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Cover Crops - Overview

Cover Crops - Overview. Alan Sundermeier Ohio State University Extension sundermeier.5@osu.edu. Factors affecting species choice. Add Nitrogen Scavenge Nitrogen Cycle Nutrients Suppress Weeds & Insects Control Erosion / Improve Soil Harvest as Forage Length of Growing Season.

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Cover Crops - Overview

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  1. Cover Crops - Overview Alan Sundermeier Ohio State University Extension sundermeier.5@osu.edu

  2. Factors affecting species choice • Add Nitrogen • Scavenge Nitrogen • Cycle Nutrients • Suppress Weeds & Insects • Control Erosion / Improve Soil • Harvest as Forage • Length of Growing Season

  3. When to Plant ? • Look for opportunities in crop rotations • Under seedings • After small grain harvest • After fall harvest

  4. Managing Growth • Winterkill • Grazing • Mowing • Roller • Tillage

  5. BEFORE YOU BEGIN USING COVER CROPS • ON-FARM RESEARCH • SEED SOURCE OR GROW YOUR OWN • START SMALL • EDUCATE YOURSELF

  6. Cover Crop Options • Legumes • Hairy vetch • Medium and mammoth red clover • Crimson clover • Austrian winter pea • Cowpea • Nondormant alfalfa • Soybean • Annual medic

  7. Red clover

  8. Cover Crop Options • Non-legumes • Small grains: oat, rye, wheat, barley, speltz • Sudangrass • Forage turnips • Oilseed radish • Annual ryegrass

  9. Oilseed Radish

  10. Oilseed Radish

  11. Why consider mixtures? • Complimentary growth (above and below ground) • Spreads risk of winterkill • Grasses hold soil well with fine root system • Easier to achieve a desirable C:N ratio • Broader spectrum of weed suppression ( allelopathic )

  12. Cover Crop Resources • Managing Cover Crops Profitably-SARE • Agronomy Journal • Extension Factsheets • On-Farm Research reports • SARE State Coordinator • University Research Station • Field days • Private companies

  13. USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program - SARE (www.sare.org) • Farmer/ Rancher Grant Program • Up to $6000/individual; $18,000/group of 3 • Call for proposals posted in early fall; proposals due late fall

  14. Thank-You For Attending Please Complete Evaluation Next Organic IP Video Program Organic Weed Control March 15, 2007

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