12/19/13

Cover Crops: Cover Crop Types

Cover Crops: Cover Crop Types

Table of Contents
1. Cover Crop Types Grasses Legumes Non-Legume Broadleaves 2. Related Links

Cover Crop Types

The cover crops examined here are evaluated for conventional cover crop usage - as cover crops, green manure crops and other soil improving uses. Perennial covers such as those used for orchard floor management are not included. Futher information on perennial orchard cover crops can be found in OMAFRA Pub 360 Fruit Production Recommendations on page 37, Publication 310 Integrated Pest Management For Ontario Apple Orchards page 28 and OMAFRA Factsheet - Soil Management for Orchards and Vineyards, Order No. 92-120. Many of these cover crops may also have uses as rotational or cash crops. Grasses Grasses have fine, fibrous root systems that are well suited to holding soil in place and improving soil structure. Suitable grass species for cover crops are fast growing and relatively easy to kill, either chemically, mechanically or by winter weather. Grasses do not fix any nitrogen out of the atmosphere, but they can accumulate large quantities from the soil. Grass cover crops that are commonly used in Ontario are:

Figure 1 - Rye

Figure 2 - Winter wheat

Figure 3 - Oats

Figure 4 - Barley

Figure 5 - Sorghum sudan Legumes

Figure 6 - Ryegrass

Figure 7 - Other (corn, pearl millet)

Legume cover crops can fix nitrogen from the air, supplying nitrogen to the succeeding crop as well as protecting the soil from erosion and adding organic matter. The amount of nitrogen fixed varies between species, although generally, more top growth equals more nitrogen fixed. Some legume species have aggressive tap roots which can break up subsoil compaction, but this requires more than one years growth to happen. Commonly used legume cover crops include:

Figure 8 - Red Clover

Figure 9 - Alfalfa

Figure 10 - Sweet Clover

Figure 11 - Hairy Vetch

Figure 12 - Field Peas

Figure 13 - Other (soybeans, white clover, crimson clover, berseem clover)

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omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/cover_crops01/cover_types.htm

12/19/13

Cover Crops: Cover Crop Types

Non-Legume Broadleaves These broadleaf crops may have a role as green manure crops and in providing a different plant species and root system for soil building. They cannot fix nitrogen out of the air, but they can absorb large quantities from the soil. Most of these crops are not winter-hardy, so additional control measures are not normally required. However do not allow them to go to seed, as the volunteer seed can become a significant weed problem.The following are the common non-legume broadleaf cover crops found in Ontario.

Figure 14 Buckwheat

Figure 15 - Oilseed Radish

Figure 16 - Other Brassicas

Figure 17 - Marigold

Related Links
Cover Crop Seed Suppliers Cover Crop Seeds Available Soil Management and Fertilizer Use: Cover Crops Soil Management Soil Water Management Publication 75, Guide to Weed Control Midwest Cover Crop Council Cover Crop Decision Tool

For more information: Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca

omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/cover_crops01/cover_types.htm

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