Full Season Cover - Plant 2021 Best Practices
CONNECTING FARMERS TO SOIL HEALTH
Hello, Friends.
Today we wanted to touch on some Full Season Cover best practices as seeding time approaches.
Things To Remember:
65 Ibs/acre Seeding Rate
Do not add any additional seeds to the blend.
Sow with drill (do not spread/broadcast)
Sod seeding not recommended
Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer
Seeding Depth: 3/4 - 1 inch
Soil Temperature: 6-10 degrees
Inoculant Required (rhizobium Leguminosarum)
Bushel Weight: 55 Ibs/bu
332 grams per 1/2 litre or 43.5 Ib/ft^3
Full Season Cover Emergence
Even emergence
Seed to Soil Contact
*do not broadcast or spread
To maximize the benefits of plant diversity, we need to establish even emergence so all plants have the ability to photosynthesize without being shaded or outcompeted. Below is a photo of full-season cover crop that had good seed to soil contact and even emergence - yielding ideal results.
Observation: look at all the different leaf types that have access to sunlight.
The below picture demonstrates poor seed to soil contact. Although plant diversity was established later in the year, we "wasted" sunlight throughout the growing season waiting for plants to be established. Poor seed to soil contact also throws off the balance of the blend (Carbon: Nitrogen Ratio)
Observation: Although the crop ended up being fine, diversity was lacking and establishment took far too long.
Minimum: 4 degrees
2. soil temperature
We need to have a minimum of 4 degrees Celcius soil temperature for the warm-season plants to germinate and establish evenly with the cool-season plant species.
recommended
3. pre-burn herbicide
If weeds are an issue before full-season emergence, a herbicide is recommended. Some weed pressure is okay but if they are prevalent enough to choke out our goal of even plant diversity - ideal results will not be achieved.
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Best practises/guidelines
Use within your own context and farm goals. We encourage you to benchmark the transformation plant diversity can have on your soil by following the water infiltration protocol.
If you have any further questions, be sure to contact:
Owen Taylor
(204) 825-8399
owen@coversandco.ca
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"There is no soil amendment that will fix your soil. Only your understanding of how the soil functions will fix what ails your soil. You must become a student of what makes soil healthy. It’s that simple and there are no shortcuts.”
Jon Stika. A Soil Owners Manual
With Gratitude,
Covers & Co. Team
Joseph Gardiner, Travis Avery, Mark Fallis, Owen Taylor