- Location
- south staffs
Cover crop DM analysis
- Thread starter parker
- Start date
- Location
- Freuchie, Fife
When was this put in the ground? 1.7t/ha more dry matter than on a ploughed field. Well done.
- Location
- south staffs
Thankyou it was drilled on the 21/8/15
- Location
- CW5 Cheshire
It's very interesting to see all the nutrients you have accumulated in the cover, thanks for posting the results up.
There seems to be loads of N locked into it, I get it to 24% CP.
Have you sprayed out the cereal volunteers?
There seems to be loads of N locked into it, I get it to 24% CP.
Have you sprayed out the cereal volunteers?
Muddyboots
Member
- Location
- Suffolk
Very interesting, thanks for posting. When will you destroy the cover?
- Location
- south staffs
no I have left the cereal volunteers, its my first growing cover crops and thought if early frost had taken the cover the volunteers would start to soak up any lost nutrients, but with it being so mild it has just kept on growing.
- Location
- south staffs
going to
I am planning to drill on the green so will probably destroy post drilling
- Location
- Cambridgeshire UK
Interesting to put some figures onto this. We know what we are trying to achieve but quantifying it is helpful. Was test expensive?
- Location
- CW5 Cheshire
- Location
- south staffs
That's exactly why I wanted to test, to try and give me some idea of what is being achieved, and to see what is being taken away from the field if grazing is carried out as I read some where that a quarter of the nutrition is taken away by sheep , the test is a bit expensive but came in at £100 , but then again in the big picture I think its cheap to know what is available and to be able to take some of it into account for future nutrition
This is why the yanks will rent land, cover crop then cash crop. The nutrient taken up and turned into organic matter will be replaced from soil to fill the gap-then the extra is returned from the decomposing crop on top of it.
I know it would have been a ballache- but a sample of weighed whole plants(including as much root as poss) would have been interesting - think you could have a lot more than you think as veg/dry matter & liberated nutrient
I know it would have been a ballache- but a sample of weighed whole plants(including as much root as poss) would have been interesting - think you could have a lot more than you think as veg/dry matter & liberated nutrient
Simon Chiles
DD Moderator
- Location
- Surrey/ Kent Border, UK
All you need to do now is stick the data into the NDICEA calculator to find out when that nutrient will be available. I went to a very interesting talk about it about a year ago but couldn't hear very well as @martian was snoring very loudly.
dontknowanything
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
I'd guess more like 4t/ha+, it's not just what happens above ground...
dontknowanything
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
What's taken away with grazing is nothing compared to combinable crop offtake, especially if you're one of those people who don't put back anything at all.
- Location
- south staffs
compared to combinable offtake its not, but if it is a quarter of nutrients taken away from the cover I just question whether the revenue generated is worth it (but would depend on how much income is generated ),i guess I would just like to see some trial data showing improved revenue by grazing the cover in the following cash crop compared to not grazing
Simon Chiles
DD Moderator
- Location
- Surrey/ Kent Border, UK
Do you need trial data? Surely it's just maths. Calculate the nutrient value of the cover and work out what that would cost you against the income for the grazing. A nice little project for you over Christmas instead of falling asleep on the settee. You can stick the answer on here to save us doing it!
dontknowanything
Member
- Location
- Cambridge
I thought the feed efficiency of large animals was more like 10%?
- Location
- south staffs
I was thinking more if the biology in the soil would be any different after grazing from the sheep muck thus improving yields? I have already done a quick calculation and for me it wouldn't be worth grazing financially if it is that they take a quarter of what they graze with them , obviously it is a different situation if you do need to destroy the cover to be able to establish the cash crop
- Location
- south staffs
25%n,20%p,15%k retained by the grazing animal ref k c wells & c t Dougherty soil management for intensive grazing.
so not a quarter for all nutrients as I had thought
Rainmaker
Member
- Location
- Canterbury,NZ
Interesting reading. The one thing grazing has going against it that is often over looked is the uneven distribution of the pooh unless the stock are keep on tight brakes well managed. A farmer wouldn't spread his fert in lumps but it's ok for the stock visiting arable land to pooh were ever,often around the water trough or near shelter.