Summer Cover Crop Options

 

Establishing a cover crop in the summer can be a hit or miss proposition depending upon the weather. Choose cover crops that will take advantage of the high heat and long days that summer offers. The rain, well we will just have to hope for the best. Irrigation isn't an affordable option for a cover crop with the current cost of fuel!

Cover Crop

Seeding Rate

And what is it going to do

Sorghum, sorghum sudan, sudan x sudan

7-40 kg/ha

- tremendous amount of biomass returned to soil
- responds well to heat, long days, weather dry conditions much better than corn
- depending upon variety can reduce nematode populations
Cautions - be prepared to mow at least once

Pearl Millet

9-10 kg/ha

- tremendous amount of biomass returned to soil
- responds well to heat, long days, weather dry conditions much better than corn
- can reduce nematode populations - weed free crucial
Cautions - be prepared to mow at least once

Corn - discard

100 + kg /ha

- good amount of biomass returned to soil
Cautions - may increase insect numbers i.e. armyworm, cutworm etc.

Buckwheat

50-60 kg/ha

- fast to establish
- dense ground cover
Cautions - flowers quickly, watch for setting seed can become a weed

No till establishment of cover crops is the best way to save soil moisture but it pays to be aware of weed pressure. Light tillage will set back any weeds and give the cover crop a chance to establish. Another option is to use a burn off herbicide application before the cover crop emerges.

The cover crops outlined above are best suited for the heat of summer but other cover crop can be grown. Rye will establish and stool out but not proceed with height until vernalization. Oats generally will be thin and short under the hot temperatures of the summer. While the brassicas like oilseed radish and mustard will bolt and flower quickly in the heat. However they can be clipped before bolting to hold back growth and they will re grow.

For more cover crop information and seed suppliers see the OMAFRA website.

Buckwheat flowers

Buckwheat flowers

Learn more

 


For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: Anne Verhallen - Soil Management Specialist/OMAFRA
Creation Date: 05 July 2007
Last Reviewed: 05 July 2007