Spring cover crops in bare wheat and OSR gound

[coastalarableman]

Morning all

Walking round the farm (not good for morale) and watching reasonable sized areas of ground fall foul to ponding, slug damage and other wet winter related issues, I am tempted to 'patch up' with cover or catch crops. Little to no experience of this method before so asking for advice on what may be suitable instead of patching up with spring wheat or OSR.

Would be a useful intro to cover crops which I am tempted to introduce on ex wheat ground to be followed by spring crops.

Main aims would be fixing a bit of N, not letting blackgrass take over bare patches, increasing organic matter and improvements to soil structure (deep rooting plants so I can avoid subsoiling) as well as providing food for birds. On Romney Marsh and water generally gets away save for historic low spots and old creeks. Vast mixture of soil types.

Rotation currently WW, OSR, WW, Peas, Spring Barley (some adjustments made year on year)

Anybody got any ideas? Go easy as I'm just starting to be convinced by the benefits of regenerative agriculture - haven't ploughed for 5 years, but still addicted to cultivating soil in the autumn...……..

TIA

Matt

 

[Great In Grass]

Due to the inclusion of OSR & Peas in the rotation, you would not want to grow a brassica or pulses as they could harbour diseases or pests specific to those crops.

A non-brassica mix would be the way to go. If buying in a mixture this type of mix would include some or all VETCH, PHACELIA, BERSEEM CLOVER, BLACK OATS and PERSIAN CLOVER. These types of mixtures are great for providing rapid cover, N and soil OM enhancement.

 

[FarmerBruce]

Due to the inclusion of OSR & Peas in the rotation, you would not want to grow a brassica or pulses as they could harbour diseases or pests specific to those crops.

A non-brassica mix would be the way to go. If buying in a mixture this type of mix would include some or all VETCH, PHACELIA, BERSEEM CLOVER, BLACK OATS and PERSIAN CLOVER. These types of mixtures are great for providing rapid cover, N and soil OM enhancement.

How much would some thing like this cost please? When would you establish it and then destroy it.

 

[Brisel]

Good question. I'd ditch the oats as I wouldn't want them setting seed and causing volunteer problems in subsequent crops. None of the other species listed above will cause you problems in future as they are controllable in other crops other than osr. Perhaps drop the vetch as it's a legume and may cause issues with your peas. Bees and other pollinators will love the phacelia.

Buckwheat is useful and will be killed by frost even though it's a polygonum. If you're not considering growing linseed in the rotation as a cash crop, include this too. It does a great job for the soil structure

Sow your cover crops having sprayed off your bare patches first - you'd hate to have to terminate them early because they became infested with ragwort, wild oats or thistles. I do mine in May when they will get away quickly then spray them off 6 weeks pre drilling to let the biomass rot down. The later the better but the residues have to fit through your machinery & drill. Feb/March is way too early to sow IMO. I'd budget circa £30/ha for the seed but it will depend on the species you choose.

 

[Great In Grass]

How much would some thing like this cost please? When would you establish it and then destroy it.

I have sent you details in a conversation @Brisel I think has answered your other questions, bear in mind he makes the cost for seed up!

 

[Brisel]

bear in mind he makes the cost for seed up!

Was it half what you were thinking of?

 

[coastalarableman]

Due to the inclusion of OSR & Peas in the rotation, you would not want to grow a brassica or pulses as they could harbour diseases or pests specific to those crops.

A non-brassica mix would be the way to go. If buying in a mixture this type of mix would include some or all VETCH, PHACELIA, BERSEEM CLOVER, BLACK OATS and PERSIAN CLOVER. These types of mixtures are great for providing rapid cover, N and soil OM enhancement.

Thanks Kevin, useful info. I'm after a reasonably simple mix and to qualify as a catch/cover cop for BPS I'll need one cereal and one non cereal - thinking phacelia, linseed, buckwheat and one of the clovers - would either do?

 

[coastalarableman]

Thanks Kevin, useful info. I'm after a reasonably simple mix and to qualify as a catch/cover cop for BPS I'll need one cereal and one non cereal - thinking phacelia, linseed, buckwheat and one of the clovers - would either do?

I'm also getting confused with autumn sown and spring sown cover crops, excuse my stupidity!!!!

 

[Bogweevil]

Due to the inclusion of OSR & Peas in the rotation, you would not want to grow a brassica or pulses as they could harbour diseases or pests specific to those crops.

A non-brassica mix would be the way to go. If buying in a mixture this type of mix would include some or all VETCH, PHACELIA, BERSEEM CLOVER, BLACK OATS and PERSIAN CLOVER. These types of mixtures are great for providing rapid cover, N and soil OM enhancement.

Vetches might harbour field bean and pea diseases? PGRO suggest all legumes be considered equally likely to promote foot rots in subsequent legume crops. Lot of peas grown down on the marsh.

 

[DrWazzock]

Personally I am sick of throwing money at it. Cheque book closed till it dries up and something productive can be drilled.