3. Cover Crops โ Why?
โข Erosion control
โข Water management
โข Nutrient retention and
recycling
โข Soil compaction reduction
โข Weed control
โข Potential to provide feed
4. Cover crop mixtures
โข Search for species that complement each other:
โข Soil erosion control in fall and winter
โข Soil erosion control in spring
โข Nutrient uptake in fall and winter
โข Nutrient uptake in spring
โข Nitrogen fixation potential
โข Root system โ taproot vs fine roots
โข Feed production potential in fall
โข Feed production potential in spring
12. Growing degree calculations from
http://www.weather.com/outdoors/agriculture/growing-degree-days/
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
ActualGDD-base40F
Average GDD-base 40F
Average versus Actual Growing Degree Days - base 40F
13. Comparison of GDD-40
accumulation between cover
crop establishment and
termination times in PA and NY
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000
Bethel, PA
Troy, PA
Mainville, PA
Gratz, PA
Gap, PA
Landisville, PA
Manheim, PA
Soudertnn, PA
Airville, PA
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA
Manheim, PA
Bethel, PA
Williamsburg, PA
Doylestown, PA
Gratz, PA
Chambersburg, PA
Gap, PA
Watsontown, PA
Airville, PA
Elverson, PA
Rome, PA
Doylestown, PA
Butler, PA
Waynesboro, PA
Lancaster, PA
Allensville, PA
Harrison Valley, PA
Beaver Springs, PA
Delta, PA
GDD Avg
14. y = 3.9559x - 2213.5
Rยฒ = 0.4213
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Springbiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Crimson Clover and Oat Mixture
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
15. y = 4.2404x - 1990.8
Rยฒ = 0.3948
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
SpringBiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Crimson and Annual Ryegrass Mix
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
16. y = 4.7413x - 1817.4
Rยฒ = 0.4666
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Springbiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Crimson Clover and Triticale Mix
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
17. y = 2.802x + 701.9
Rยฒ = 0.214
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Springbiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Tillage Radish/Hairy Vetch/Rye Mix
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
18. y = 2.958x + 351.22
Rยฒ = 0.2474
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Springbiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Rye Oat Mix
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
19. y = 3.6139x + 96.65
Rยฒ = 0.2718
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Springbiomass(lbs/A)
GDD - base 40F
Cereal Rye
Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation
22. Conclusions
โข Recent temperatures appear to have increased respective to recent past
โข This opens new opportunities for cover crops and double cropping of
forages after corn silage
โข Rye most productive, but other species have higher protein
concentrations
โข Ryegrass and triticale mixtures with crimson clover look promising
โข Cover crop adoption has dramatically increased
โข It is important to use adapted varieties, proper seeding and
establishment methods, and timely establishment methods to have
success!