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Cover Crops
No field, regardless of its use or location, should be allowed to lie bare
throughout the late fall, winter and early spring months. Make sure that
soil -saving cover crops are seeded following such row crops as tobacco,
corn, peanuts, potatoes and soybeans.
Cover Crop
Benefits
Hairy Vetch
Crimson Clover
Annual Ryegrass
Rye (Winter) V.N.S. |
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Seeded in the fall following
harvest, a recommended cover crop will come up quickly to provide protective
soil cover. Vetch, crimson clover and annual ryegrass are the principal
cover crops used in this Mid-Atlantic, Upper South area. Small grain,
particularly rye, also is used not only as a cover crop but also to extend
the grazing season and to produce mulch for the next spring's no-till
plantings. |
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Cover Crops Benefits
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- Winter protection against leaching and
erosion.
- Improved soil tilth and soil fertility.
- Higher crop yields in future.
- Helps meet soil cover requirements of
conservation plans.
- Recovers plant food not utilized by
harvested crop.
- Labor saved for the livestock producer -
more grazing days.
- Winter pasture - therefore, cheaper
winter feed.
- Less nitrogen needed when vetch, crimson
clover are used.
- Supplies mulch necessary for no-till
plantings.
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Hairy Vetch
Most common vetches are annuals; however, hairy vetch is neither annual
nor biennial. Is very winter-hardy. Can be used for hay, silage or pasture,
and is especially valuable for green manure or cover crop. Best seeded from
September - October using 20-30lbs. per acre when seeded alone. Always
inoculate prior to seeding.
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Crimson Clover
An upright winter annual, resembling medium red clover in size and
appearance except for the flower heads. Used throughout the Mid-Atlantic
region except for West Virginia, where it will not withstand the winter.
Seed in July, August, or early September at the rate of 20-25lbs. per acre.
Usually seeded for winter cover and green manure or some cases for pasture
and hay. Seed should always be inoculated.
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Annual Ryegrass
(Also known as Domestic, Common and Italian)
Classified as an annual or a short-lived perennial. Generally make a round
bunch with 20 or more flowering shoots 1 1/2' - 3' high. Used in temporary
pastures; provides a green manure and cover crop with a comparatively low
seed cost. Should make enough growth to protect soil from erosion, provide
enough root growth to improve the tilth of the soil and furnish some fall
and spring pastures when field would not be injured by trampling. Seed about
20lbs. per acre in September.
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Rye
Rye is very winter-hardy and has the ability to perform well even on
infertile soils. Used through the Mid-Atlantic area for pasture, winter
cover, green manure and grain. Rye also makes good no-till cover.
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