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Thumb of Michigan | Lots of differences between covers, and sometimes even between varieties. As I said, I don't like planting same plant types back to back. If I can introduce the opposite plant type (as a cover) between the cash crop plants, I feel I can negate some of the problems I've experianced. In the wheat example, a fast growing broadleaf cover can create a humid warm environment around the stubble which may enhance the decomposition of the wheat stubble. All of the covers I mentioned are going to leave nitrogen for the next crop for you. The oilseed radish scavenges a lot of N existing in the soil, the others obviously manufacture it. You can help prevent the "green bridge" syndrome with a cover thats dead long before the corn gets planted. That was always a challenge for us with clover. Another advantage of the covers I mentioned is that they can help compaction problems, especially the radish. Another cover I haven't used is canola, I've been told that its got a tremendous root system. Haven't a clue about any of its growth habits or associated problems.
Another thing I for got to mention before- I have a friend who plants a fair amount of no till wheat and soys as his rotation. His #1 problem is slugs in the chaff right behind the combine. He has chaff spreader and bales the straw off. He's been trying different narrow tools that he runs just behind the combine. I haven't talked to him lately, don't know what he did last year thats worked best for him in the soys this year. Have another neighbor who combines his wheat, sprays soon after a rain, and then runs a dyna-drive over the whole field. He likes the vollunteer wheat as a cover and he incorporates most of the straw with that trip. Burns the wheat off before it gets over a foot tall. He always goes to dry beans or soys after wheat, so I don't know how corn would work there.
Check out Steve Groffs site at www.cedarmeadowfarms.com for more cover crop info. He's gotten quite a bit of start up info on the radish (he uses forage radish) from over here, very interesting site. | |
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Planting Corn After Wheat - Alleopathy?
