Cover crops: choosing a cover crop

Choosing a cover crop

If you examine the Cover crop seed supplier list you will see that there is a wide variety of cover crops available; some exotic, some more common. Each cover crop has its own attributes, some are better suited for particular uses than others. Consider the following when making your selection:

Your needs

• What are your goals with that cover crop? For example, erosion protection, grazing, nitrogen production.
• What niche or growth opportunity do you have? For example, after wheat, before a late planted crop, etc.

• What kind of growth habit is needed?
• When is the growth required? For example, lots of vigorous late fall growth or rapid early spring growth? Is deep rooting important?

Overwintering

• Do you need the cover crop to survive overwinter? Would it suit your cropping schedule and soil type if the cover crop winter killed and dried out by spring?

Control options

• Will the cover crop become a weed concern?
• How is it controlled?
• What options are there for control?

Sensitivity to herbicides

• Annual Rye-Grass and Clover Sensitivity to Soil Applied Corn Herbicides
• How sensitive is the cover crop to herbicide residues from other crops in the rotation?
• Seed cost and availability?

Establishment

• What is the best way to plant the seed?
• Do you need different equipment?
• How easy is it to establish? Will it create a solid cover? (Good establishment is critical to the success of the cover crop).

Nutrient management

• Is it a nitrogen producer or does the cover crop require nitrogen to grow well? Does it scavenge well for nitrogen?

Pest Management

• What crop family is the cover crop in?
• Is it related to other crops in the rotation?
• Are there pest concerns? Is the cover crop a host or a non-host?

Families of crops

Family (common name): examples

• Cruciferae (mustard): Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rutabaga, brussels sprouts, rapeseed, canola, oilseed radish
• Gramineae (grass): Wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn
• Leguminosae (pea): Snapbean, pea, alfalfa, clover, soybeans
• Solanaceae (nightshade): Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper
• Cucurbitaceae (melon): Pumpkin, squash, cucumber, melons
• Liliaceae (lily): Asparagus
• Umbelliferae (parsley): Carrot, parsnip, celery
• Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot): Beet, spinach, chard
• Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis): Leeks, onion, garlic, chives, shallots
• Polygonaceae (smartweed): buckwheat, rhubarb
• Linaceae: flax
• Compositae/Asteraceae (Aster): sunflower, lettuce

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