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COOL SEASON COVER CROPS

Grasses

Grasses are a good choice of cover crops if there is a need to scavenge nutrients, especially nitrogen, leftover from a previous crop. They also produce large amounts of residue, prevent soil erosion, promote aggregation, and provide organic matter to the soil.

CEREAL RYE

  • Secale cereale

  • Rapid growth

  • Weed suppression

  • Low germination and growth temperature requirements

  • Retains residual nitrogen

cereal-rye-cover-crop-R.jpg

SPRING OATS

  • Avena sp.

  • Rapid growth

  • Weed suppression

  • High-quality forage

  • Build up soil aggregates

  • Retains residual nitrogen

spring oats.jpeg
Cool Season Cover Crops: Publications

Legumes

CRIMSON CLOVER

  • Improve nutrient and water infiltration

  • Roots grow to 18" deep in 45 days

  • Can fix over 200 lbs of N per acre

  • Break up soil compation

Crimson clover.jpeg

HAIRY VETCH

  • Can fix over 100 lbs of N per acre

  • Nitrogen is released rapidly after termination

  • Great rooting system

  • Reduces risk of N immobilization

  • Break up soil compaction

Hairy vetch.jpeg
Cool Season Cover Crops: Publications

Brassicas

PURPLE TOP TURNIP

  • Nutrient scavenger

  • Weed suppression

  • Good grazing value

  • Work best when mixed with grasses

purple top turnip.jpg

RADISH

  • Rapid fall growth

  • It fits perfectly into a traditional corn and soybean rotation

  • Increases water infiltration and reduces soil erosion

  • Biological subsoiler

nitro radish.jpeg
Cool Season Cover Crops: Publications
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