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Cover Crop Options for a Cannabis Production Field

Cover Crop Options for a Cannabis Production Field Professor DeBacco What Are Cover Crops? Cover crops are any type of plant that is used to protect and improve the soil and environment for the next farming season. Using cover crops mimics nature and keeps your ecosystem thriving through the off-season with roots present in the soil. Cover Crop Benefits Prevent erosion Sequester nutrients Reduce soil compaction Suppress weed growth (well, the weeds you don’t want) Repel unwanted pests Provide habitat for beneficial organisms What is the “Best” Cover Crop? This depends on a few factors… Climate Duration of growth Benefit a grower is seeking Rye / Triticale / Winter Wheat Rye Very common in cold climates Can germinate in temperatures just above freezing Produces a fibrous root system that can reduce soil erosion Can really grow aggressively in the early spring (if conditions are favorable) and may require mowing. Quickest to mature out of the comparison list Triticale Similar benefits to Rye, but does not grow as aggressively as Rye in the early spring making the management of it easier. Also holds its feed value better into late spring for grazing or making into hay/silage. Winter Wheat Common in the Southern plains region Best if used for grazing and for grain Clover (many options) Overall clover is low growing and can fix nitrogen from the air (but should be inoculated with Rhizobia bacteria to allow for maximum effectiveness) Crimson clover Good for under-seeding Easily killed by tilling or low mowing Red clover Performs best where corn does well White clover Can be invasive as it can survive being tilled Mustard Biofumigation for control of soil fungi and nematodes Kodiak Mustard is known for its high biomass (4-5tons/acre) and soil fumigation properties. Growers should mow before plants set seed and incorporate into the soil immediately to have the best effect on these soil pests. With proper management, this crop may be used as an organic replacement for chemical based fumigants such as methyl bromide. Sow at 18 lb./acre (Avg. 180,000 seeds/lb.) Hairy Vetch Hairy vetch fixes large amounts of nitrogen from the air which help meet N needs of the following crop. However, it should be kept in the field until the purple flowers start to form, which can be take longer than other crops. With amid August planting peak N concentration will typically not occur until late May In addition it can protects soil from erosion helps improve soil tilth provides weed control during its vigorous growth in the spring and when left as a dead mulch at the soil surface. Hairy vetch can also be grazed or harvested as forage. Research has shown that hairy vetch mulch can increase main crop disease resistance and prolong leaf photosynthesis of the following crop. Tillage Radish Tillage radish is used to “bio-till” a field These plant produce a large taproot that can penetrate through compacted soil layers and alleviate soil compaction down 8” or even greater. The radish decomposes quickly in the spring, leaving large holes in the soil. However, upon decomposition there can be a foul odor so watch the planting density and proximity of neighbors. When broadcast use 8-10lb per acre Suggested to precision plant or drill with 8-15in row spacing as this will reduce the seeding rates to half of the broadcast rate. Sorghum-Sudan Grass This is a tall (5-12ft) , fast-growing, heat-loving summer annual grasses. This is similar to growing corn plant without the ear. It can smother weeds, suppress some nematode species and penetrate compacted subsoil if mowed once. Seed cost is modest, however growers need to be sure they have the equipment to handle the massive amount of biomass. Buckwheat Buckwheat advantages Fast germinator and grower Dense canopy smothers annual weeds Protects the soil from erosion Helps conserve soil moisture Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects When buckwheat residues are returned to the soil, the phosphorus becomes available for the next crop. Plants are easy to control and should be cut down shortly after flowering to avoid it reseeing however, even if it sets seed it is not a major issue due to the benefits and ease of controlling. Should be applied at about 2lbs. per 1000sq.ft. Cover Crop Blends Often recommended (or required) in some cases. Goal is to provide multiple benefits However, there tends to be a dominate species (or two) and the others get out competed. Some recommend 12 different species, but this can be excessive. Typically blends with 3 or so species is advised. Fertilizing Your Cover Crop Not advised! Great Resource (free) https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploa... Link to Lecture Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vhh... *Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Cover Crop Options for a Cannabis Production Field" can be viewed at...