Crops for drying out land

[Cutlerstom]

we have had a shocking beet lift followed by a shocking plough this winter. Consequently there are headlands we will not be cropping this spring as they are just puddled with water in the furrow bottoms.

Can anyone suggest a decent crop to put on these headlands (later!) with the primary purpose of drawing moisture and loosening deep compaction. Obviously nothing likes growing in compacted waterLogged clay, but I'm hoping I can get something on them in late May or June to help dry it out. It will be cropped in Autumn with OSR so I was thinking something like linseed rather than a brassica like radish or mustard.

Wondered if anyone could suggest a wonder crop!

 

[nick...]

Mustard will do exactly what you want.dont know about the other options though.ive been there too.
Nick...

 

[Kevtherev]

@Great In Grass
Daikon radish?

 

[Great In Grass]

Annual ryegrasses are excellent or Berseem Clover with some other clovers, vetch is good too.

 

[Great In Grass]

@Great In Grass
Daikon radish?

OP didn't want a Radish although it would make good channels for water dispersal.

 

[Brisel]

Broadcast some cheapo seed of whatever you can get that isn't going to harbour crop disease for what you do grow normally, then spray it off before it goes to seed. Fix the compaction with steel when the soil has dried out. You have a plough pan at depth so I doubt tillage radish will go that deep.

 

[crazy_bull]

Depends where you are but I have some bin end spring barley that I want shot off, priced at just enough to cover haulage delivery and seed dressing. it is certified..... still passes all germ tests etc