Cover Crops. Cover Crops. Why Plant a Cover Crop? Frost seeding Overseeding Broadcast Drill

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1 Cover Crops Erosion control Soil fertility Cover Crops Soil organic matter Soil biota Dale Mutch, Seig Snapp and Todd Martin Michigan State University Diseases Nematodes Weeds Insects Why Plant a Cover Crop? A. To improve soil health. B. Nitrogen management. C. Erosion control. D. Reduce weed populations. E. Decrease nitrogen leaching F. Increase beneficial insects and others. G. Carbon sequestration. Cover Crops Frost seeding Overseeding Broadcast Drill Frost seeding Overseeding

2 Bulkseeding What is the yield potential of a field worth? HOW TO BUILD UP A SOIL THAT HAS PROBLEMS: Reduced root growth Excessive fertilizer/nutrient requirements Weak ability to hold/drain water Easily eroded from wind and water Excessive pest populations Contributions of Cover Crops Biomass Root penetration into soil Organic matter Soil quality Channels /Nutrient recycling Farm management to improve soil organic matter and soil quality: Increase organic inputs: Apply manure Grow cover crops Ground cover Flowers Bio fumigant Competition with weeds Reduce erosion Nectaries for beneficials Reduce disease infection, and parasitic nematodes Reduce tillage: Rotate with wheat Overseed with clover or rye

3 Can t till your way out of a soil quality problem Cover crops vary Three key families - Increase pore space in root zone - Improve infiltration and drainage - But, tillage induced pores less stable than cover crop enhanced pores Cover crops species by root type Surface rooting from grasses reduce surface compaction, prevent nutrient loss to subsoil, feed aggregation processes Deep taproots from legumes and brassicas (mustards) for deep biological tillage and nutrient recycling Enhancing communities above and below ground Are Brassicas missing from some crop rotations? flowers provide beneficial insect habitat and food incorporation of residues acts as a biofumigant, this alters soil communities through biocide plus carbon and nutrients to support new biota Mustard fall cover reduces soil-borne disease (Pythium and Fusarium) Healthy/mustard biofumigated and diseased potato roots 10g mustard versus no residue

4 Mustard classifications and common varieties. Species Common names Varieties Brassica napus Brassica juncea Brassica negra Brassica alba, Brassica hirta Canola (not a biofumigant) Rapeseed Brown & Oriental mustards Black mustard White & yellow mustards Dwarf Essex Brown: Blaze, Common Brown Oriental: Pacific Gold, Cutlass, Forge, Lethbridge 22 Caliente blends IdaGold, Martegena, Tinley Mustards are not proven cover crop technology could become a weed problem but farmers and extension are trying them out Mustard cover crop about to be incorporated - MI potato Brassica establishment challenges in MI vegetable field Covers Following Winter Wheat Wheat harvested No-till covers Plot size: 20 feet X 125 feet Biomass late fall before frost Covers Following Winter Wheat Crimson Clover 15 lbs/a Hairy Vetch 30 lbs/a Oilseed Radish 15 lbs/a Soybeans 1 bu/a Control Crimson Clover Covers following winter wheat KBS 11 Hairy Vetch Covers following winter wheat KBS 12

5 Oilseed Radish Covers following winter wheat KBS Soybeans Covers following winter wheat 1999-KBS Cover Crops Seeded into Winter Wheat Control Covers following winter wheat KBS 15 lbs/a Biomass Weeds Cover Crop b b Oilseed Radish b a Hairy Vetch b b Crimson Clover LS D@0.05 Weeds Cover b c Soybeans a Control September 29, 2000 Organic Wheat / Medium Red Clover March 16, 2000: Frost seeded with 15 lbs Med. Red Clover Rep 1 Rep 2 Rep 3 Rep 4 Clipped Clipped Unclipped Unclipped Unclipped Unclipped Clipped Clipped

6 November 3, 2000 May 16, 2001 Clipped and Removed Not Clipped and Removed June 2001 Total N credit clipped unclipped Improving Soil with Cover Crops 80 lbs/acre 2 feet Dale Mutch and Todd Martin Michigan State University W.K. Kellogg Biological Station 0 Pioneer 38T27 NC+Org 1487 NC+Org 090E1 GLH 4848 GLH 4526 Reid's Krug average

7 No-till Organic Soybean in Crimped/rolled Rye and Vetch A No-till Organic Farming System for Soybeans County: Kalamazoo Cooperator: KBS Nearest town: Kalamazoo Covers: tillage: conventional Planting date: Hairy Vetch (45 lbs/a), Aug. 15 Rye (2 bu/a), Sept. 9 Crimper/rolling date: June 4 No-till Organic Soybean in Crimped/rolled Rye and Vetch A No-till Organic Farming System for Soybeans Soybeans: tillage: no-till Planting date: June 8 180k, Pioneer 92M10 Fertilizer: None Weed control: None Harvest date: Oct. 7, 2004 Exp. Design: RCB, 4 reps Soil type: Kalamazoo Sandy Loam Hairy Vetch - June 4, 2004 Cereal Rye - June 4, 2004 Cereal Rye - June 4, 2004

8 June 8, 2004 Cereal Rye July 21, 2004 Hairy Vetch Rye Cover Crop For Pumpkin Production Dale R. Mutch & Todd E. Martin Michigan State University / W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Hannah Stevens Macomb County MSUE Objective Evaluate the roller/crimper system on pumpkin production Compare 4 burndown systems for killing rye Evaluate rye cover crop for reducing soil on pumpkins Methods Cereal rye cover crop seeded fall 2005 at 2 bu/a 15 inch zones were burned down with glyphosate in early May May 23 (early treatment) full rate of glyphosate applied, and rye rolled/crimped May 30 (late treatment) full rate, half rate, and zero glyphosate applied, and June 1 rye rolled/crimped Methods Continued June 2: pumpkins planted Pre-emergence herbicide plus glyphosate burndown was applied too all of the treatments after planting Sept. 14: pumpkins harvested Two rows by 50 (approximately 500 ft 2 ) Pumpkins separated into marketable / unmarketable Counted and weighed Rated for amount of soil on pumpkin

9 Pumpkin Rows Established With Band Sprayer May 19, 2006 Rolling/Crimping Following Burndown June 1, 2006 Rye One Week Following Burndown + Rolling/Crimping June 1, 2006 Rolled/Crimped Rye Following Burndown June 1, 2006 A Pumpkin Field Following Planting In Rolled/Crimped Rye June 1, 2006 Established Pumpkin Plants In Rolled/Crimped Rye June 29, 2006

10 Pumpkin Yields pumpkin rows 6 row width harvested length 50' RYE RYE harvested width: 10' Pumpkin Field September 14, 2006 Pumpkin Yields Being Taken In Rolled/Crimped Rye September 14, 2006 Unmarketable Pumpkins C M D D M C D M C D D M D M M M M Marketable Pumpkins 3-Clean, 8-M.clean, 6-Dirty Ideal Pumpkin Bed

11 1500 Pumpkin Yields Pumpkin Yields Marketable Pumpkins pumpkins / acre pounds / acre Pounds / acre Pumpkins / acre May 22, full rate May 29, f ull May 29, 1/2 rate rate May 29, no spray 0 May 22, f ull May 29, f ull May 29, 1/2 May 29, no rate rate rate spray 0 May 22, full rate May 29, full rate May 29, May 29, 1/2 rate no spray 0 May 22, May 29, May 29, May 29, full rate full rate 1/2 rate no spray Marketable Pumpkins Unmarketable Pumpkins Marketable Pumpkins Percentage Hairy vetch: problem or cure? Percent May 22, full rate May 29, full rate May 29, 1/2 rate May 29, no spray clean med dirty

12 Conclusions These data indicate that the roller/crimper could eliminate one burn down glyphosate application without reducing marketable pumpkins Cereal rye residues remained present throughout the season providing a mat for the pumpkins Conclusions Continued The farmer and researchers believe a thicker planting of rye would have resulted in cleaner pumpkins and a thicker mat. This fall the pumpkin farmer planted rye at twice the rate as the roller/crimper technology worked as expected in Several years of research under variable weather conditions are needed to assure that this is a viable and predictable system for pumpkin farmers Cover Crops Following Snap Beans Crimson Clover 15 lbs/a Hairy Vetch 30 lbs/a Oats 1 bu/a Oilseed Radish 20 lbs/a Control Crimson Clover Covers following snap beans Ed Cagney Hairy Vetch Covers following snap beans Ed Cagney

13 Oats Covers following snap beans Ed Cagney Oilseed Radish Covers following snap beans Ed Cagney Control Covers following snap beans Ed Cagney Lbs./acre Biomass Cover Crops Following Snap Beans a d Oilseed Radish Cover Crop Weed b cd b cd ab bc Hairy Vetch Oats Crimson Clover LSD@0.05 Cover Weed c b CA Mammoth Red Clover a Control Cover Crops Tomato and Summer squash after an August-sown cover crop SWMREC 1. Hairy vetch (30 lbs) 2. Hairy vetch (25 lbs) + rye (1bu) 3. Oats(1.5 bu) 4. Oats (1bu) + rye (1bu) 5. Oilseed radish (20 lbs) 6. Oilseed radish (15 lbs) + rye (1bu) 7. Rye (1 bu) 8. Control Hairy Vetch - October 24, 2001 Hairy Vetch - May 7, 2002

14 Hairy Vetch + Rye - October 24, 2001 Oilseed Radish - October 24, 2001 Hairy Vetch + Rye - May 7, 2002 Oilseed Radish - May 7, 2002 Oilseed Radish + Rye - October 24, 2001 No Cover - October 24, 2001 Oilseed Radish + Rye - May 7, 2002 No Cover - May 7, 2002 Cover Crop Biomass lbs/acre Fall cover Fall weeds Spring cover Spring weeds hairy vetch hairy vetch + rye oats oats + rye radish* radish* + rye rye control *including root

15 Summer squash (half bushels/acre) Non-Fumigated # half bushels per acre Vetch Vetch + Rye Oats Oats + Rye Radish Radish + Rye Rye Control #1 tomatoes crates / acre Tomato Yields Following Cover Crops Low Fertilizer 2002 Vetch Vetch + Rye Oats Oats + Rye Radish Radish + Rye Fumigated Non-Fumigated Rye Control Cell Mean for No 1 (ct/a) Cell Bar Chart Grouping Variable(s): Cover US Split #1 By: tomato Fert fruit (crates/acre) Non-Fumigated 2003 Error Bars: ± 1 Standard (high Error(s) and low fertilizer) Inclusion criteria: Non-Fumigated Only from Yield Totals by Quality 2003.svd High 800 Low Control Oats OatsRye OSR OSRRye Rye RyeVetch Vetch Summary from three years research with Augustseeded cover crops SWMREC (Snapp and Mutch, 2004) Oilseed radish, alone or combined with rye, is the most effective at weed suppression and improves summer squash yields Hairy vetch combined with rye suppresses spring weeds, and improves tomato fruit yields Benefits of mixtures: rye-hairy vetch and winter wheat-red clover Good control of winter annual weeds Improve quality of residues incorporated: higher N content (lower C:N ratio) than cereal alone, allowing rapid breakdown of residues. If delay killing date then increase cover crop yield; more time to fix N, more time to scavenge N. Can reduce fertilizer N requirements for subsequent crops by 20 to 80 lb N/acre

16 Objective Producing Tomatoes Organically Evaluate four cover crops influence on tomato yield and quality. Dale R. Mutch & Todd E. Martin Michigan State University / W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Evaluate compost influence on cover crop and tomatoes. Ron Goldy & Virginia Wendzel Michigan State University / Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center Methods Five years non production, cereal rye with hairy vetch. Aug. 17, ton compost applied. Cover crops seeded at recommended rates. Oct. 20, 2005 Biomass taken. April 27, 2006 Biomass taken. May 16, 2006 Non-GMO soybean meal applied, 3000 lb/a. Approximately 120 lb/a N. Methods Continued May 17, 2006 Compost applied, 2.5 ton/a. Mountain Fresh untreated seed were grown in a certified organic greenhouse. May 26, 2006 Transplants set in field. Beds were 6 high. 5.5 feet row centers. 1.5 feet in row spacing (5280 plants/a). Methods Continued Tomatoes harvested four times. Eight plants per plot harvested. RCB design, four replications. Pests were controlled by OMRI recommended organic products. Weeds were cultivated and hand-weeded between beds. Treatments # Compost Cover Crop Rate/A 1 + Hairy Vetch 40 lbs 2 + Cereal Rye 2.5 bu 3 + Oriental Mustard 15 lbs 4 + Oilseed Radish 20 lbs 5 - Hairy Vetch 40 lbs 6 - Cereal Rye 2.5 bu 7 - Oriental Mustard 15 lbs 8 - Oilseed Radish 20 lbs

17 Gandy air Seeder August 17, 2005 Oilseed Radish 10 Days After Planting Oriental Mustard October 20, 2005 Cereal Rye October 20, 2005 Hairy Vetch October 20, 2005 Oilseed Radish October 20, 2005

18 SWMREC Cover Crop / Compost Fall 2005 Biomass Pounds Dry Matter per Acre h. vetch, compost h. vetch, no o. mustard, o. mustard, o. radish, o. radish, no rye, compost rye, no compost compost no compost compost compost compost Cover Crop Weeds no cover, no cover, no compost compost Cereal Rye April 27, SWMREC Cover Crop / Compost Spring 2006 Biomass 4000 Pounds Dry Matter per Acre Cereal Rye Following Oriental Mustard April 27, h. vetch, compost rye, coompost o. mustard, o.radish, hairy vetch, cereal rye, o. mustard, o. radish, no compost compost no compost no compost no compost compost Cover Crop Weeds no cover, no cover, no compost compost Spreading 2.5 Ton / Acre May 18, 2006 Applying Non-GMO Soybean Meal May 17, 2006

19 Soybean Meal Ready For Incorporation Mt. Fresh Organic Tomatoes Mt. Fresh Organic Tomatoes SWMREC Organic Tomato Yield, 2006 Total Yield No.1 Fruit Yield Yield No.1 Yield # compost Cover Crop Yield Large Weight No. 2 Small Cull 1 + Hairy Vetch Cereal Rye Oriental Mustard Oilseed Radish Hairy Vetch Cereal Rye Oriental Mustard Oilseed Radish LSD@0.05 ns ns ns 66 ns 175 > Yield in 25#cartons/acre of 'Mt.Spring' fresh market tomato. > Fruit weight is in grams Conclusion No significant difference between treatments. Dr. Goldy recommends that organic tomatoes be picked at less than vine ripe so they have less time to be exposed to disease organisms and other potential damage (cracking, insects, etc.). More years research needed.

20 Research Support Project GREEEN MSUE MAES MSU/KBS USDA/MSU Sustainable Agriculture Seeding Cover Crops with Manure Slurries Tim Harrigan Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Dale Mutch and Sieglinde Snapp Kellogg Biological Station Michigan State University Organic inputs--manure and cover crops Increase organic matter water holding capacity Improve aggregate stability water infiltration Decrease evaporation soil bulk density Manure benefits Manure can suppress soil borne pathogens Growers reported decreased fumigation of manured potato fields Disease suppression and extended production of zucchini Cover crop benefits Oil seed radish suppresses sugar beet cyst nematode. Oriental mustard incorporated in the spring before potato was highly suppressive of: Rhizoctonia solani Pythium ultimum Fusarium solani Snapp & Date, 2004 Brassicas enhance biosuppression Contain high levels of glucosinolates During decomposition, compounds are produced that have antifungal, nematcidal and bactericidal properties. 2 ton/ac increase sugar beet yield following oil seed radish. Suppression of sugar beet cyst nematodes.

21 Manure with a cover crop Greater yield response to manure applied with a winter cover crop than manure on bare soil. Goals and objectives Develop a sustainable process that incorporates low-disturbance tillage, manure application and seeding of biosuppressive cover crops. Specific objective: Compare stand establishment and biomass yield of oil seed radish and oriental mustard established as a summer seeding in wheat stubble with: no-till drilling, and a new process manure slurry-enriched micro-site seeding. Aeration/slurry/seeding Aeration/slurry/seeding An integrated system Biomass yield Operational efficiency Aeration tillage, manure application and cover crop seeding in one pass. Crop protection Pest suppression. Environmental benefits Conserves crop residue and improves infiltration. Stabilize soil, recycles nutrients. Slurry seed No-till Generally have a lower plant population with slurry seeding, but larger, more vigorous plants. Till-drill Slurry seed

22 Field trial, E. Lansing MI, 2004 Capac sandy loam soil Two seeding methods: Slurry seed with 6,000 gal/ac swine manure No-till, Great Plains drill Three cover crops Oil seed radish, Common and Colonel, 15 lb/ac PLS Oriental mustard, Pacific Gold, 10 lb/ac PLS Seeded August 13, harvested October 13 Small grain yields Seed placement and emergence Have had poor results on tilled ground and unconsolidated sand Aeration tillage creates cracks and fissures that are filled with seed-laden slurry. Emergence from near surface to 3 inches.

23 W.K. Kellogg Biological Station Hickory Corners, MI Objective Compare four cover crops no-till drilled to four cover crops seeded with manure slurry following winter wheat 2005 Methods 43oz/a RoundupMax prior to seeding. Kalamazoo sandy loam August 2, 2005 No-till drilled and slurry Aerway seeding Biomass sampling oriental mustard ( ) Other treatments ( ) RCB, 4 replications Treatments Cover Crop Rate Annual Ryegrass 35 lbs Cereal rye 2 bu Crimson clover 15 lbs Oilseed radish 15 lbs Oriental mustard 10 lbs Control -- Biomass

24 Oriental Mustard No-till 35 plants Manure 10 plants

25 Suitable for many crops Cereal Rye Seeded with Manure Cereal Rye No-till Drilled Crimson Clover Seeded with Manure Crimson Clover No-till Drilled No Cover Crop Manure Application No Cover Crop No-till Drilled

26 Summary Including manure and cover crops in the cropping system can improve yield, soil quality and crop health. Slurry-enriched micro-site seeding Combines low-disturbance tillage, slurry application and seeding in one efficient operation. Biomass yields were as good as no-till seeding in untilled wheat stubble. Oil seed radish equal to no-till seeding. Oriental mustard often better than no-till seeding. More work is needed. Research Support Project GREEEN MSUE MAES MSU/KBS USDA/MSU Sustainable Agriculture