www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops medics Medics Medics (Medicago spp.) Also called: black medic, burr (or bur) medic, burclover Type: Winter annual or summer annual legume Roles: N source, soil quality builder, weed suppressor, erosion fighter Mix with: Other medics; clovers and grasses; small grains See charts, p. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. Once established, few other legumes outperform […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops hairy-vetch Hairy Vetch Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa) Type: winter annual or summer annual legume Roles: N source, weed suppressor, topsoil conditioner, reduce erosion Mix with: small grains, field peas, bell beans, crimson clover, buckwheat See charts, p. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. Few legumes match hairy vetch for spring residue production or nitrogen contribution. Widely […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops field-peas Field Peas Field Peas (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense) Also called: Austrian winter peas (black peas), Canadian field peas (spring peas) Type: summer annual and winter annual legume Roles: plow-down N source, weed suppressor, forage Mix with: strong-stemmed wheat, rye, triticale or barley for vertical support See charts, pp. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. High […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops crimson-clover Crimson Clover Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) Type: winter annual or summer annual legume Roles: N source, soil builder, erosion prevention, reseeding inter-row ground cover, forage Mix with: rye and other cereals, vetches, annual ryegrass, subclover, red clover, black medic See charts for ranking and management summary. With its rapid, robust growth, crimson clover provides early spring nitrogen […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops cowpeas Cowpeas Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) Also called: southern peas, blackeye peas, crowder peas, cow peas Type: summer annual legume Roles: suppress weeds, N source, build soil, prevent erosion, forage Mix with: sorghum-sudangrass hybrid or foxtail hay-type millet for mulch or plow-down before vegetables; interseeded with corn or sorghum See charts, pp. 66 to 72, for ranking and […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops berseem-clover Berseem Clover Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) Also called: Egyptian clover Type: summer annual or winter annual legume Roles: suppress weeds, prevent erosion, green manure, chopped forage, grazing Mix with: oats, ryegrass, small grains as nurse crops; as nurse crop for alfalfa See charts, p. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. A fast-growing summer annual, berseem […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably grass-legume-mixtures Grass/Legume Mixtures Cover Crop Mixtures Expand Possibilities Mixtures of two or more cover crops are often more effective than planting a single species. Cover crop mixtures offer the best of both worlds, combining the benefits of grasses and legumes, or using the different growth characteristics of several species to fit your needs. You can use cover crop […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably legume-cover-crops Legume Cover Crops Overview of Legume Cover Crops Commonly used legume cover crops include: Winter annuals, such as crimson clover, hairy vetch, field peas, subterranean clover and many others Perennials like red clover, white clover and some medics Biennials such as sweetclover Summer annuals (in colder climates, the winter annuals are often grown in the summer) Legume cover […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably nonlegume-cover-crops winter-wheat Winter Wheat Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Type: winter annual cereal grain; can be spring-planted Roles: prevent erosion, suppress weeds, scavenge excess nutrients, add organic matter Mix with: annual legumes, ryegrass or other small grains See charts, pp. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. Although typically grown as a cash grain, winter wheat can provide most […]
www.sare.org publications managing-cover-crops-profitably nonlegume-cover-crops sorghum-sudangrass Sorghum Sudangrass Sorghum Sudangrass Hybrids (Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor var. sudanese) Also called: Sudex, Sudax Type: summer annual grass Roles: soil builder, weed and nematode suppressor, subsoil loosener Mix with: buckwheat, sesbania, sunnhemp, forage soybeans or cowpeas See charts, pp. 66 to 72, for ranking and management summary. Sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are unrivaled for adding organic matter […]