Knowing your county’s available Government cover crop programs (different programs have different incentives based on different mixing combinations of species) may provide additional financial assistance to go in one direction or the other. Watch, however, for potential additional programs that might be offered in hard hit drought areas – combining Rye / Triticale or Rye / Wheat can also work well as a spring forward solution. Those looking to improve soil conditions may want to add Winter Peas, Daikon Radish, Crimson Clover, or Hairy Vetch to improve soil tilth, preserve or gather nutrients, combat compaction, and preserve organic matter.
Proper establishment will yield best results. As always, soil – seed contact is important. The drill will give the best results in most cases. Broadcast seed will require higher seeding rates per acre and should have some tillage to get some seed coverage. Seed depth from 1/2 – 2 inches is desired for most winter cover crop seeds. Knowing the seed and mix being used is important to select the correct depth.
Winter Wheat
Winter Rye
Seeding Rate: 75 – 140 #/Acre
Seeding Depth: 1 – 2″
pH: 5.5 – 7.0
Plant: Late August – October
Establishment Fertility: 30 – 20 – 20
For forage or grain – additional Nitrogen in the spring will be beneficial
Winter Triticale
Seeding Rate: 90 – 140 #/Acre
Seeding Depth: 1 – 2″
pH: 5.8 – 7.0
Plant: Late August – October
Establishment Fertility: 35 – 25 – 30
For forage or grain, additional Nitrogen and potassium will be beneficial
Some other amendments which can be added to the Winter Cover Crops for N – fixation or soil tilth could be:
Winter Field Peas for N – fixation at 20 – 30 #/Acre
Daikon Radish for soil tilth at 2 – 7 #/Acre