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COVER CROPS

Common vetch

A member of the Fabaceae family, common vetch is an annual that does not survive the winter. Because it is easy to use, it is now included in our Vitali-T mixes. Hairy vetch is a biennial legume that often overwinters if established early in the season. As a seasonal
plant, hairy vetch may grow back if moved.


Common vetch grows well in sandy soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Seeded in a mix with a grass or a cruciferous species, its growth may be limited by the other species, particularly when combined with an application of liquid manure. Don’t be deceived by the top growth - the roots of this plant develop rapidly,
and it is worth digging up a specimen to appreciate its potential. Without a doubt one of my favourites for the summer!

Faba beans

Le pois, au même titre que le trèfle, est une légumineuseayant la capacité de fixer l’azote atmosphérique pourl’assimiler et le fournir à la culture suivante.


Il assimile également l’azote résiduel du sol et du fumier etsa capacité à le prélever est de 80 % supérieure aux nonlégumineuses.Sa croissance rapide, se comparant à celledes céréales en fait un atout intéressant lorsque la périodede croissance est limitée en plus de diminuer l’érosion. Sesracines étant plutôt superficielles, le pois est vulnérable à lasécheresse et mieux adapté aux conditions froides. 


Sa croissance se continuera ainsi, tard en saison pour fournirune biomasse intéressante et protéger le sol de l’érosion surune plus longue période. Le pois préfère les sols loameux etargileux. ll est aussi primordial de le semer en associationcar ses tiges grimpantes nécessitent un soutien.

A member of the Fabaceae family, faba beans are a cool season crop. The plants grow rapidly at the beginning of the season, making this species an excellent companion for cereals. In the first weeks of growth, the weight of the plant’s root system surpasses  that of its above-ground mass.


It is also impressive to see to what extent its root system has a structuring effect on the soil. With an abundance of nodules, faba beans are the champion when it comes to fixing nitrogen. For use as a cover crop, faba beans are limited by two main factors: cost  and seed size.





Austrian and forage peas

L’avoine est une plante à croissance rapide qui assureraun certain contrôle des mauvaises herbes et de l’érosion.

Comparativement aux autres céréales, elle tolère un pH plusacide et de l’humidité durant la saison de croissance. Une fois bien établie, elle produira une biomasse importante et contribuera à augmenter la matière organique du sol.

Assurant une bonne gestion des éléments nutritifs lors de la fertilisation avec du fumier, elle récupère égalementles éléments nutritifs en surplus. Détruite par l’hiver, elle relâchera ces éléments durant sa décomposition.

Peas are among the most widely grown cover crops. The main reasons for this are their ability to fix nitrogen and  their rapid growth that extends late into the season. To demystify forage peas (4010 is one of the best known  varieties) and Austrian peas, both crops were tested in the field this fall. Forage peas are an annual crop with an aboveground biomass that increases rapidly. During the first 5-6 weeks of growth, forage peas visibly surpass Austrian peas,  a biennial legume that grows more slowly at the start of the season. Nonetheless, Austrian peas tolerate much colder temperatures than forage peas, an advantage later in the season. The above-ground portion of the Austrian pea is impressive and grows close to the ground while its root system develops quickly despite the cold. A mixture of these two varieties is an excellent choice. If a late planting  is planned, Austrian peas are the better option.


Crimson clover

Crimson clover is a biennial plant that tends to behave as an annual in our growing conditions. Termination is rarely required the following spring. For fall planting, Crimson clover is preferred over perennial clovers as it establishes more rapidly. Although broadcast seeding is not ideal, it is more tolerant of this system than are other varieties. As a low-growing plant, it is not a champion in terms of aboveground biomass.


Crimson clover supplies approximately 50 units of nitrogen, a substantial contribution. With a much finer root system than other legumes, this clover complements the root growth of other crops.

Red clover

Comme son nom l’indique, le seigle d’automne peut être semé tard en saison et survivra à l’hiver pour recommencer sa croissance au printemps, laissant ainsi le sol couvert pour une plus longue période et le protégeant de l’érosion. 


Son système racinaire dense aura pour effet de stabiliser la structure du sol et réduire la compaction. Il aura aussicomme effet de capter les éléments nutritifs perdus par la culture principale ou ceux des engrais organiques durant l’automne pour les redonner à la culture suivante. Plus il sera détruit tard, plus la tige aura le temps de lignifier pour ainsi contribuer à augmenter la matière organique du sol. Attention au semis de maïs printanier après la destruction du seigle, car ce dernier semble avoir un effet allélopathique qui pourrait affecter la germination du maïs.

Red clover is a perennial species used primarily in intercropping because it establishes relatively slowly. Grown over a long period of time, it has the highest potential nitrogen return. Its tap root is a good complement to Huia  white clover, a more drought- olerant species.


Red clover is an excellent choice in combination with cereals, as the earlier harvest of the main crop gives red clover a long growing season in the fall. Intercropped with corn, it will perform better in a silage field than in a grain crop. This is due to the growth of clover, which benefits more rapidly  from the light once the crop has been harvested. With the arrival of cold weather, red clover quickly stops growing.


Huia white clover

Comme son nom l’indique, le seigle d’automne peut être semé tard en saison et survivra à l’hiver pour recommencer sa croissance au printemps, laissant ainsi le sol couvert pour une plus longue période et le protégeant de l’érosion. 


Son système racinaire dense aura pour effet de stabiliser la structure du sol et réduire la compaction. Il aura aussicomme effet de capter les éléments nutritifs perdus par la culture principale ou ceux des engrais organiques durant l’automne pour les redonner à la culture suivante. Plus il sera détruit tard, plus la tige aura le temps de lignifier pour ainsi contribuer à augmenter la matière organique du sol. Attention au semis de maïs printanier après la destruction du seigle, car ce dernier semble avoir un effet allélopathique qui pourrait affecter la germination du maïs.

Huia white clover warrants a closer look. Because of its small seed size, this small-scale clover establishes more readily than some of the other similar clover species in  this category. It is well suited to intercropping because it is unlikely to grow as tall as the cereal crop.


Huia white clover has a shallow stoloniferous root system  that structures the soil. Likewise, it is relatively tolerant to drought conditions. Its white inflorescence attracts a number of insect pollinators.


Oats

Although all spring cereals can be used as cover crops, oats are more tolerant to wetter and more acid soils. Oats establish quickly, providing some control over weeds and protecting against soil erosion.


With an upright form that covers a small surface area, a higher seeding rate is recommended if the growing season is short. As the plant matures, its carbon content increases accordingly, which in turn increases the stable organic matter content of the soil.

Fall rye

Le sarrasin est une plante qui s’adapte à tous les types de sol et climat. Il est par contre recommandé d’éviter les solstrop secs, humides ou compacts. 


Étant très sensible au gel, il est préférable de le semer minimum 4 semaines avant les premiers risques de gelprévus. Générant un important réseau de racine, il favorisela formation d’agrégats. Ayant une croissance rapide, il couvre le sol rapidement, ce qui a pour effet d’étouffer les mauvaises herbes annuelles ainsi que réprimer et ombrager les vivaces. La floraison se produit 4 à 6 semaines après le semis et peut s’étaler sur 10 semaines.


Afin d’éviter la montée en graines, il est préférable de le détruire 7 à 10 jours après la floraison. Le sarrasin afinalement une capacité à absorber beaucoup de phosphore qui n’est pas assimilable par les autres plantes et ainsi le relâcher pour la culture suivante lors de sa décomposition. Il laisse très peu de résidus au sol.

Fall rye is known for its hardiness and can be seeded late in the season. Once the crop has reached the 1 to 2 leaf stage, it is likely to survive the winter and continue growing in the spring, providing live cover over an extended period of time. A versatile plant, fall rye can be terminated in the spring, harvested for forage, harvested as grain and straw, or rolled  flat to provide a surface mulch for no-till soybean seeding. Fall rye has an impressive, deep, dense root system that enables it to recycle nutrients.


Care should be taken when seeding to corn in the spring after plowing down a fall rye cover crop, since the latter has an allelopathic effect that  inhibits germination. It is best to wait 10 to 15 days before seeding corn or, alternatively, terminate the cover crop after seeding.


Annual ryegrass

Ryegrass has an extremely dense and fibrous root system that is known for its beneficial effect on soil structure. This dense root system can become an inconvenience, however, when preparing the seedbed in the spring. Ryegrass is a nitrogen-loving grass that requires fertilizing to reach its full potential. Hence, ryegrass helps limit nitrogen losses due to leaching and competes well with weeds that have similar nitrogen requirements. Ryegrass prefers fine to medium-textured soils and establishes best under moist conditions. Although ryegrass is an annual, it may overwinter if well established. If this is the case, the crop will need to be controlled in the spring.


Intercropped with corn, ryegrass tolerates both shade and competition. Its growth is limited during the summer, but explodes after the silage harvest. Its greatest advantage is that it improves the weight-bearing capacity of the soil for farm equipment in the fall when harvest conditions are not always ideal.

Pearl millet

Depuis près d’une quinzaine d’années, le millet perlé a fait l’objet d’études pour diminuer les populations de nématodes en rotation avec les pommes de terre ou les fraises, par exemple. 


Diminuant considérablement l’incidence de la verticilliose de la pomme de terre, le millet perlé est l’une des rares plantes sur laquelle le nématode se reproduit très peu. Dans une étude menée pendant six ans au début des années 2000, les chercheurs ont noté que plusieurs espèces, dontle seigle, ont maintenu et même multiplié les populations denématodes du sol dans plusieurs régions.


N’ayant pas un départ très rapide, le millet n’est pas compétitif face aux mauvaises herbes. Préférant les sols chauds et bien drainés, il est aussi très sensible au gel. Semez de 10 à 15 kg/ha à une profondeur de 1 à 2 cm.

For the past 15 years now, pearl millet has been the subject of trials aimed at reducing  nematode populations, in rotation with

potatoes or strawberries, for example.


Considerably reducing the incidence of verticillium wilt in potatoes, pearl millet is one of the rare plants that limits nematode reproduction. In a six-year study in the early 2000s, researchers noted that several species, including rye, not only maintained but even increased nematode populations in the field.


Because millet gets off to a relatively slow start, it is not very competitive with weeds. Preferring warm and well-drained soils, millet is also very sensitive to frost. Grown as a seasonal crop, its above-ground biomass is impressive, and its well-developed root system extends throughout the soil profile.


White or yellow mustard

White mustard grows well in cooler conditions, reaching 24 inches in height at maturity. Although tolerant to mild frost, it does not overwinter. Mustard is a low-cost option, but requires adequate fertilization for good growth. It
readily captures nitrogen and makes good use of fall manure applications. Flowering occurs 50 to 60 days after seeding.


To avoid problems, mustard must be terminated before it sets seed.

Daikon radish

Ayant les mêmes caractéristiques agronomiques que la moutarde jaune, la moutarde brune est utilisée à titre de biofumigant. Riche en glucosinolates, lors de la décomposition, ce composé se transforme enisothiocyanates qui eux, sont volatiles et toxiques pourcertains organismes du sol. Afin de bien réussir ceprocessus, il faut tout de même respecter certaines règles. Incorporez lorsque la plante est en pleine floraison; la teneur en glucosinolates diminue beaucoup lors dela montée en graine. Évitez les journées chaudes etensoleillées; favorisez le matin ou le soir. L’effet fumigant diminue si l’incorporation se fait lorsque la température est inférieure à 10˚C. Un fin broyage lors de la destructionet une incorporation dans les 15 premiers centimètres immédiatement après le broyage, sont nécessaires. Pour les producteurs maraîchers, l’irrigation peut êtrenécessaire en condition de sol sec. Finalement, afin d’exprimer son plein potentiel, l’incorporation doit se faire lorsqu’il y a présence des ravageurs.

Daikon radish is the most frequently used as a cover crop. Developed from forage radish, Daikon radish was bred for its imposing root system, which improves soil aeration. In a compacted field, such as the one in the first two photos

below, roots will not grow as deeply and will even be visible above ground. Compacted soils should be tilled appropriately prior to seeding. Subsoiling  is ideal for Daikon radish. When left in the ground over the winter, the crop disappears by spring. The holes left by the crop facilitate the infiltration of surface water. Studies conducted in recent years have shown that radish has  a suppressive effect on nematodes that attack vegetable crops


Brown or oriental mustard

With agronomic characteristics comparable to those of white mustard, brown mustard is used as a biofumigant. Brown mustard has a high glucosinolate content. As the plant decomposes, this compound changes into isothiocyanates, which are volatile and toxic for some soil organisms.


To ensure that this process is successful, some conditions must be respected. The crop should be plowed under when plants are in full bloom, as the glucosinolate content drops considerably at seed set. Avoid plowing down in hot sunny conditions; morning or evening incorporation is recommended. The fumigant effect is lessened if the crop is plowed down at temperatures below 10°C. The crop should be crushed and incorporated immediately into the first 6 inches of soil.


For vegetable production, irrigation may be required if soil conditions are dry. Lastly, the fumigant effect will be greater if the crop is plowed under when pests are present in the soil.

Sunflowers

La fèverole est une légumineuse de la famille des Fabacées qui excelle quant à son contenu en azote.


Son système racinaire pivotant bien pourvu en nodules fait d’elle une championne de la fixation d’azote. Les deux contraintes à son utilisation sont le coût de lasemence ainsi que sa grosseur, qui nécessite une attention particulière au semis.


Laissée au champ à l’automne, sa tige creuse et noircit; au printemps, elle attire les rayons de soleil et agit commeune paille pour favoriser l’infiltration d’eau.

Sunflowers have both a tap root and an abundant root system that develops in the first 12 inches of soil. When conditions are favourable and the crop is established for an entire season, the tap root can reach a considerable depth. Sunflowers have high needs in terms of soil structure and are more sensitive to soil quality and depth than to fertilizer requirements. Growth may be limited by a phosphorus or  potassium deficiency however. With a preference for warm temperatures, cooler fall temperatures will slow the development of the crop. Sunflowers are also very  sensitive to early frost. Because sunflowers are susceptible to sclerotinia, it is best to terminate the crop once it has reached full bloom, especially if the disease has been detected in the field in the past. This is rarely an issue when the crop is seeded in the fall, as the plant will not reach the critical stage. Like buckwheat, sunflowers absorb a form of phosphorus  that other plants are unable to assimilate, and the phosphorus is returned to the soil as the crop decomposes.

Phacelia

A very popular plant in Europe, phacelia is still underused in Eastern Canada, mainly because it is costly and sometimes used inappropriately. Extra care must be taken when seeding. Phacelia is photosensitive, which means it does not germinate when exposed to light. Because germination is temperamental and shallow seeding is required, broadcast seeding is not recommended. To ensure a firm seedbed, rolling before or after seeding is highly recommended.


Because phacelia develops slowly in the first three weeks, it is best to avoid dense seeding and competition with other fastestablishing species. Once established, however, its abundant foliage is competitive and will suppress weed growth. In addition to a taproot, phacelia has a fine, well-developed secondary root system that enhances soil structure in the top inch or so all soil. In trials conducted last fall, phacelia had the highest nitrogen content following a liquid manure application. Phacelia also has the ability to absorb potassium from the soil and restore it to the crop the following year, making it an excellent candidate for recycling nutrients. Phacelia is also considered to be a nematicidal plant and is useful for controlling aphids by attracting the insect’s predators. An excellent melliferous plant, phacelia begins to flower about 8 weeks after seeding.

Buckwheat

La fèverole est une légumineuse de la famille des Fabacées qui excelle quant à son contenu en azote.


Son système racinaire pivotant bien pourvu en nodules fait d’elle une championne de la fixation d’azote. Les deux contraintes à son utilisation sont le coût de lasemence ainsi que sa grosseur, qui nécessite une attention particulière au semis.


Laissée au champ à l’automne, sa tige creuse et noircit; au printemps, elle attire les rayons de soleil et agit commeune paille pour favoriser l’infiltration d’eau.

Buckwheat is a plant that adapts well to all types of soil and climate. Nonetheless, very dry, wet or compacted soils should be avoided. 


Because buckwheat is extremely sensitive to frost, plan to seed at least 4 weeks before first frost. Buckwheat develops an abundant root network that promotes soil aggregation. It is a fast-growing plant that covers the soil quickly, choking out annual weeds and shading and suppressing perennials. Flowering begins 3 to 5 weeks after seeding and because, it is an indeterminate plant,  it will extends crop from a 10 weeks period. To prevent the crop from producing viable seed, it should be  terminated 7 to 10 days after flowering.


Buckwheat has the added advantage of being able to absorb large quantities of phosphorus that other  plants are unable to assimilate, and then release it back into the field for the subsequent crop. Buckwheat leaves

minimal residue on the soil surface.


VITALI-T MIXTURES

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