Re: cover crop quextion

alice jones (ajones@unlinfo.unl.edu)
Fri, 21 Apr 1995 14:28:56 -0500 (CDT)

Sylvie: A similar question just came up here in Nebraska for pumpkin
production. I do not have any research data to support my approach
but I do have a lot of experience and observations. This spring we
are solid seeding winter wheat and then planting pumpkin about two
months later. The winter wheat needs to vernalize to tiller, elongate
and produce seed. Since we plant it in the spring it just grows a few
inches high like any other grass. We have used this approach for
years in my home state of Montana where winter wheat was spring
planted into alleyways of field plots to provide a nice clean walking
environment for people attending field days.

We don't have any information on any cultural practice or produciton
considerations for this approach in pumpkins but it is worth a try.
Furthermore, it will winterkill on its own and provide a nice ground
cover for erosion control.

Good Luck

Alice J. Jones, PhD
Ext. Erosion Control Specialist
Univ. Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68583-0910
402-472-1500
402-472-7904 (fax)
ajones@unlinfo.unl.edu
>
> We are interested in finding a cover crop which can be used in
> rhubarb production. This cover crop would be used during the
> first year (implantation of the rhubarb) to reduce soil erosion
> but mostly to compete perrenial weed grass (quackgrass). We are
> aiming to use the cover crop to prevent perrenial colonization of the
> field until rhubarb is able to compete, after a year. Did anyone
> have tried species in that situation, when and how was it seeded
> and what were the results ? The species would have to be winter killed
> after the season of implantation, so no mecanical control is required
> the following year.
> Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
>
> Eric Leger, agr. Bassin Versant
>