Posted 5/25/2019 18:59 (#7520737 - in reply to #7520632) Subject: RE: Best cover crop mix to retain/create nitrogen
SEON
rank - 5/25/2019 17:33
farmerBill - 5/25/2019 16:57
If this rain continues, I’m trying to think ahead of what cover crop combo would work best to retain and create nitrogen.
Without knowing where you are and if you want it to winter kill....
Fixing N
Clover, alfalfa, hairy vetch, birdsfoot trefoil will over winter
Peas and sunn hemp will winter kill
Taking up N
any grass
Alfalfa won't establish fast enough to build N for next spring. I doubt if trefoil and clover will either. That leaves vetch, peas and sunn hemp.
.......I had some ground flooded out last year that I wanted to put corn on this year. I broadcasted peas after it finally dried up and followed that with a single tillage pass. Sunn Hemp would be a good choice too if you can get seed. I've never tried vetch but I've read it's the mother of all N fixers.
I would use this as a research opportunity and do test plots with all three
Best cover crop mix to retain/create nitrogen
