Like most Agronomic trials taken to yield, most to all of these trials lack accompanying environmental measurements like exact soil temperatures during the growth phases, especially during the germination/emergence phases. Aggressive cover crops plant residues will reduce soil temperatures drastically (-7 to -10 degrees), resulting of reduced emergence and yields.
When I planted native grass after a terminated wheat cover I had to replant the grass seed. Wheat has a natural herbicide to protect its next crop. If the soil has good fertility, a late cover crop will be of no help. This is a fad that has no benefit here in the US high plains.
Biggest thing to take away is put liquid on your planter. Carbon to nitrogen ratio is everything in your cover. In- furrow p,k, and using 30 units of nitrogen with the planter goes a long way. Colder soil temps with the cover crop the in furrow will get the germination higher because microbiology is slower with lower ground temps. Low salt infurrow and sugars for the win!
209bu/ac? Means nothing. What was the yield on the check? Was it replicated? Surprised this is coming from OMAFRA. Cover crop management should be to build organic matter and thereby water holding capacity in drought. Planting green does the opposite if you cover is robbing moisture when the seed needs it.
Like most Agronomic trials taken to yield, most to all of these trials lack accompanying environmental measurements like exact soil temperatures during the growth phases, especially during the germination/emergence phases. Aggressive cover crops plant residues will reduce soil temperatures drastically (-7 to -10 degrees), resulting of reduced emergence and yields.
When I planted native grass after a terminated wheat cover I had to replant the grass seed. Wheat has a natural herbicide to protect its next crop. If the soil has good fertility, a late cover crop will be of no help. This is a fad that has no benefit here in the US high plains.
Biggest thing to take away is put liquid on your planter. Carbon to nitrogen ratio is everything in your cover. In- furrow p,k, and using 30 units of nitrogen with the planter goes a long way. Colder soil temps with the cover crop the in furrow will get the germination higher because microbiology is slower with lower ground temps. Low salt infurrow and sugars for the win!
209bu/ac? Means nothing. What was the yield on the check? Was it replicated? Surprised this is coming from OMAFRA.
Cover crop management should be to build organic matter and thereby water holding capacity in drought. Planting green does the opposite if you cover is robbing moisture when the seed needs it.