Larson said researchers generally found more complications associated with cereals than legumes. “Legumes take nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix it in the soil where it can benefit the crop grown following the cover crop.” ![]() “Cereal species have a fibrous root system and produce vigorous fall growth that helps protect the soil and stabilize it during the high-rainfall winters,” Larson said. Researchers found a mix of a legume species and a cereal crop is the most beneficial.īoth cereals and legumes serve essential roles in a cover crop mixture. “As a general rule, growers seeking to gain benefits associated with growing cover crops must use herbicides to terminate cover crops about four weeks in advance of planting in order to maintain the corn productivity associated with early planting systems tailored for high-rainfall, Southern climates.”Īfter determining correct termination timing, the next question was what to plant as a cover crop. “There was a lot of significant difference among the intervals,” Larson said. ![]() With the ideal corn planting window from late March to early April, MSU researchers tested terminating the cover crop six weeks, four weeks and two weeks before planting, as well as at planting. The first big question MSU researchers looked at was when the cover crop should be terminated by herbicide application.Įrick Larson, MSU Extension Service grain crop agronomist, said terminating the cover crop at the correct time has a dramatic impact on corn production. This complicates their use and can reduce productivity of the summer crop.įor the last several years, MSU research has addressed various aspects of this issue, primarily focusing on cover crop management and cover crop species. But cover crops grow into the optimal spring planting times for summer crops. Despite several recognized benefits of growing winter cover crops, this conservation system has limited acceptance, something Mississippi State University researchers are trying to change by identifying and better managing risks.Īmong the significant benefits of planting a green crop on farmland otherwise exposed to winter elements are improved soil health, water quality and erosion control.
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