Finding the right cover crop and green manure mix

Farmers today have access to a wide range of cover crop and green manure mixes to meet the specific needs of their fields.

Without a cover crop, approximately 70% of rainwater runs off the land. To restore water to the soil and combat drought, farmers need to help water get back into the soil.

One way to do this is to use green manure or cover crops.

Green manure for weed control

Green manure sown in the fall reduces weed cover until the following spring. The following crops have shown excellent results in the field:

A mix for every need

Several mixes are available to meet the specific needs of each farm.

Balance Mix:

• Daikon radish, crimson clover and ryegrass

• For end-of-summer planting; soil coverage that lasts until winter

• Affects soil structure, erosion and residual nitrogen

• Seeding rate: broadcast 19 kg/ha (17 lbs/acre), seeder 17 kg/ha (15 lbs/acre)

   

Structure Builder Mix:

• Daikon radish and ryegrass

• For end-of-summer planting; soil coverage that lasts until winter

• Affects soil structure, erosion and residual nitrogen

• Seeding rate: broadcast 17 kg/ha (15 lbs/acre), seeder 14 kg/ha (12.5 lbs/acre)

   

Intercrop Ribeye Ryegrass:

• Ryegrass

• For intercropping with corn; soil coverage that lasts until winter

• Superior biomass

• Seeding rate: broadcast 20 kg/ha (18 lbs/acre), broadcast and incorporated 15 kg/ha (13 lbs/acre), between rows with hose 15 kg/ha (13 lbs/acre), between rows with hose and incorporated 10 kg/ha (9 lbs/acre), as a mix (cereal grains or clover) 10 kg/ha (9 lbs/acre)

   

Multi Mix:

• Daikon radish, crimson clover, ryegrass, Berseem clover, pearl millet, phacelia and flax

• Multi-purpose

• Can be used with a mix of cereal grains and peas

• For increasing biodiversity

• Seeding rate: broadcast 30 kg/ha (26.8 lbs/acre) + cereal grains/peas 50 kg/ha (44.6 lbs/acre), seeder 25 kg/ha (22.3 lbs/acre) + cereal grains/peas 50 kg/ha (44.6 lbs/acre)

   

Eco-riparian Mix:

• Creeping red fescue, red top, perennial ryegrass, timothy, alsike clover, white clover and birdsfoot trefoil

• For planting riparian buffers

• Diverse, long-lasting crop coverage

• Seeding rate: broadcast 80–120 kg/ha (71–107 lbs/acre), seeder 25–30 kg/ha (22–27 lbs/acre)

   

N Maker Mix:

• Daikon radish and crimson clover

• For end-of-summer planting; soil coverage that lasts until winter

• Affects soil structure and erosion and adds nitrogen

• Seeding rate: broadcast 15 kg/ha (13 lbs/acre), seeder 11.5 kg/ha (10 lbs/acre)

   

The use of green manure and cover crops has several benefits:

• Adds organic matter

• Captures residual nitrogen and adds nitrogen

• Reduces erosion

• Improves soil structure and health

• Increases yields

• Helps control pests (built-in defence against pests)

• Promotes biodiversity