so that you feel comfortable with what you are about to do. Another suggestion is to start small, be timely and prioritize management based on your purpose and objectives.
Some common practices are recommended in both of the following scenarios. If fertilizing, they suggest applying P, K or lime prior to seeding or apply to growing cover crops before ground freezes. The authors suggest that if possible, plant the preceding crop early and use an early maturity hybrid to harvest early. And, finally, order your seed early, and choose seed with a good germination rate from a reputable dealer (it will have a seed tag).
I don’t want to dwell upon the obvious, but for most everyone this year it was not possible to plant early, nor is it likely that much early harvest will take place. So, with the hand we’ve been dealt, the following information must be tempered with the realities of this year’s weather and growing conditions.
In the first publication, the authors suggest that post corn, going to soybean: use cereal rye.
Most of the time, spring-applied residual herbicides will not be a problem, but if grazing or feeding to livestock, there may be some restrictions. Check the labels of your applied products.
Harvest fields where cereal rye is to be planted as early as possible. Use no-till or strip till systems if possible.
The authors suggest a drilled seeding rate of 45-60 lbs./acre, or 50-65 lbs./acre broadcast with shallow incorporation. Rates assume germination rates of 85-98%. “Drill to 0.75-1.5 inch deep or broadcast with shallow incorporation,” they said. “An air-seeder mounted on a vertical tillage tool can also be used.”
In the second publication, the authors suggest that post soybean, going to corn: use oats and radish.
“Because oats are very tolerant of most soybean herbicides, few restrictions apply unless grazing is being considered,” they said. “Radish is more sensitive and will likely be harmed is ALS-type (group 2) or PPO-type (group 14) herbicides are used in the soybean cropping season.”
“For cover crop radishes (daikon type), be sure to purchase a single variety from a reputable seed dealer since mixed varieties may bolt or go to seed rather than producing the desired large amounts of biomass and roots,” they said.
“Ideally, plant oats/radish immediately after harvest,” they said. “In most of Indiana, this should occur by the third week in September.” According to the Midwest Cover Crops Council – Cover Crop Decision Tool, for Whitley County that date ideally should be moved up to about Sept. 10. Later dates can be considered, but a freeze risk to establishment exists. Find the tool at: http://mccc.msu.edu/selector-tool/.
The experts recommend drilling to a depth of 0.25-0.50 inch or broadcast, but warn that incorporation should be light. The seeding rates they recommend – drilled: oats, 30-60 lbs./acre; radish, 2-3 lbs./acre. Broadcast: oats, 35-65 lbs./acre; radish, 3-4 lbs./acre.
Alternatively, the authors said that aerial seeding or overseeding is possible, and can be done into standing soybean in late august or early September before 25% of the leaves have yellowed or dropped. Recommended seeding rates for this scenario – for oats: 40-60 lbs./acre; for radish: 3-4 lbs./acre.
Information about spring work, termination of cereal rye and additional information can be found in the publications, available at www.edustore.purdue.edu. Search for AY-356-W and AY-357-W.
— John E. Woodmansee, Extension Educator, Agriculture/Natural Resources
Purdue University Extension, Whitley County
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