Farmers Utilize Cover Crops

 

For as many years as farmers have worked the land, they have sought ways to conserve soil and resources. Researchers and producers alike are continually searching for ways to improve soil quality, increase productivity and build erosion control. Cover crops are widely planted to benefit the upcoming crop, as well as for soil improvements.

 

Alabama Cooperative Extension Specialist Dr. Dennis Delaney said cover crops are important for maintaining soil fertility and quality.

 

“Cover crops do several things,” Delaney said. “They help scavenge soil nutrients lost through leaching and are able to slowly release nutrients to the following cash crop throughout the growing season.”

 

Selecting the right cover crops can improve yields, soil and water conservation and quality, and producer profitability. Cover crops can protect the soil, feed soil ecosystems, increase soil organic matter, and supply nutrients to subsequent crops.

 

 

Legumes are nitrogen-fixing, meaning the nitrogen produced through the plant becomes available to following crops as plant residue breaks down. Unused nutrients from the previous crop are taken up by the cover crop and slowly released during the next growing season.

 

Cover crop growth often subdues pest pressures. Thick plant residues on the soil surface suppress weed growth, while other crops produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of weed seedlings. Others deter nematodes and diseases by repelling, confusing or starving them.

 

In addition to nutrient placement, soil fertility and pest suppressants, cover crops can also make an economic difference in a farming operation. Properly managed cover crops can reduce production costs and risks. Nitrogen production and effective nutrient use can reduce costs of pesticides and application. Therefore, reduction of erosion and soil compaction means less land preparation and tillage expense. By suppressing pests, cover crops can reduce costs of pesticides and application.

 

 

Many cover crops perform well in Alabama cropping systems. In order to choose the crop best suited for your system, consider the time frame between cash crops and what the crop needs to provide.

 

Delaney said first and foremost it is important to determine which cash crop will follow the cover crop.

 

“Work backwards from the cash crop you plan to plant,” he said. “Choose a cover that can be terminated in time to plant a cash crop; and be sure to plant a crop that minimizes the risk of sharing soil diseases.

 

For Nitrogen: Plant a legume cover crop. Some cereals, especially rye, are good at scavenging leftover nitrogen from a previous crop. Buckwheat, mustards, radish and rye can scavenge unused phosphorous and potassium from deep in the soil and move it closer to the surface.

 

Weed Control: Covers that produce a lot of biomass can help. Rye, black oat, sorghum-sudangrass, sunn hemp, iron clay cowpea, radish and buckwheat can smother weed seedlings. Some of these produce chemicals that can affect crop germination and growth.

 

Break up Soil Compaction: Crops with deep taproots, like tillage radish or canola, can break through a compacted layer.

 

Nematode Suppression/Beneficial Insects: Certain varieties of some cover crops, like lupin, sunn hemp, velvet bean, sorghum-sudangrass, black oats and some brassicas, repel and starve pest nematodes and keep them in check. Others, like hairy vetch, lupin, sunflower and buckwheat, attract beneficial insects that pollinate crops and eat pests.