Page 15 - 2020 Seed Guide
P. 15
The
Soil
Health
Advantage
Tillage systems have Other types of cover crops, such
traditionally been used as a a brassicas, have deep tap roots that
method to prepare for planting, can help break up a hard pan. In an
controlling weeds, removal of plant area of a historically no-till program,
residue, and loosen compacted there can be compacted areas in the
surface soil. While tillage can be a field from traffic or heavy rainfall.
critical component in a successful Tillage radishes are a great option to
and profitable agriculture system, help break through that hard pan.
conservation tillage and cover Another benefit of these types of
crops are practices established to cover crops is nutrient sequestering.
conserve the soil and improve the In some cases, nutrient loss below the
soil health of your farm.
root zone can happen, these plants
There are many different help scavenge for those nutrients and
species of cover crops, and they all bring them back to the root zone for
play a different role. One type are the next cash crop.
the legumes such as clover and the
various types of vetch. These
legumes help pull atmospheric
nitrogen into the plant and convert
it, so it can be used by the plant.
When the legume is terminated it
can leave 30% – 60% of the
nitrogen in the soil for the following
cash crop to use. This potential
nitrogen can help cut fertilizer
costs and offset the cost of the
seed from the cover crop.