cover crop after wheat

SilliamWhale · Nov 19, 2014

What do you reckon for between winter wheat and spring barley?

Given that OSR, stubble turnips, swedes and beans already feature in my rotation. That harvest may run into mid september for Wheat and that I don't actually want heaps and heaps of cover because barley doesn't appreciate it, what kind of mix do you think is best?

Great In Grass · Nov 19, 2014

Black Oats & Vetch? Could add some Phacelia but for a light cover maybe leave it out should be okay up until mid-Sept for sowing.

Simon Chiles · Nov 19, 2014

SilliamWhale said:
What do you reckon for between winter wheat and spring barley?

Given that OSR, stubble turnips, swedes and beans already feature in my rotation. That harvest may run into mid september for Wheat and that I don't actually want heaps and heaps of cover because barley doesn't appreciate it, what kind of mix do you think is best?

Nothing graminaceous or related to the crops you're already growing. So vetch, phacelia, linseed etc.

Richard III · Nov 19, 2014

Simon Chiles said:
Nothing graminaceous or related to the crops you're already growing. So vetch, phacelia, linseed etc.

Was just typing the same when you replied.

So *2.

I'm a little worried about using linseed on blackgrass free land now, apparently blckgrass is often a contaminant.

Clive · Nov 19, 2014

vetch, phacelia and radish here with a bit of home saved linseed for bulk - can be done for about £7/ac as well that's my current mix but may add sunflower next year as they have done well in other mixes I tried

i wouldn't bother any latter than end of august drill date though

shakerator · Nov 19, 2014

SilliamWhale said:
What do you reckon for between winter wheat and spring barley?

Given that OSR, stubble turnips, swedes and beans already feature in my rotation. That harvest may run into mid september for Wheat and that I don't actually want heaps and heaps of cover because barley doesn't appreciate it, what kind of mix do you think is best?

If your not grazing it why not leave a few thistles, chickweeds etc by leaving out su / residual chemistry not gonna threaten the barley. Are there grass weed issues? If not have found simple cmpp stars new programme leaves stubble with nice scattering of broadleaf weeds...No better soil conditioner than a scattering of fat thistles....but rotation key of course

Natural regeneration not as fashionable as cover crops though!

Richard III · Nov 19, 2014

shakerator said:
If your not grazing it why not leave a few thistles, chickweeds etc by leaving out su / residual chemistry not gonna threaten the barley. Are there grass weed issues? If not have found simple cmpp stars new programme leaves stubble with nice scattering of broadleaf weeds...No better soil conditioner than a scattering of fat thistles....but rotation key of course

Natural regeneration not as fashionable as cover crops though!

Natural regeneration would often result in quite a lot of AMG here, I think I would rather have bare stubble than that.

SilliamWhale · Nov 19, 2014

shakerator said:
If your not grazing it why not leave a few thistles, chickweeds etc by leaving out su / residual chemistry not gonna threaten the barley. Are there grass weed issues? If not have found simple cmpp stars new programme leaves stubble with nice scattering of broadleaf weeds...No better soil conditioner than a scattering of fat thistles....but rotation key of course

Natural regeneration not as fashionable as cover crops though!

I will graze but I've seen this year that I can better get a handle on willowherb by putting something there.

Muddyboots · Nov 19, 2014

Oil radish, quick growing and club root resistant so ok with rape in the rotation.

SilliamWhale · Nov 20, 2014

Muddyboots said:
Oil radish, quick growing and club root resistant so ok with rape in the rotation.

doesn't that still have an impact on the rape?

Muddyboots · Nov 20, 2014

SilliamWhale said:
doesn't that still have an impact on the rape?

I was told by kings that the oil radish would be fine with rape in the rotation and to avoid mustard because of clubroot. I wanted something that would make large amounts of om quickly/cheaply and that is what they came up with. I have limited experience as to whether it will impact on the rape ( time will tell ), perhaps somebody who has could answer that.

SilliamWhale · Nov 20, 2014

Thing is stubble turnips are clubroot resistant but I find it hard to see how they can't add to the burden of the disease for rape. Maybe this is my excuse to ditch oilseed rape as I could do with one!

Muddyboots · Nov 20, 2014

Totally agree with you, I have the same concerns with it but as I said in my case time will tell!

htj · Nov 25, 2014

Will, why should WW be mid september harvest? Seems very late.
I agree with Clive, that after end of August, CC is probably a waste of time. The difference between Pedders mix drilled mid August, and forage rape first few days in September is huge.

SilliamWhale · Nov 25, 2014

htj said:
Will, why should WW be mid september harvest? Seems very late.
I agree with Clive, that after end of August, CC is probably a waste of time. The difference between Pedders mix drilled mid August, and forage rape first few days in September is huge.

it can get that late. Sea mists etc. Means crops can be slow to ripen. It is likely to be earlier but September is still harvest time here. It can be different but that is a worst case and probably happens plenty

SilliamWhale · Nov 26, 2014

@htj the other thing I forgot to mention was straw being cleared/baled etc. Get some rain and it delays all that by a week sometimes - so I was being cautious/realistic about the late date and was just thinking of something to keep the soil alive rather than any decent grazing. (very little wheat gets spilled usually)

hybrid vigour · Nov 26, 2014

oil radish as a cover crop in an OSR rotation (IMHO) is a bad idea. As part of a complex mixture (in a low proportion) it will be OK, but on it's own it is too similar to OSR.

dontknowanything · Nov 26, 2014

SilliamWhale said:
@htj the other thing I forgot to mention was straw being cleared/baled etc. Get some rain and it delays all that by a week sometimes - so I was being cautious/realistic about the late date and was just thinking of something to keep the soil alive rather than any decent grazing. (very little wheat gets spilled usually)

Why don't you speed up and drop some wheat then? (Don't forget your royalties)

SilliamWhale · Nov 26, 2014

dontknowanything said:
Why don't you speed up and drop some wheat then? (Don't forget your royalties)

I could do. But I want a mix too.

dontknowanything · Nov 26, 2014

SilliamWhale said:
I could do. But I want a mix too.

Don't use any spring herbicides?!

cover crop after wheat

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