Cover Crops: Choosing a Cover Crop

Table of Contents

• Choosing a Cover Crop
  • Growth Habits
  • Overwintering
  • Control Options
  • Sensitivity to Herbicides
  • Establishment
  • Nutrient Management
  • Pest Management
  • Families of Crops

• What kind of growth habit is needed?
• When is the growth required? eg lots of vigorous late fall growth or rapid early spring growth? Is deep rooting important?

• Do you need the cover crop to survive overwinter? Would it suit your cropping schedule and soil type if the cover crop winter killed and dried out by spring?

Control Options

• Will the cover crop become a weed concern?
• How is it controlled?
• What options are there for control?

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• How sensitive is the cover crop to herbicide residues from other crops in the rotation?
• Seed cost and availability?

• What is the best way to plant the seed?
• Do you need different equipment?
• How easy is it to establish? Will it create a solid cover? (Good establishment is critical to the success of the cover crop).

• Is it a nitrogen producer or does the cover crop require nitrogen to grow well? Does it scavenge well for nitrogen?

• What crop family is the cover crop in?
• Is it related to other crops in the rotation?
• Are there pest concerns?

Families Of Crops

Family (Common Name) : Examples

• Cruciferae (mustard) : Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, rutabaga, brussels sprouts, rapeseed, canola, oilseed radish
• Gramineae (grass) : Wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn
• Leguminosae (pea) : Snapbean, pea, alfalfa, clover, soybeans
• Solanaceae (nightshade) : Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper
• Cucurbitaceae (melon) : Pumpkin, squash, cucmber, melons
• Liliaceae (lily) : Asparagus
• Umbelliferae (parsley) : Carrot, parsnip, celery
• Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot) : Beet, spinach, chard
• Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) : Leeks, onion, garlic, chives, shallots

Figure 1 - Cover Crop of Phacelia

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