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Ohio

How many of you guys grow a cover crop? and how much do you really think this helps since your amending your patches anyway with compost and manure?

They say a cover crops helps in your organic matter and adds nitrogen to your soil along with helping to protect your soil from leaching all its amendments during the winter months.

But do you really think a growers patch loses that much in the winter and adds really that much organic matter to the soil to make a difference if you already added 2,3 or 4 inches of compost /manure plus your other amendments in the fall? I been thinking about this every season and I really dont think it would make that much of a diffrence?

12/5/2009 4:48:56 AM

Dover, DE

I generally plant winter rye or if you get a early enough chance (mid september) plant hairy vetch which adds nitroget to the soil. one great thing about cover crops is that in the spring u canuse a 2X4 and knok it over then just plant your pumpkin seeds right in it. . . .this means weed free ! ! ! and it lasts most of the season

sorry cant answer on the leaching of amendments.

#1

12/5/2009 6:59:17 AM

Germany

I have not much experience, I think the main advantage of a intense rooting cover crop is the building up and prevention of a good soil structure. Fertilizing effects will be neglectable compared to the amendments of organic material.

12/5/2009 7:08:57 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Brooks, my only experience with cover crops in AG patches was the fall of 2007, when I lost all of my plants early to a root rot disease. I removed all the plants and planted dwarf Essex rape for a cover. The next season I tilled it in and grew my personal best. And that was with the wettest spring in recorded history.

Most of my cover crop experience is in production agriculture. I know several farmers who plant winter rye after harvesting soybeans or chopping corn for silage. Both of those crops leave little crop residue and the soil exposed to erosion. They claim that the rye does help increase thier organic matter over time, but I doubt that it will increase the OM as much as adding several inches of compost on your patch every year. The cover does slow erosion. One thing that the farmers do like about rye is that it has a very strong alleopathic effect on small seeded weeds. You hardly ever see weeds in a rye field. Most farmers will kill the rye with glyphosate early and then notill corn or soybeans into it 2 weeks later. Some will green chop the rye for silage and then plant a late soybean crop. After 2 weeks it won't affect the larger seeded crops, and if they notilled it gives them a mulch cover to hold down weeds, conserve moisture and prevent erosion. They claim it increases crop yields. The family that uses the most rye cover crop is also the areas largest seed dealer. They have tried several different cover crops and told me tht rye works the best for them.

12/5/2009 7:42:18 AM

Team Munson

Brooks,
I have used cover crops in the past and have done some research on them and feel they are helpful as stated above.

The problem I have is the patch usually is not cleaned up till late October after all the weigh-offs are done. I also start tilling and spring prep in April so this does not give the cover crop enough time to grow big enough to be effective. We do not have enough room to rotate and I refuse to go down to 2-4 plants so we can.

12/5/2009 9:22:51 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

Wouldn't i love to live in Ohio

12/5/2009 9:31:38 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Brooks I use Rye, I feel it helps alot with erosion, I can visibly see the area nearest the fence where I do not broadcast the rye washes away with the rain and snow.

12/5/2009 10:16:08 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

yes ohio is where it is happening!!!~

12/6/2009 2:43:33 AM

huntsburg,ohio

i use rye didn't plant til 3rd week of october it is about 4 inches now will till planting sights in spring and let rest grow and mow it couple times before i till it in also serves as a food plot as i got a big doe out of patch on friday.Jerry

12/6/2009 8:02:13 AM

canal winchester ohio

Now there's a awesome pumpkin patch, it gives you 1500+ lb pumpkins & fresh meat.

12/6/2009 11:28:50 AM

huntsburg,ohio

can't beat it paul best of both worlds.Jerry

12/6/2009 7:18:43 PM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

You turn the deer loose after Kuhn goes home. lol

12/6/2009 10:14:43 PM

churchville, ny

Brooks - I've used it for years to increase OM since it is inexpensive and easy to spread (I use my scotts lawn spreader at setting 6). The farm supply company here in Rochester said it will germinate until the ground reaches 34 degree F. I talked to Len Stellpflug a number of times this fall and I know that he uses it. Why not??

12/6/2009 10:42:39 PM

churchville, ny

Forgot to say I use winter rye.

12/6/2009 10:46:30 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I used oats this fall. Oats love cold weather but will freeze and die over the winter. My oats right now are over a foot high and will make a great crop to plow under in the spring. The most important think is to not have bare soil over the winter.

12/7/2009 12:34:36 AM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

I have an added question. I too use cover crop, but this year I have tried something a bit different. In 2/3 of the patch I used 3 different cover crop sourses with out Mycorizae and in the orhter 3rd I used my Mycro,Kelp meal and secret ingrediant on it by spreading it and lightly mixing it in to the soil. Then applied my cover crop on top. Now when I go look at it the treated area seems allot thicker and cover crop in the other 2/3 seems thinner and not as vigorous. Has anyone tried this before? and if so was there any benefit the next season. Equal amounts of cover crop applied trough out the patch. I may post a pic this week but just curious. Sorry Brooks for the snatching of the thread but figured it is a good question to tie in with the cover crop issue.

12/7/2009 6:37:49 AM