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southern MN | The theory is the radish sends down a deep tap root in good conditions and pulls up n, p, k and other stuff, and stores it in the tuber.
In spring and early summer the tuber rots down. Releasing those nutrients again to the soil in the top 6-8 inches mostly.
While not perfect, that is a pretty good system of conserving the nutrients already in your soil.
In the old days some form of clover or alfalfa was used for a cover crop, as they make N to add to your soil. These have fallen out of favor of late tho, not sure why.
A cheap grass crop like oats or rye will somewhat store a little nutrients, produce a little organic matter, grows quickly in even tough conditions to stablize the ground and shade weeds, so often is a good cheap companion to many cover crops. Many cover crops don't like real wet roots, and so the oats at least grows something positive on those areas of the field....
Paul | |
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What does everyone think of tillage radish
