A practical guide to no-till & cover crops In the mid-atlantic
1 A Practical guide to no-till and cover crops
Funded by a Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant
This material is PROJECT COORDINATORS Project Advisors based upon work Bridgett Hilshey Christine Hall supported by the Agricultural Specialist State Resource Conservationist National Institute of North Jersey RC&D New Jersey USDA-NRCS Food and Agriculture, Christian Bench U.S. Department of Nick Saumweber Agricultural Specialist Assistant State Conservationist for Agriculture, through North Jersey RC&D Field Operations the Northeast New Jersey USDA-NRCS Sustainable Laura Tessieri Executive Director Eric Rosenbaum Agriculture Research North Jersey RC&D and Education Rosetree Consulting LLC program under Kristen Meistrell subaward number Stewardship Project ENE19-157. Director - South New Jersey Audubon Lamonte Garber Watershed Restoration Coordinator Stroud Water Research Center
Developed by North Jersey RC&D We are a non-profit dedicated to community needs through conservation. North Jersey RC&D promotes sustainable agriculture through partnerships, education, and innovation. Learn more at www.northjerseyrcd.org
2 Contributors Cali Alexander Virginia Lamb Northeast Organic Farming Groundwork Education and Association of New Jersey Consulting Lisa Blazure Joel Myers Soil Health Coordinator Myers Farm Stroud Water Research Center State Agronomist (retired) Pennsylvania USDA-NRCS Michael D. Braucher Mohrsville, PA Kristen Meistrell Brittany Dobrzynski Stewardship Project Director - South Stewardship Project Coordinator New Jersey Audubon New Jersey Audubon Robert Fulper John Nance Prescription Tillage Fulper Farms Steve Groff Heidi Reed Cover Crop Coach Agronomy Educator Holtwood, PA Penn State Extension Lamonte Garber Dave Wilson Watershed Restoration Agronomy Educator Coordinator Penn State Extension Stroud Water Research Center Michael Yacovelli Jim Hershey Farm Foreman PA No-Till Alliance President NRCS Plant Materials Center Hershey Farms LLC USDA-NRCS Elizabethtown, PA
EDITORS Abby Reiter Lauren Wasilauski Agricultural Conservation Open Space Coordinator Specialist New Jersey Montgomery Montgomery County Township Conservation District (Pennsylvania) Photo credits: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE
Contents table of Contents 5
No-till 10
No-till Basics 12
Successful Transition to No-till 24
Components & Retrofits 56
Troubleshooting 88
No-till 88
Cover Crops 98
Seed & Species Selection 100
Cover Crop Application 116
Cover Crop Termination 142
Advanced
soil health
practices 168
Planting Green 170
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
4 table of Contents
table of Contents No-till...... 10 No-till Basics...... 12 Successful Transition to No-till...... 24 Components & Retrofits...... 56 Troubleshooting...... 88 Cover Crops...... 98 Seed & Species Selection...... 100 Cover Crop Application...... 116 Cover Crop Termination...... 142 Advanced soil health practices ...... 168 Planting Green...... 170
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
5
Conservation isn’t easy.
Access to well-informed
agricultural service providers
and clear unbiased education
materials will simplify the
transition to sustainable
agricultural, reduce
uncertainty, and increase the
likelihood of success.
6 table of Contents
Forward
No-till and cover crops are among the most cost effective tools to reverse soil and carbon loss and improve soil health; the economic, agronomic and environmental benefits of these practices are well known within the farming community. Transitioning from conventional farming to no-till, and incorporating the use of cover crops, requires a higher level of management and demands a substantial investment in time to learn the information necessary to succeed. Farmers face hurdles including field soil preparation, equipment purchasing decisions, and management of other impacts on agronomic practices. For many farmers, lack of knowledge is a barrier to implementation. This manual is designed to help agricultural service providers and farmers as they strive to implement new practices. It is designed for individuals already convinced of the merits of no-till and cover crops, but unsure how to implement these practices. This is a how-to manual
This manual contains... This manual does not contain... precise instructions and equipment configuration research summaries, recommendations. Although detailed cover crop species this information is usually best comparisons, nor any soil sourced from a knowledgeable health or soil science data crop consultant or peer, this showing the benefits of these manual furnishes the reader practices. with a strong foundation from The recommendations within which to begin. are not based on federal This information was sourced or state regulations. Those from a combination of research wishing to obtain financial results, crop consultant support towards practices recommendations, and most from those agencies will need importantly, farmers’ insights. to follow any agency specific practice requirements.
7
No-till and cover crop resources
ag professionals Farmer meetings Professionals selling and servicing farmers with equipment and supplies Pennsylvania No-till Alliance are often a knowledgeable resource. PANTA is one of the nation’s Crop Consultants Nutrient and Chemical leading no-till farmer groups. Their goal is to promote the Crop consultants can answer Dealers successful application of no-till questions on soil fertility, No-till farming requires a and cover crops through shared precision agriculture, seed different suite of nutrients, ideas, experiences, education and varieties and herbicide use. herbicides, insecticides, and new technology. They typically The $4-8/acre fee for a crop fungicides; suppliers can help hold two or more field days consultant is usually worth the guide your selection. annually that targeting farmers. investment. Equipment Dealers https://panotill.org/ Seed Dealers Many equipment dealers will Seed dealers will be have staff that are knowledgeable National No-till knowledgeable about what about equipment setup, Conference varieties are best for your soil maintenance and use. The National No-till conference, conditions and goals. Be sure to is a one-of-a-kind learning let them know you are switching experience assembling the most to no-till. renowned no-tillers, agronomists and researchers together in one location to share cutting-edge ideas and strategies to improve the profitability and efficiency of your no-till system. https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/ nntc
8 table of Contents
Farmer Groups Online Resources Books & Magazines
Facebook Groups SARE No-till Learning Center No-till Farmer Facebook groups contain a Visit SARE’s Topic Rooms for This monthly magazine contains wealth of information and in-depth resources on important in-depth interviews and insights inspiration; they are a good topics in sustainable agriculture from farmers around the country. venue for troubleshooting. https://www.sare.org/learning- https://www.no-tillfarmer.com/ Join Facebook Groups: center/no-till Everything Cover Crops Managing Cover Crops Exapta Solution Inc. Profitably (SARE) Online Forums Expata authors an excellent Available as a hard copy book Many on-line forums are an library of in-depth articles and and as a free download at: excellent sources for information guides on drill and planter use. https://www.sare.org/Learning- including: Center/Books/Managing-Cover- https://www.exapta.com/working- Crops-Profitably-3rd-Edition https://talk.newagtalk.com/ knowledge/ Penn State Extension https://extension.psu.edu/ Cover Crop Stategies https://www.covercropstrategies. com/ Northeast Cover Crop Council www.northeastcovercrops.com/ Rodale Insitute http://rodaleinstitute.org
9 No-till
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
Part one No-till It is not enough to simply stop tilling... No-tilling is a process.
10 table of Contents 11 table of Contents of table No-till No-till
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE. No-till Basics
12 No-till Basics No-till farming doesn’t disturb the soil’s surface. Residues from previous crops remain on the soil surface, and seeds are planted in narrow slits using specialized equipment. 13 cs Basi No-till No-till farming is different: No-till farming is the No-till aims to encourage processes. soil’s natural Loose and crumbling topsoil is prone to erosion and compaction. The oxygen introduced during tillage accelerates organic matter decomposition. Ultimately, the soil becomes more and more dependent on physical and chemical inputs to maintain productivity. Residues from cover Residues from cover crops crops or previous remain undisturbed on the soil surface Crops are planted without disturbing surrounding soil
wo features differentiate For thousands of years, traditional agricultural production systems relied on significant soil modification to prepare the soil for seeding: tillage equipment like plows and disks turned over the top 6-10 inches of the soil, blending it with residues and fertilizer, to create a loose, soft, uniform, aerated soil profile. The tillage process, however, destroys the soil’s natural structure. TILL & ZERO No-till soil and protect soil surface on the residues crop leave practices No-till water and increase matter they build soil organic in doing so, structure; infiltration. T no-till farming 1 2 No-till No-till
Pros & Cons of No-till The choice to transition to no-till is never an easy one. Farmers can face steep upfront equipment costs and the prospect of lower yields and profits during the initial transition process. Those interested in making the commitment to no-till, do so with the long-term interest of their soil health and farm resilience in mind.
Pros Expert tip Reduces Fuel Cost Increases Soil Carbon No-till without No-till typically uses 2 No-till farming minimizes cover crops is not a to 4 gallons per acre less soil disturbance, which complete system diesel fuel compared with slows the breakdown of soil To achieve all of the benefits conventional tillage. organic matter and builds of no-till, it is critical that soil carbon content. Soils farmers incorporate cover Reduces Labor Costs with greater soil carbon crops into the crop rotation. By removing the need to content can hold more water The living roots of the cover plow, disk, and cultivate, and nutrients. crop feed the soil organisms farmers save time and labor that cycle nutrients and costs. More Drought Resilience create soil structure. Their Crop residue creates a layer strong fibrous roots create Reduces Soil Erosion of organic matter that keeps pores deep into the soil By leaving the soil mostly soils cooler and protects the profile through which rainfall undisturbed and leaving soil from drying out. percolate. They capture high levels of crop residues carbon from the atmosphere behind, no-till farming Less Yield Variability and nutrients from the soil techniques greatly reduce No-till will help reduce throughout the fall, winter, soil erosion from wind and annual ups and downs in and spring, increasing the water. crop yields, in large part to soils’ productive potential. better water management Reduces Compaction and more natural nutrient Farmers won’t realize full soil No-till soils are less cycling. health gains without cover vulnerable compaction by crops. No-till without cover heavy equipment traffic and Higher Long-term Yields crops is still a dead soil. won’t develop a plow pan. Most farms report higher - Jim Hershey yields under long-term PA No-Till Alliance President Increases Infiltration no-till management. In Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, Rainfall will percolate national corn and soybean through continuous no-till competitions, no-till fields fields faster than fields in consistently yield more than continuous tillage. This conventional. means no-till soils capture more rainwater and lose less nutrients and soil through Higher Long-term Profits erosion during large storm Fuel and labor savings events. usually result in lower costs for no-till farms.
14 No-till Basics
Cover crops will improve soil crops will improve Cover structure and function such that the short term yield declines associated with to no-till will be transition smaller. Decreases Short-term Yield As soils are “weaned” from tillage, farmers typically experience a yield decline of about 10% for upwards of 3 years.
15 cs Basi No-till Cover crop will dry out wet Cover soils faster in the spring, allowing farmers to plant sooner. Cover crops will decrease crops will decrease Cover spring weed pressure reducing reliance on herbicides.
Cooler Spring Soils Farmers may have to delay planting because of lower spring soil temperatures and greater moisture under heavy residue. However, there is evidence that surface residues keep soils warmer during cool evenings preventing large soil temperature fluctuations. Without relying on plowing to disrupt weed growth, no-till farmers typically use herbicides to control weeds. However, as fields become more adapted to no-till, farmers can usually decrease herbicide use; without tillage, weed seeds aren’t transported to the soil surface where they can germinate and cover crops will shade out emerging weed seedlings. May Increase May Herbicide Use Nutrient stratification Continuous no-till, particularly when fertilizers are surface applied, will result a higher concentration of non-mobile nutrients (phosphorous and magnesium) on the soil surface. Thus, to supply the necessary nutrients, farmers need to band fertilizer or apply starter when planting; not all planters or operations are equipped to apply nutrients in this manner. Cons Requires Specialized Equipment No-till management requires the use of no-till drills and planters as well as often specialized equipment attachments depending on soil conditions. Even if this cost is eventually absorbed into day-to-day operational savings, it’s a significant upfront expense. No-till No-till
No-till equipment No-till planters and drills are unique in their ability to plant into undisturbed soils with large amounts of crop residues on the soil surface. how is no-till two basic types of right tool for the equipment different no-till equipment right crops Requires more pressure Drills Some crops, such as soybeans, can be planted effectively Conventional equipment is No-till drills plant crops in with either a drill or a planter, designed to plant into a nicely narrow rows. The planting units given certain modifications. manicured “fluffy” seedbed. are staggered to enable row However, other crops can only be Conversely, in no-till, the ground widths as narrow as four inches. successfully planted with one or is firmer and usually covered in a Drills are typically used to plant the other. See following page for thick residue from the previous smaller legumes, small grains, an equipment comparison. year’s crop. Penetrating the and cover crops. soil and residue requires more down-pressure. This pressure Planters is achieved with more ballast Row units on precision planters (heavier no-till planters) or (sometimes referred to as corn adding weights on the planters; planters) are typically spaced or by having pneumatic or thirty inches apart. These hydraulic systems on the planters planters are designed to plant & drills that apply downward larger seeded crops and achieve pressure. greater accuracy and precision with a more consistent soil Requires more residue moving seeding depth and spacing than and cutting drills. Conventional equipment is designed to plant into bare soil. No-till equipment has the added work of making sure the seed can reach the proper depth in the soil. This often involves moving residues to the side or away from the seed trench and adjusting equipment depth settings.
16 No-till Basics Planter Higher Flexible Typically 30” or 20” Typically row and narrow Split row planters can plant 15” rows Corn, Sorghum, Sunflowers, Soybeans, and Cotton Singulate seeds 1/8” to 4” although typically Yes, after-market Case IH John Deere Kinze n ariso planters vs 17 cs Basi No-till Drill Lower Rigid Great Plains Haybuster John Deere Case IH Esch Mass Flow 1/8” to 1.5” Not typical Typically 5.5” to 7.5” Typically Crops, Grasses, Cover Oats, Wheat, Legumes, etc. Barley, Rye, Soybeans with modifications nt comp Equipme
No-till drills drills No-till
w w ops ops Popular brands n Down pressure Frame Seed Metering Depth Ro cleaners Ro Spacing cr designed for Grain drills and seed planters are complex machines that (1) planters are complex drills and seed Grain them at a consistent (2) place metered rate, seeds at a deliver produce light and (3) close the seed trench and depth in the soil, seed to soil contact. good compaction to provide machines and their of these basic operation Understanding the which planter is critical in determining strengths and weaknesses the desired goals of the planting. is best suited to meet No-till No-till
HOW DOES NO-TILL WORK?
1 2 3 Residue spread Residue Moved Soil fractured Implement(s) Involved Implement(s) Involved Implement(s) Involved Combine or other Harvesting Row Cleaners Coulters Equipment Optional but common on no-till Optional but common on no-till planters; atypical on drills drills and planters Action Combines process and distribute Action Action the previous crops’ residues Row cleaners push aside residue Coulters cut remaining residues on the soil surface during crop to make it easier to create the and fracture and loosen the soil harvest. seed trench and accelerate soil warming and drying.
residue cleaners push aside residue on residue on soil soil surface surface
Coulters fracture soil
18 No-till Basics wheels wheels closing closing sidewall fracture fracture closed and closed and pinch trench pinch trench Closing wheels Action Closing wheels pinch the the trench closed and fracture trench sidewall 6 nch tre close Implement(s) Involved
seed seed trench firmers firmers press seeds deeper into 19 cs Basi No-till Lightly press the seed deeper into the seed trench to improve seed to soil contact 5 Firm seeds in trench Implement(s) Involved Seed firmer Optional but common on no-till drills and planters Action
seed seed seed seed tube dropped dropped 2
into trench into trench through
trench trench
opening disks opening disks create a seed create a seed
te seed trench 1
Opening disk(s) create a seed trench into which a seed is dropped. Action
4 Crea Implement(s) Involved Opening Disk(s) or other opening mechanism No-till equipment (planters and drills) move residue aside, create a seed trench, plant the a seed trench, aside, create residue move and drills) (planters equipment No-till actions. series of rapid in a the seed trench seed, and close No-till No-till
NO-TILL Planter COMPONENTS
Row Unit
20 No-till Basics Floating Row Cleaners Coulter Disk Openers 21 cs Basi No-till Gauge Wheels Seed Firmer Closing Wheels Seed Box No-till No-till
NO-TILL DRILL COMPONENTS
Large Seed Box
Small Seed Box
Fluted Seed Cups
Small Seed Drop Tubes
Large Seed Drop Tubes
Seed Depth Control
Closing Wheels
22 No-till Basics Coulters Large Seed Box 23 cs Basi No-till Drive Wheel Drive Opening Disks No-till No-till
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE. Successful Transition to No-till 24 Successful Transition to No-till Transition takes takes Transition time. Fields can take up to 5 years before showing signs of better tilth and biological activity. Soils will improve much faster when cover crops are integrated into the rotation. No-till 25 Cover crops can make the ground softer and can help dry out wet soils in the spring. They also contribute organic matter that encourages microbial activity and nutrient cycling. Cover Crops are Crops are Cover important long- term successful no- till implementation ransition to to Transition essful cc Su
In the long run you won’t regret it. regret it. won’t In the long run you soil under The first years of no-till can be challenging. But in the long run, less no-till management will be healthier, more resilient, and require chemical and mechanical inputs. Fix nutrient imbalances and drainage concerns before starting no-till. Initial soil sampling and analysis is key to long-term success. Transition to no-till management on cropland is a multi-staged a multi-staged is on cropland management no-till to Transition and substantial preparation, planning, requires that process prepared. on being hinges Success equipment modifications. points: in mind some key keep Before beginning, for Preparation no-till begins the before. year No-till No-till
1Field selection
Farmers should not aim to transition all fields to no-till at once. Start Start in field with living roots in fields that are well drained, have good soil Farmers should aim to transition field that have a longer history of year-round living roots. These soils will generally have higher structure, higher residue biological activity, better soil structure, and be generally softer cover, and adequate soil and easier to plant in.
nutrient levels. These Fields coming out of Fields with a longer soils will respond most hay or alfalfa: Some of history of cover favorably to no-till, the best fields to start with crops: Cover crops keep reducing the potential for are those coming out of a a living root in the soil perennial crop, such as hay year-round. In doing so, yield decline in the first or alfalfa. The seed bed will they break up compaction few years. be easier to plant into. These layers, create “softer” soil fields typically have better surface, and nourish soil soil structure and are more organisisms (bacteria, fungi, mellow. and invertbrates) that are Expert tip important to a healthy soil Field selection ecosystem. The longer the history of cover crop use, I would recommend fall killing the easier a field will be to grass hay. Never take off first transition to no-till. cutting of hay before planting. - Joel Myers Myers Farm and former Pennsylvania State Agronomist
26 Successful Transition to No-till
aking New Jersey Audubon -Kristen Meistrell xpert tip Expert Consider t wetland soils out n ctio produ especially poorly Re-evaluate fields. Depending draining may on the soil type, they better suited as a natural program, feature. Federal including the Conservation Enhancement Reserve will fund the (CREP) Program establishment of permanent trees and bushes and pay farmers an annual rental rate. Well drained fields Farms with poorly-drained soils should install tile before transitioning to no-till. Improved subsurface soil drainage provides good return on investment regardless of tillage system, but it is particularly important in no-till because soils are not worked to create a dry surface. No-till
27
uction Field selection is key is selection Field ransition to to Transition essful cc Su control erosion No planned constr Re-examine your Soil Conservation Plan to be sure that no contour strips and waterways are planned or required. Earth moving activities are best designed and implemented in your fields before starting your no-tilling. Only transition into no-till fields where pH is already good -- ideally between 6.5 and 7. Raising the pH of an acidic soil with limestone can take many years and multiple limestone applications. Limestone moves very slowly, taking years to move down a few inches of soil; it’s difficult to raise the pH of an acidified soil without tillage. Fields with good ph No-till No-till
2Preparing for no-till
Consider Signing up Spread Last Crops’ Don’t guess! for NRCS EQIP Residue Soil Test USDA-NRCS Environmental Uniform residue Adjust pH and fix nutrient Quality Incentives Program distribution and sizing imbalances. Consider (EQIP) offers a per acre is important for planter intensive soil sampling of financial incentive to offset and drill performance, your fields. If soil test results the cost of transition. uniform spreading of call for the addition of residual nutrients and soil nutrients or lime, incorporate Farmers should consider temperature and moisture throughout the top six to contacting their local NRCS consistency. Swaths of heavy eight inches of soil during a office to enroll the year residue will result in cooler final tillage operation. before starting no-till. and wetter soil conditions Farmers can receive as much causing unevenness in Expert tip as $12.00 to $17.00 each germination. Lime and Phosphorous year, for three years, for See “Improving Residue every acre they commit to Distribution” on page 30. amendments no-till or strip till. Lime and phosphorous are fairly immobile in the soil profile. It is crucial to address low soil pH and low soil phosphorous before transitioning to no-till.
Swaths of heavy residue impeded corn germination. 28 Successful Transition to No-till ver Crop To prepare a field for life without tillage, plant a cover crop. A winter cover crop will break up soil compaction and soften the soil surface in the spring. This is particularly true in heavy, wet, clay soil that resist drying. tip Expert crop Adding cover need an Farmers don’t multi-species mix. expensive is the most Winter Cereal Rye crop and economic cover can be planted late into the growing season. Oats, applied at 50 to 75 lbs per acre, are a particularly cover transition excellent and will greatly improve no-till success. through USDA- Programs and state department NRCS of agriculture can offset the initial implementation costs. plant a Co No-till
29 ennsylvania State Agronomist Myers Farm and former Myers P - Joel Myers ransition to to Transition essful cc Su fields tip Expert or uniformity Field levelness seen important. I have is very dead furrows cause erosion in long-term no-till or transition on our own farm. Level and even Uneven fields with ridges, old dead furrows, or just general unevenness should be levelled using a field cultivator or similar implement. The avoid ridges run disk and cultivate at a diagonal (at least 20 degrees) to the direction of planting. g starts at harvest at starts ting
yers
Finding restrictive la local NRCS Contact your office to request a free soil to determine investigation soil profile contains if your layers. restrictive xpert tip Expert Farms with soils containing a plow pan or other restrictive layers, should strongly consider deep tillage or subsoiling before transition to no-till. See “Breaking up Compaction Layers” on page 32. One last tillage break up to compaction No-till plan No-till No-till No-till No-till
Photo credit: United Soybean Board Improving Residue Distribution
Residue distribution is extremely important and often overlooked. A heavy band of residue right behind the combine can cause a decrease in next year’s crop stand by 20% to 30%. Here are some steps you can take to improve residue distribution during crop harvest.
30 30 No-till Successful Transition to No-till Successful Transition to No-till
no Chopping Heads Chaff Spreader Chopping heads, such as the Combines need to be outfitted Calmer Corn Head crush and with a chaff spreader to evenly pulverizes corn stalks. The residue distribute the chaff. Chaff left behind is much smaller, and spreaders are typically rotating should decompose faster. rubber paddles that scatter residue that’s not distributed by the original chopper or spreader.
Farmers in the northeast have found the small pieces can create a mat on top of the soil, particularly on wet soil and transitioning no-till ground. Also the finely chopped fodder is more likely to be blown away during winter storm events. When transitioning to no-till leave corn fodder in longer pieces. Chopping Height Corn ONLY: Chop corn stalks as Expert Opinion high as possible to reduce the Chopping heads accumulation of residue on the soil My experience with chopping surface. In the spring, these stalks (sizing) stalks with the combine will be brittle and cut easily. head, has been that they create more wind and water erosion. The smaller pieces also create more of a mat over winter making it harder for water to infiltrate and for the soil to warm and dry in the spring. For these reasons, I no longer own or use a chopping head. - Jim Hershey PA No-Till Alliance President Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, PA
31 31 No-till No-till
Breaking up Compaction Layers
Soil compaction may not repair itself under no-till management. Natural freeze-thaw cycles can help alleviate surface compaction, however, deeper compaction usually requires other interventions.
Cover Crops The roots of cover crops help break up hard-pan and crusted soil that could have otherwise impeded water from soaking into the soil. Fibrous rooted species like annual ryegrass are effective at loosening compacted soils with hard-pans and fragipans.
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
Tap-rooted species like tillage radish can penetrate up to 20” to 30” to break moderate severity hard-pans. Cover crops can be very effective on sandy and loamy soils however, rich clay soils will likely require mechanical intervention.
32 32 No-till Successful Transition to No-till Successful Transition to No-till
deep ripping Deep ripping (deep tillage) Expert Tips uses deep working shanks subsoiler selection that penetrate the compacted Soil tends to ‘blow out’ behind soil to mechanically break up deep ripping shanks (especially and shatter the soil hard pan. when run at higher speeds). I Deep tillage can worsen soil suggest using a subsoiler with conditions if not performed wheels next to the shanks correctly. to prevent soil from being inverted and causing the need • Ripping shanks must for additional tillage. These penetrate below the attachments push soil back compacted soil layer to create a suitable seedbed
• Soil should not be overly ensuring that crops can be Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg moist or wet. The tines planted immediately after and USDA-SARE. will cause smearing subsoiling without secondary without fracturing and tillage. shattering the soil. - Joel Myers Myers Farm • Consider a roller or Former Pennsylvania State Agronomist soil packer behind the deep ripper to minimize the risk of a rough soil Deep ripping surface and soil softness. The biggest mistake farmers make when using a deep ripper is they don’t wait until the soil is • Loosened soils can be dry enough to rip. They use the tool to dry out more susceptible to the soil which creates even more compaction. compaction; leave deep - Jim Hershey, ripped soil to settle for PA No-Till Alliance President at least two weeks before Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, PA sowing. Making deeper Freeze-thaw impacts If fairly dry soil conditions are present in the fall, a no-till subsoiler without attachments will aid in rainwater infiltration and subsequent freezing and thawing will occur at greater depths.
- Michael D. Braucher
33 33 No-till
2Off-season no-till preparations
Row Cleaners New Disk Openers Seed Firmers Row cleaners clear residue Keep disk openers sharp The use of a seed firmer will away from the seed trench and at factory recommended improve seed-to-soil contact. ahead of the opening disks, specifications. This inexpensive plastic device reducing the risk of residue pushes seeds to the bottom of Sharp disk openers are hairpinning and poor slot the V-trench or slot. Firmers crucial for slicing through closure. By exposing the may need to be replaced each tough residue and reducing bare soil, they accelerate soil season due to wear. the amount of necessary warming and drying. down-pressure. Under no-till Be aware that some Farmers transitioning to no-till management, anticipate disk manufacturers, including Case need row cleaners. For most openers wearing down faster. IH do not recommend seed farmers, the ideal set-up is See “Seed slot openers” firmers. some form of floating row on page 78 for more See “Seed Firmers (optional)” cleaner outfitted with offset information on page 66 for more trash wheels with swept-back information teeth. Row cleaners often need to be adjusted in each field, EXPERT TIP each year according to the type and depth of residue layer. REPLACE DISKS See “Row Cleaner Options” FREQUENTLY on page 72 for more Disk openers under no-till will information. typically need to be replaced after 500 acres or less -- most farmers will need a new set each year. A rule of thumb is to replace disk openers either when (1) disks begin “stubbing back,” (2) after 1/2” of wear, or (3) if they wobble or shake indicating worn bearings. - John Nance Prescription Tillage
34 Successful Transition to No-till he the
o o begin ill is is till Select crop varieties with good vigour, cold tolerance, and disease resistance. Many no-till soils will initially be poorly drained and cooler than tilled soil. It is important to select a seed variety that has the best chance to perform well under cooler and wetter conditions. Ask your seed dealer for cold germination test scores. Most seed companies routinely reject seed lots that test less than 85 percent cold germination. For no-till, consider rejecting seed lots whose cold “germ” ratings are less than 90 percent. Seed treatments of fungicides and insecticides are important, especially for early planted seed in cooler wetter soils and in no-till soils that may remain cooler longer in the planting season. For a comprehensive list of seed coatings for corn and soy, see “What’s on your seed” from the University of Wisconsin. Select the right seeds year before. before. year ime t time No-till 35
ved The The bes t ransition to to Transition essful cc Su ions for no- for tions Systems Downforce Impro No-till planting equipment requires significantly more down-force to penetrate hard soil surfaces and cut tough residues. Farmers should consider adding additional down-force to row units through either weights, springs, pneumatic air-bags, or hydraulic cylinders. See “Downforce / down- pressure” on page 60 for more information.
prepara Closing ate Fulper Family Farms, Fulper Lambertville, NJ - RJ Fulper Try several types of closing several Try wheels before committing outfit to a big investment Different the entire planter. styles of closing wheel will perform differently on varying conditions. It is best to go with a wheel that works well under a wide variety of conditions than a wheel that works rather great in perfect planting conditions. xpert Tip Expert ng Selecting closi wheels. No-till often requires more aggressive closing wheels to collapse the sidewall. Some farmers remove factory rubber closing wheels in favor of iron closing wheel. The advice provided by most experts would be to replace them with some type of spiked closing wheels. See “Closing wheels / Press wheels” on page 84. Adequ Wheels No-till No-till
3Planting
Terminate cover Planting date Increase Seeding crop several weeks Rely on field conditions and rate before planting extended weather forecast, Seed germination under instead of calendar date, to If planting into a field with no-till is less consistent during determine when to plant. Soils cover crops, following these transition; consider increasing should be moist, but not wet, guidelines to reduce potential seed population 10% to 20% to ensure proper seed trench planting problems: over past rates. Exact seeding closure. rates are dependent on soil 1. Don’t let cover crops get Expert Tips types, yield goals and planting too large, particularly when conditions; consult your Avoid pest damage starting out. Cover crops agronomist or seed dealer for Delaying planting date is less than 6” tall shouldn’t more advice regarding plant important for quick plant wrap around equipment. population. development to reduce slugs 2. Wait 10 to 14 days after and grub damage. Expert tip termination before planting the cash crop! - Michael D. Bracher Seeding rate If the planter/drill is set up Plant when dead cover When to plant crops are dry and easier correctly for no-till and planting Do not plant ahead of a cold to cut through, reducing conditions are good it should rain. Corn seeds prefer warmer potential problems with not be necessary to increase soil condition, particularly hair-pinning. seeding rate. in the first 24 hours, after - RJ Fulper Expert Tips planting. Fulper Family Farms, Lamberville, NJ Planting Green - Jim Hershey PA No-Till Alliance President There are other strategies for Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, PA managing spring cover crops. “Planting Green” is a new technique of planting cash crops into a green cover crop that has been terminated a few days before or after planting. However, these practices are best suited to farmers with more experience. 36 Successful Transition to No-till ” on on ” of the the of
tion s a Fulper Family Farms, Fulper Lamberville, NJ - RJ Fulper Farmers that were accustomed to incorporating fertilizer and manure using tillage should consider in-furrow starter fertilizer at time of planting. Applying starter fertilizer in no-till systems helps overcome slow growth because of low soil temperatures at the early growth stages. Some no-till planters use liquid starter fertilizer solutions that are delivered to the seed furrow through a tube that feeds through the seed firmer. Tip Expert n Nitroge recommend Early nitrogen is very important. Apply starter nitrogen at 20 to 30 pounds per acre. In-furrow “pop-up” fertilizer can be an especially helpful tool for early season germination and growth. use a starter zer Fertili no-till planter. no-till No-till
ter s s “adju are 37 ransition to to Transition essful cc Su and speed Planting direction Be thoughtful about row arrangement. Avoid planting through previous years’ root balls and stalks by planting down the previous years’ row center or planting at a diagonal to previous years’ planting. Traveling too fast often causes one or more of the planter parts to work poorly, resulting in poor depth control or insufficient seed-to-soil contact. A no-till planter can rarely be driven faster than 5 mph and still plant effectively. Most often, 3 to 4 mph should be the maximum speed. idue contact point contact residue or soil all s no-tiller ssful Succe Refine seed depth Farmers transitioning to no-till may want to adjust their seeding depth. Producers often plant no-till corn too shallow, thinking they’re placing the seed in a warmer environment for quicker emergence. Planting deeper does place seeds in slightly cooler soils, but temperatures are usually more uniform and buffered by residue from nighttime lows. The result is more uniform emergence. No-till No-till No-till
Corn no-till planted into wet soils. Although the seed trench initially closed during planting, as the soil dried, the seed trench opened up, causing uneven germination, and poor root growth. Photo credit: B. Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D Soil Moisture Content and Planting
One of the most challenging (and most important) elements of no-till is determining if the soil moisture is right for planting. Planting in soil that is too wet or too dry will decrease yields.
38 38 No-till Successful Transition to No-till Successful Transition to No-till
Why soil moisture matters If the soil moisture content is near field capacity and the soil molds easily in your hand, it is probably too wet for planting. Under wet soil conditions, the seed slot will not close properly, and the sidewalls of the slot will smear or cause side -wall compaction, which can reduce seed to soil contact or develop a hard side wall which is difficult for young roots to penetrate. Too Wet Too Dry • Residue is difficult to cut • Harder to penetrate soil • Risk sidewall compaction • Risk poor slot closure • Increased prevalence of if proper depth is not soil diseases achieved • Risk poor slot closure • Increase potential for slug damage
There are several methods for assessing planting conditions: 1 2 Collect a handful of soil from Take a similar soil sample your desired planting depth and form it into a loose ball and squeeze the soil in your and drop it to the ground fist. If moisture and soil cling from about waist-high. If the to your palm, the soil is too ball remains mostly intact or wet. breaks into only a few pieces, the soil is too wet.
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Photo credit: United Soybean Board Planting depth considerations
Differences in fields due to soil types, moisture conditions, previous tillage and residue levels, can affect the depth and operation of the planter in different ways. Seed depth should be checked at the beginning of each new field and throughout the day, particularly when changes are suspected in field conditions.
40 40 No-till Successful Transition to No-till Successful Transition to No-till
Adjusting planting depth Accurate and uniform seeding depth is critical to successful no-till implementation. Seeds planted at uneven depths will be exposed to different soil temperature and moisture levels; this results in uneven germination and significant yield loss. Plant corn between 2 and 3” in depth and plant soybeans between 1 and 1.5” in depth. The optimal seeding depth within those ranges will differ across sites and time. Plant shallower under Plant deeper under the following condi- the following condi- tions: tions: • Cool soil • Dry soils • Heavy clay soils • Course soils • Moist soil • When planting later • High residues in the season • When planting • Hair-pinning of earlier in the season. residue is a problem
Expert Tip Refining depth in heavy residues The quantity of residue Under very heavy residues can change drastically (corn on corn) farmers from one part of the field should account for the to another. Under most height resides on the no-till conditions, do not soil surface when setting account for residue depth planter depth; plant- when setting planting depth gauge should be set depth; row cleaners slightly deeper as depth should remove most gauge wheels ride on resides are the path of a some residue. gauge wheels. - RJ Fulper Fulper Family Farms,
41 41 No-till
4Fertilize appropriately
Application timing Increase Nitrogen Provide seedlings Fertilizers can be lost through application rate at with nutrients near a myriad of natural processes. first their roots Increase nutrient use efficiency Bacteria will tie-up nitrogen Always apply some form of and prevent nutrient losses fertilizers broadcasted on nutrients near the seeds. by always applying nutrients carbon-rich crop residues. Banding fertilizer 2 inches to either (1) actively growing Although the nitrogen is below and 2 inches to the plants or (2) as close as still in the soil, it won’t be side of the seed (“2” x “2”) possible to crop seeding date. available to plants until later is ideal; banding enables When possible, split nitrogen in the season, when more farmers to apply fertilizer in applications. Dividing total residues have decomposed. high quantities without risking nitrogen application into two When transitioning to no-till, damage to the seedling. or more treatments can help consider applying up to 20 Farmers may not be equipped growers enhance nutrient percent more nitrogen than to band fertilizer below efficiency, promote optimum recommended. After a few the soil surface. The use yields and mitigate the loss of years, soil organic matter of pop-up or starter is an nutrients. content and biological activity excellent alternative. Pop-up will increase such that extra cannot supply all the crop nitrogen is not required. fertilizer needs, so more than one application of fertilizer will be necessary. On some no-till planters , liquid starter fertilizer can be applied through the seed firmer.
Slow-release fertilizers pellets prevent nitrogen losses 42 Successful Transition to No-till
tions a ! ver crop Cover crops can produce, absorb and recycle soil nutrients. They are an important tool for improving nutrient use efficiency. Producing Nutrient Legume cover crops (clover, beans, and vetches) capture and convert atmospheric nitrogen to organic nitrogen Absorbing Nutrients round Year Cover crops capture soil nutrients throughout the winter and spring that would otherwise be lost through leaching or surface runoff. Nutrients Recycling Cover crops can act like slow release fertilizers. They will readily capture the nutrients from spring applied manure and fertilizer, converting them and storing them in their tissue as organic matter. When the cover crop is terminated, the nutrients are slowly released back into the soil for crop use and uptake. Use a co
No-till
43 recommend ys follow soil test test soil follow ys a
s en s on ou ransition to to Transition essful cc Su e acidity extra lime and Apply test soil surface No-till operations that rely on broadcasting manure and fertilizer to supply nutrients require more frequent lime applications. Check the surface pH annually by collecting a soil sample from the uppermost 2” of the soil profile. trog nder worst- ase oss L Ni U case conditions and warm(wet high with soils biological activity) loss this be rapid can and significant. Research studies found have greater than applied 50% of nitrogen fertilizer the to lost atmosphere. G Alw -
When you cannot inject or band nitrogen below the soil surface, apply fertilizers and manure 1 to 2 days before a light rain (non-runoff-produ- cing rainfall event). Urea will dissolve in the rainwater, and trickle into the soil, where it is more available to plants and less likely to escape to the atmosphere. Also, consider using non-urea-based fertiliz When Broadcasting ers such as ammonium nitrate or ammonium sulfate, coated urea, or nitrogen stabiliz- er-coated fertilizers, which are less prone to being converted into nitrogen gas. To prevent nitrogen losses, try to inject or apply nitrogen below the soil surface using banding or manure injection. Subsurface application of nitrogen fertilizers nitrogen Protect Nitrogen broadcasted on the soil surface is prone to being converted into nitrogen gas by soil bacteria, or lost in stormwater runoff. No-till No-till No-till
How does No-till influence nutrient Management
Under no-till management, fertilizer and manures are typically broadcast on the
R ecommendations S oil ampling soil surface and residues are not incorporated. These practices have a number of profound impacts to nutrient cycling and availability, described below.
Plant available Nutrients Not available to plants Phosphorous Acidifying Hydrogen Ions Nitrogen Gas Potassium Atmospheric Nitrogen & Ammonia Gas Nitrogen Organic Nitrogen Ammonium or Nitrate Nitrogen tied up in Organic Matter
Surface applied N is lost to the atmosphere What Solution As much as 50% of the nitrogen Use fertilizer with lower in urea-containing fertilizers urea content and manure will be lost to the Consider adding a urease atmosphere (as ammonia gas) inhibitor when not incorporated into the soil. Inject or apply N subsurface whenever possible Surface apply N before a light rain
Surface applied nutrients can run-off in storm events Problem Solution: Surface applied nitrogen and Avoid spreading fertilizers phosphorus will wash away and manure before large in storm-water runoff, either storm event dissolved in rainwater or Inject or apply N stuck to sediments. subsurface whenever possible Apply nutrients to a growing cover crop to prevent run-off
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Acid layer in top 2-3 inches Problem Solution When ammonium nitrogen breaks down in the soil, it Apply lime more releases acidifying hydrogen frequently ions into the soil surface. Check the surface pH Low surface soil pH can annually impede germination and Inject or apply N damage seedlings. subsurface whenever possible
Carbon-rich residues tie up N (Carbon-penalty) Problem Solution When applying nitrogen Provide the microbes to carbon-rich residues with extra nitrogen to ( ie. corn), soil microbes accelerate the breakdown decomposing the residues of residues early in the will out-compete crop growing season seedlings for the nitrogen. Inject or apply N Substantial amounts of subsurface whenever nitrogen won’t be available possible near the plant to the growing crops until where it can be available previous residues are in the early growth stage decomposed.
P and K build up on soil surface Problem Solution: Non-mobile nutrients, like Band fertilizer (ideally phosphorus and potassium two inches below and concentrate on the soil to the side of seed) surface when fertilizers and during planting and/or other nutrient-rich residues use pop-up (starter to are not incorporated into supply seedling roots with the soil. Seedlings cannot nutrients) access nutrients on the soil surface.
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Photo credit: United Soybean Board Soil sampling no-till soils
No-till management affects soil Non-mobile soil nutrients like nutrient cycling. Top-dressed phosphorous and potassium ammonium based fertilizers become highly concentrated and manures acidify uppermost at the top of the soil profile. few inches of the soil, through As a result, farmers practicing naturally occurring chemical continuous no-till should adjust reactions. their soil sampling protocol to accurately assess soil chemical properties.
46 46 No-till Successful Transition to No-till Successful Transition to No-till
Tilled Soils No-till Soils
In conventionally tilled systems, In no-till systems, the soil surface will nutrients are generally evenly be both more nutrient-rich and more distributed to the depth of the plow acidic. The effect will be particularly disturbance. pronounced during the first few years of transition, when large soil Collect soil samples from the organisms, like worms, aren’t present uppermost 6-inches in high concentrations to “mix” the soil. Farmers should still collect a soil sample from the uppermost 6-inches for fertilizer and lime recommendations. It is very important that the soil sample be a 6-inch deep composite; a shallower sample will make the soil appear more nutrient rich than it really is! If the P and K levels in the 6-inch sample are low or very low, then injecting phosphorus and potash with the planter or a separate fertilizer injector is recommended. These nutrients may be in higher concentration in the uppermost 2”, but seedlings won’t be able to access the nutrients. Also collect a sample of the uppermost 2” to monitor surface acidity. In long-term no-till fields, surface fertilizer application and accumulation of organic matter concentrates acidity at the soil surface. These no-till fields may have surface soil pH in the 4.0-5.0 range, which can cause aluminum toxicity for young seedlings and poor performance of some herbicides.
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Fertilizer placement option in no-till
No-till management impacts how farmers apply nutrients. Farmers accustomed to incorporating fertilizers will need to either broadcast, band, or apply in-furrow fertilizer.
NO-till Fertilization placement options
pre-plant or at-planting application Broadcasting Sub-surface Banding Starter (Pop-up) Broadcast fertilizer Banded fertilizer is placed Starter or pop-up is a application refers to a at least 2 inches below and fertilizer added in the uniform distribution of to one side, or on both sides furrow, at time of planting, material on the soil surface. of the seed at planting. in contact with the seed.
After Planting Topdress sub-surface Sidedress When applied after A subsurface banding planting, a broadcast treatment after the crop application is often is planted is referred to as referred to as a topdress a side-dress application application. (knifing-in).
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Broadcasting / Banding / Starter Topdressing side-dressing pop-up
Pro: Pro: Pros • Uniform Distribution • Places fertilizer or • Places fertilizer where manure where young young roots can use • Easy and Fast roots can access the the nutrients. nutrients. • Promotes early Cons • Can apply at high growth in low • Greatest potential for rates without temperature soil. nitrogen losses via damaging plants volatilization, • Least nutrient loss Cons denitrification, and potential • Requires more than run-off one application • Relies on rainfall to Cons to meet the crop’s move nitrogen into • Required most fertilizer requirement root zone costly equipment • Non-mobile P and K and/or equipment TIP remain on soil surface modifications Pop-up can be hugely and unavailable to • Application is time advantageous to no-till seedling root systems consuming however, over-application has threatens seeds with TIP injury if the fertilizer is Apply immediately too concentrated. Apply before a light rain to no more than 30 lb/acre move nitrogen into the of N+K+S for solid and soil, or use slow release 50 lbs/acre of N+K+ S for fertilizers. liquid.
When using liquid manure, Fertilizer material used never plant until manure for starter typically is dry. When using semi- contains an increased solid, solid manure, or amount of phosphorus bedded pack manure, row to promote early season cleaners on the planter growth. Phosphorus are very important. Also, does not contribute to it is very important to salt injury and therefore use a manure spreader over-application is not that spreads the manure an agronomic concern. uniformly. However, when soil test phosphorous levels are above 75-100 ppm, choose a starter without phosphorous.
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5What to expect in the beginning ( first 3 years)
No-till relies on a thriving soil ecosystem. Under no-till and cover crop management, soil organisms accomplish Wetter soils & worse Residue buildup the actions previously infiltration After transitioning to performed by tillage. At first, the soil particles may continuous no-till, residue Earthworms and other clog soil surface pores in the will build up on the soil surface. The existing biological beneficial soil invertebrates uppermost few inches of the soil profile. Farmers should systems that breakdown break down and expect water infiltration rates residues, such as earthworms, incorporate residues deeper to temporarily slow, resulting soil invertebrates, and soil fungi will not be initially into the soil profile. Soil in wetter, poorer draining soils. sufficient to decompose the microorganisms and fungi increased quantities of soil excrete glue-like substances residues. It takes a few years for populations of these that create soil aggregates organisms to grow to the and soil structure. quantity needed to decompose residues in a timely fashion. It takes a few years for soil organism populations to build up to high enough levels to accomplish all of these important functions. As a result, most soils will take a few years to function optimally.
50 Successful Transition to No-till
With proper preparation it is very possible to have no yield loss during transition to no-till. However, be prepared for a potential 10% decrease in corn yield. Yield losses with soybeans and other crops are less dramatic. Decreased Potential Yields No-till
51
tion of P is a ality concern tifica ter qu ransition to to Transition essful cc Su a Stra w Nutrient Stratification Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K ) will build up in the upper few inches of no-till soils when surface applied nutrients aren’t incorporated and roots translocate nutrients from deeper in the soil profile to the leaves of plants. Stratification of P and K in the top few inches of the soil’s surface should not be a concern except under drought conditions. Under normal conditions, the largest percentage of root growth in no-till is in the top three inches of the soil where P and K concentrations are highest. when soil P concentrations are extremely high and soils are poorly drained. Under these conditions, P will dissolve in surface run-off in the form of orthophosphate: a leading cause of harmful algal blooms in surface waterways. understand the system and realize benefits. the system and realize understand Committing to no-till means committing the time required to to time required the committing no-till means to Committing
germination Slower Slower and uneven germination can be an outcome of no-till at first. Germination can be delayed much as 7-10 days in no-till vs tilled fields because of cooler soil conditions. No-till No-till
6What to expect in three to five years
Thriving soil Better nutrient Less soil Life availability compaction A few years without tillage Approximately 75% & greater will change soil biology. of nutrient cycling is infiltration Mycorrhizal fungi will biologically driven. Bacteria The higher organic matter proliferate, creating strong and mycorrhizal fungi break content and biological micro-aggregates that lead down residues and manure, activity characteristic to a loose, crumbly soil releasing nutrients into of no-till soils makes the structure. the soil for plant uptake. soil more resistant to soil Higher soil biological Earthworm populations compaction. activity increases nutrient will skyrocket to as many availability. Residue protects the soil an 120,000/acre, creating surface from the impact pores up to five feet deep Increased organic matter of raindrops and reduces through which plant roots and soil organic carbon soil crusting, which in turn can grow to access water concentration will improve increases infiltration rates and nutrients. soil Cation Exchange and gas exchange. Capacity (CEC). Higher CEC In the absence of tillage, increases a soil’s ability to Over time, no-till soils residue decomposition hold and store nutrients and develop a well drained, within the soil profile slows, buffer against changes in loose, crumbly structure enabling organic matter pH. through which rainfall easily concentration to increase. percolates and the seedbed Nutrient exchanges between will become softer and more organic matter, water, and forgiving. It becomes a soil are essential to soil living soil. fertility and need to be maintained for sustainable production purposes.
52 Successful Transition to No-till t t No-till Fields Win No-till Yield Contests In national corn-growing competitions, no-till fields consistently beat have fields tilled conventionally in the non-irrigated crop category. Yield will typically rebound to the same levels achieved under conventional management a few years into the n0-till transition. At the same time, input costs under no-till management are typically lower. Less tillage means less fuel use. Lower soil disturbance reduces weed pressure and need for herbicides. More microbial activity leads to more efficient nutrient uptake and lower nutrient inputs. All together, long- term no-till management systems are more profitable. Tip Expert More profits No-till
- ailable 53 v a The increase of ught ved Dro
ter: a ransition to to Transition essful cc Su Resistance ter holds more moisture in the soil increasing the water holding capacity. organic matter in no-till soil is a two-fold benefit when it comes to water. First the organic matter wicks more water down into the soil, providing for better rainfall capture and less loss to runoff and secondly the organic mat More plant- Impro Reduced Evaporation No-till management leaves plant residues on the soil surface, keeping soil cooler. Cooler soils experience less evaporative loss from sun and wind exposure. The lower soil temperature reduces evapotranspiration rates of cash crops during hot weather, thus further conserving soil moisture. w n resilie are soils No-till July 6, 2012. per acre per Source: Kansas State Extension Agronomy Extension Agronomy e-Upates, Number 357, very 1% increase increase very 1% as 25,000 gallons 25,000as gallons in organic matter of available water water available of E results in as much much as in results Less erosion Residues on soil surface will protect soil from soil erosion. Under no-till management, erosion rates typically decline by more than 60%; fields accustomed to losing many tons of topsoil per year through erosion will experience minimal soil loss. No-till No-till No-till
top 10 Reasons No-Till Fails
While many people are convinced no-till is the way to farm, many others are convinced it does not work. Clearly no-till farming can work, but failures typically occur because of one or more of these 10 reasons:
1 Selecting the wrong 2 Lack of equipment 3 Failure to correct seed variety nutrient deficiencies before starting No-till seedlings may The main equipment Fertilizer and lime can experience cooler needed is a no-till be surface-applied, but and wetter seedbeds. planter and a sprayer. they don’t move much Planting varieties The technology of both below the top 1 inch that tolerate these of these has improved of soil without some conditions is important. significantly in the past decade. If you don’t type of tillage. Ideally, have access to high soil nutrient levels quality equipment, should be adequate custom planting may be throughout the rooting a good way to start. depth and not just in the top inch of soil; yields may suffer if the levels aren’t sufficient.
4 Lack of crop rotation 5 Trying to reduce 6 Failure to leave inputs too quickly. enough residue
Crop rotation is im- Producers often try to Residue and cover portant to break up dis- cut back on herbicide crops serve many ease, insect and weed and fertilizer use too important functions, cycles. A field must quickly. such as catching grow a different crop at precipitation, Farmers should only the same time of year feeding beneficial consider scaling back in consecutive years to soil microorganisms, input after several be in a rotation. preventing topsoil and years of continuous nutrients from eroding, no-till AND cover preventing soil crusting cropping. Cover and covering bare soil crops are extremely so weeds have difficulty important to reducing germinating . nutrient loss and weed pressure.
54 54 No-till Successful Transition to No-till
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
Not having equipment Lack of attention to A failure to commit to 7 properly adjusted 8 detail 9 making it work
To illustrate this point, Since herbicides for This is the reason for consider this example: burn-down are heavily most no-till failures. a plow controls all small relied upon in no-till, If a producer doesn’t weeds equally well, but sprayers must be think no-till will work pesticides are more properly equipped, and doesn’t want to selective. Spraying at the calibrated and operated. make it work, it probably right time and right rate Likewise, pressure on won’t. No-till farming with the best equipment disk openers and closing is a commitment to a does no good if the wheels on planters long- term process of wrong pesticide is used and drills must also be soil management. The for the target weed or properly adjusted to production benefits of other pest. Everything achieve accurate and no-till are greater in year must be done correctly consistent depths. 20 than in year two. to ensure success.
10 Lack of knowledge
No-till farming is not the same as conventional farming. It requires different skill sets and thinking to optimize all the required inputs and practices. Successful no-till farmer have identified peers, mentors, and partners to help them with their transition.
55 No-till Components & Retrofits
56 Components & Retrofits 2 Requires more residue moving Requires more residue moving and cutting Conventional equipment is designed to plant into soil. No-till equipment has the added work of making sure the seed can reach the soil. This often involved cutting and moving residues. Retrofits 57
Components & & Components 1 Conventional equipment is designed to plant into a nicely manicured “fluffy” seed bed. Conversely, in no-till, the ground is harder and usually covered with thick residues from the previous crop. Penetrating the soil and residue requires a lot more down pressure. o-till why is no-till nt? equipment differe Requires more down Selecting the right upgrades and after-market accessories accessories and after-market the right upgrades Selecting section The following success. no-till improve greatly can planter of a no-till elements different will describe the specific field for be optimized, can each and drill and how performance. improve to conditions, pressure No-till No-till
Planter seed hoppers
Seed hoppers store seed used during planting. Seed can be stored either in smaller seed hoppers mounted above each row unit or a single large seed storage box that uses air pressure to distribute seeds to each row unit.
Row Mounted hoppers Centrally mounted Maintenance Ensure seed boxes don’t bulk fill planters “wiggle”. Excessive seed box motion will cause seed meters to improperly drop seed into the seed tube.
Seed boxes need to be checked regularly for buildups of seed treatments, graphite, or talc which can cause problems with seed flow to the seed meters.
Most planters have one or two Centrally mounted bulk fill seed hoppers located on each planters are an alternative to row-unit. Each unit holds traditional row-unit mounted between 1 and 3 bu of seed, seed boxes. They use an air and therefore must be refilled distribution system to convey frequently. seeds to small seed hoppers on each row unit that feed precise Seeds within the box are typically metering systems. gravity fed to a metering device although newer models will use Pros: Bulk fill seeders can a vacuum to draw seeds from the handle bulk quantities of hopper into the seed meter. seed and fertilizer and are well adapted to planting large acreages very efficiently. Important note Downforce on the row units is Box weight impacts more consistent because the Down pressure small seed hopper is always full. A 3-bushel seed-box may weigh Cons: The increased weight from 120 to 200 pounds per row of the extra seed on a bulk when full; down-pressure on row fill planter may need to be units will change as seed-boxes considered when planting in empty. wetter soils.
58 Components & Retrofits x x eed Bo Small S The small seed box, sometimes called a legume or grass-seed box, is optimized for small seed crops. The tubes from the small seed box can be directed to either (1) the bottom of the seed slot for a deeper placement or (2) the rear of the disk openers for a shallower seed placement. The small seed box is not appropriate for light fluffy grass seeds. Retrofits x 59 Components & & Components ve Seed Bo Nati The native, or fluffy seed box is similar to the standard seed box, but has some form of aggressive agitation within the box to keep seed moving so it doesn’t bridge on itself. Many will have a “pick” wheel mechanism that reaches up into the seed box and pulls seed down into the machine to deliver it to the drop tubes. The drop tubes are much larger in diameter to help prevent seed from bridging. Learn more about “Working with Native Grass Seed” on page 68 Pick Wheel Mechanism xes are
seed bo Standard Standard seed boxes
Seed boxes on drills can come in three configurations: configurations: in three come on drills can Seed boxes (fluffy) seed. Each grass and native legume, standard, usually seed and can handle specific to is designed box Some drills of one another. independently be calibrated and some have two, some have one seed box, only have all three. rill seed-boxes Drill designed to handle large, smooth seed such as soybeans, peas, wheat, oats, etc. They generally rely on the smooth nature of the seed and gravity to feed the planting mechanism. No-till No-till
Downforce / down-pressure
A planter or drill’s ability to cut through tough residue, penetrate the soil, and maintain consistent depth across a field relies on a properly managed downforce system to provide downward pressure on independent row units.
The Importance of Factors that impact How to add more downforce downforce downforce without investing in a new It is essential to find the right Field variability, soil types, system balance of pressure to provide farming practices, and soil adequate seed-to-soil contact, moisture levels all impact how Add Weight but without causing over- much pressure should be used in Many planters will need extra compaction. a particular area of a field. The ballast on the tool-bar to transfer If too little down force is amount of down-force required enough force onto the row will vary from field to field and applied, planting depth can vary units. Consider filling insecticide day to day. and seed-to-soil contact may not hoppers on the planter that be adequate. Factors that increase the amount you’re not using with sand for more weight. Alternatively, you Excessive down force, of down-force necessary include: can add iron suitcase weights particularly in wet conditions, • Dull Opening Blade or water drums to the frame or causes soil compaction and • Dull Coulter individual row units. sidewall smear. • Compact Soil Remove or Adjust Coulters • Dry Soil Coulters, especially wide and wavy coulters require a lot of • Too many soil engaging downpressure to penetrate the components on the row units soil. Either by removing coulters • Too many row units on the or by switching coulters, more implement (Drills commonly pressure can be made available to have difficulty applying opening disks for penetration of adequate down force.) the soil.
How do you know if Replace Opening Disks downforce is correct? Sharper, newer opening disks will Check Seed Depth Frequently! penetrate the soil easier than dull worn, opening disks. Check seed depth during planting in areas with drier, harder soil and wetter, softer soil. If the seed depth between the two soil conditions are different, your drill or planter may not be capable of applying sufficient downforce to penetrate the soil. No-till Components & Retrofits Componen t s & Re tr Downforce systems
Downforce systems can only redistribute the planter or drill weight; when the unit weight is insufficient, the springs may physically lift the metered drill wheel off the ground.
Three ways to apply down pressure ofi t s
Pneumatic Active hydraulic 1 Springs 2 3 air bags cylinders
rates Control and adjustment: Spring-based downforce systems Springs are manually controlled and adjusted can be set to apply a range of based on planting situation and periodic seed downforce pressure within set depth checks. As conditions within the field increments. By comparison, change, operators will need to manually adjust pneumatic and hydraulic downforce downpressure at each row unit. In pneumatic air systems offer infinitely adjustable bags and active hydraulic systems, a compressor downforce from 0-500 pounds. can be mounted in the tractor cab for automatic on-the-go adjustment.
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Metering devices, drives and clutches Metering mechanisms are designed to drop the same number of seeds per unit length regardless of variations in seed size and shape, travel speed, and slopes.
Seed meters Metering Drives Automatic row shut- offs Meters On Drills Contact Meter Drives are the simplest way to control the Mass flow seed meters deliver an Some planters are equipped with meter. The faster the planter even volume of seeds. These are automatic row shut-offs that wheel spins, the faster the meter designed for small seed and for use GPS technology controls runs. This system is smooth, situations where singulation is each row or a section of rows reliable, and easy to operate. not important. separately. When planting the Hydraulic meter drives are outside of the fields to establish The most common mass flow ideal for variable seed rate your ends, a computer working meters use fluted roller and prescriptions and allow farmers with GPS guidance, tells the seed cups to deliver batches of to change rates on-the-go from planter where it has already 3-10 seeds at a time. Belted the seat of their tractor. been so the row units can meters use belts with single automatically shut off when seed-sized cells to deliver seeds Electric Meter Drive allows needed. approximately one at a time. control of each row. When going through waterways and entering GPS technology saves money by Meters On Planters headlands, each row unit can be preventing overlaps in already Precision meters are designed turned on and off as needed to planted areas. to meter out single speeds at an stop the flow of seed. exact spacing. Electric meter drives also provide Vacuum and brush meters rely curve compensation; the motor on interchangeable plates, called speed adjusts when the planter seed disks, designed for different turns so that every row across seed sizes and populations, to the width of the planter has the singulate seeds. Vacuum meters same seed spacing. Shaft driven can plant all major commodity motors do not have this capacity; crops, including corn, soybeans, when the planter turns, seed and wheat. They use a vacuum spacing on the inside rows will to draw and singulate seeds be too close and along the outside against the seed disk. Simpler rows seeds will be spaced too far brush meters are dependable, apart. low-maintenance and provide accurate singulation of soybeans. Finger Pickup Meters use small hooks to singulate seeds. They are the most common and accurate system for metering corn and sunflowers.
62 No-till Components & Retrofits Componen t s & Re tr Types of Seed Meters
Seed meters are specific to seed types and equipment.
Two Basic types of seed meters
Mass Flow Precision Mass flow meters
flow meters ofi t s do not attempt to are designed to meter individual separate out single seeds but rather seeds (singulate) will meter a and deliver them consistent volume at a preset time of seed per unit of interval. This time. is known as singulation.
Mass Flow Precision
Typically Drill Planter found on Controlled by Metering is driven by the Metering can be driven by a ground wheels -- the faster the motor or by meter wheel. equipment is driven the faster the seed flows. Seed Types Designed for cereal grains and Typically used for corn, grasses and legumes -- crops sorghum, sunflower and where precision singulation is soybeans. less important. Common Fluted Rollers Plateless systems: (Finger Pickup and Vacuum Disk) types Seed Cups Plate Systems: (Brush Belted assisted and Mechanical)
63 63 No-till Seed Tubes and Guards Seeds travel down seed tubes before being deposited in the bottom the seed trench. Seed tube guards are common retrofits that protect seed tubes from wear.
Seed tube function Seed tube guards Seed tube failures After leaving the seed meter, Seed tubes in no-till Common reasons for seed tube seeds travel down a seed tube, management are subject to failure include: typically located between or more wear than seed tubes on Plastic burs can form on the beside the opening disks. conventional planters. The seed end of the seed tube. When tube actually extends below the Seed tubes are engineered to turned in, they can interfere soil surface and will rub against (1) deliver seeds in a uniform with the seed as it drops. This the walls of the trench. spacing and (2) deposit seed at causes problems with spacing the bottom of the seed trench, Seed guards attach to the and depth. typically 1 to 2 inches below bottom of the seed tube. They the end of the seed tube. reduce seed tube wear and Seed tube guards wear down opening disk blade flex. to 1/2” by the end of an average season. The majority of the types of seed tubes wear occurs early in the sea- Seed tubes are designed for son. As guards become worn, specific seeds and soil types. and the slot becomes narrower planting depth decreases and Curved tubes are the most becomes more erratic. common design. They are designed to propel the seed Planting over 5 mph causes backward to help overcome seeds to ricochet in the tube the forward travel speed of the causing uneven seed spacing, planter. doubles and skips. Straight tubes deposit seed closer to the opener and may work better in light sandy soils, which tend to close quickly. Worn seed tubes are a leading cause of skips and doubles.
Uneven Sidewall
Burr curls inward
64 Components & Retrofits disk be opening u t seed Retrofits ards 65 u g be u t Components & & Components be u seed t er z fertili Check bottom of the seed of the seed Check bottom tabs that tube for burrs to seed drop. can interfere with should Seed tube guards across the be at least 9/16” bottom. guards Change seed tube are when disc openers the lower changed or when end is split or worn thin. nance Mainte RK Products Seed Tube Guards- Fertilizer Tube Assembly Tube Guards- Fertilizer RK Products Seed Tube No-till No-till
Seed Firmers (optional) Seed that do not reach the bottom of the trench will have an air pocket beneath them that slows uptake of moisture and leads to late germination and emergence, and ultimately loss of yield. Seed firming devices gently press the seed into the bottom of the trench.
Seed Lock Wheel Seed Firmer Seed Presser Seed lock wheels are narrow A thin piece of tough plastic that Rebounders have a concave in-slot, tapered wheels designed slides down the seed trench, spoon-shape design that funnels to press the seed into the bottom trapping seeds as they exit the seed to the bottom of the slot. of the seed trench. They are seed tube and firming them These tend to work well in wet common on older no-till drills. into the bottom of the seed slot. conditions and are well suited Common brands include Keeton Always opt for larger diameter to soil that is more adapted to and Flo-Rite. (9 or 10 inches) as these will no-till. accumulate less mud and dirt. Seed firmers are recommended for farms transitioning to no-till. In heavy and wet soils, soil can In heavier, wet ground, seed stick to seed-lock wheel causing firmers frequently build up with seed drag. mud and drag the seed. Mojo Wires are an optional attachment many farmers add to their seed firmer. The Mojo increases the downward pressure on the seed firmer more than five times. However, the addition of a mojo wire also increases the risk of dragging seed and will wear out the firmer more quickly.
66 Components & Retrofits eed firmers Seed firmers press seed soil into the dramatically seed increasing to soil contact. Retrofits 67 Components & & Components No-till No-till No-till
Friends of the Prairie Learning Center and Neal Smith NWR Working with Native Grass Seed Native grass seed species can be difficult to plant due to variability in seed size, weight, and shape. Little Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Big Bluestem all have light, fluffy/chaffy seeds. Switchgrass has a small hard seed that may have several hundred thousand seeds per pound, and eastern Gamagrass has a large irregularly shaped seed.
68 68 No-till Components & Retrofits Components & Retrofits
When purchasing seed when planting Seed Most of the seed on the market contains In most cases, planting will be most sucessful typically 20 to 40 percent chaff (stems and during the dormant period in late November leaves). Chaff sources include seed that has through December, especially when not been debearded (had the awns and hairs including forbs that may bloom earlier in removed) or contains high percentages of the season. Warm season grass species can inert matter (stems and leaves). also be successfully established late April through the beginning of June. As a rule Non-debearded seed and seed with a high of thumb, warm season grasses follow the chaff content will clog seed delivery tubes same planting schedule as corn. and will require constant monitoring. Bulking Agent Seeding rate Fillers can be used to increase the bulk weight of native grass and forb seed if a drill Warm season grasses require much lower cannot achieve the recommended seeding seeding rates -- sometimes as low as 4lbs rate. Clay cat litter can be added to small- per acre. Switchgrass can quickly overtake seed box; vermiculite can be added to the a field if seeded greater than 6 lbs/acre in a native grass seed box. mix.
Cost Considerations when selecting a drill Because of the seed cost and the Drills need to be outfitted with the following establishment considerations, the native to effectively plant native grass seed. grass seed species should be considered for Native Seed Box CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs) and other conservation programs Seed box dedicated to small fluffy seeds. including buffers and other areas that are Usually contains specialized “picker wheels” foreseen to be maintained in a longer term and agitators to mix, stir, and meter fluffy soil management program. It is typically chaffy seeds. not economical or practical to incorporate Agitator the Native grass species in a shorter term Agitators, located in seed boxes, mix, stir, agronomic or vegetable rotation, but they and meter fluffy chaffy seeds. can fit in well for buffers and conservation areas. Picker Wheel Picker wheels, located in the bottom of the seed boxes, extract seed and send them down an oversized drop tube designed to avoid seed bridging.
69 69 No-till row/residue cleaners Row cleaners move residue and clods out of the way of the disk openers and gauge wheels without disturbing the soil. In doing so, row cleaners accelerate soil warming, prevent hair-pinning, and reduce row unit vibration or bounce.
Benefits of row Row cleaner options cleaners Toothed wheels known Row cleaners are an optional as trash wheels are the most no-till attachment designed to common row cleaners. move residue out of the seed See ”Row Cleaner Options” trench without moving soil. They on page 72 for more are typically on the front of no-till information. planters and drills. Benefits of Rake tines drag along the soil row cleaners include: surface, creating a vibrating • Reduce vibrations and action, which keeps short light bounce residue (such as chopped wheat straw) out of the coulter or seed • Accelerate soil warming by opener’s path. But in long heavy exposing soil to the sun residue, (such as corn stalks), • Prevent hair-pinning when this device may actually drag the residues becomes pinched in residue. the soil trench Two discs, set in a “V” shape and placed in front of the coulters, will cut some residue and move it to the side. This system, mounted Row with a shield in front, is often cleaners used when “planting green”. move only Expert Tips Preventing Wrapping Wrapping occurs when residues residues --- wraps around cleaning wheels quickly rendering them useless. never soil. Use shark-toothed or curved spoked type row cleaners with short teeth and treader attachments to avoid wrapping. In some conditions, consider installing a bayonet stripper to cut long residues building up on Shark tooth row cleaners with residue cleaners. depth bands are very effective in thick residues.
70 Components & Retrofits Row cleaners should turn at 75% to 80% of the planter speed through the field. Retrofits 71 Components & & Components Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE. Row cleaners should not penetrate the soil No-till No-till No-till
Row Cleaner Options
Fixed Row Cleaners Types of row cleaners Fixed row units are set to a 1 certain depth and do not adjust There are three basic to changing field conditions. configurations for row cleaners: (1) fixed row cleaners, (2) floating row cleaners and TRASH WHEELS sweep crop residue (3) combo-row coulters away from the seed-bed. In 90% of cases, floating row cleaners will be most effective at removing Choose larger residue without gouging soil. diameter trash wheels when possible.
Types of trash wheels
Straight tooth Swept Back tooth Shark Tooth Cleaner is designed to This wheel design prevents The most aggressive row aggressively bite into trash, wrapping when running no-till cleaner will remove nearly all and is commonly used in into wheat stubble. residue from area above the a no-till or minimum till seed trench.; shark tooth are environment. excellent choice in high residue or when planting green.
72 72 No-till Components & Retrofits Components & Retrofits
Floating Row Cleaners Combo-row coulter 2 Floating row cleaners are increasingly popular. 3 Combines the residue Their height is controlled by depth bands clearing of a row cleaner enabling them to float and follow the contours of with the soil loosening the ground much better than the fixed design. action of a unit mounted coulter. IN-CAB CONTROLLER Some units are equiped with in-cab controls which allow farmers to adjust up and down pressure, and raise and lower units as need.
DEPTH BANDS set the depth of floating row cleaners. The floating ability of the row cleaner allows the unit to adapt to varying terrain independently of the row unit.
Configuration Trashwheels can be configured to be set intersecting, or offset right and left. Intersecting trash wheels have interlocking teeth designed to clean 100% of residue. Offset trash wheels leave some residue on soil surface which can prevent crusting. Single trash wheels are available for planters and drills with row spacings less than 22” Intersecting Offset Single
73 73 No-till coulters (Optional) Coulters are used to cut residue and fracture soil within the seed trench. There are a wide variety of coulters .
Coulters Selecting coulters: Coulter use Coulters are a vertically mounted There are a wide variety of If not set correctly, coulters can cutting tool, typically mounted coulters on the market. Narrow, do more harm than good. before the opening disks. smooth coulters will disturb soil less and require less down- Setting the depth No-till coulters loosen the soil pressure compared to wider, Operate slighly shallower than to in front of the disk openers. In more rippled coulters. seeding depth to avoid excessive doing so, coulters protect disk soil throwing at high operating openers from excessive wear. By See “Selecting coulters” on page speeds and limit the formation fracturing the soil, they generate 76 for more information of air pockets below the slot. If more loose soil in the slot. Despite the wide variety of the coulters run too deep, they Coulters, particularly wider coulter options, there is little can create a “false bottom” in the coulters, require more down- difference between the ability of seed trench, leading to improper pressure to get the unit in the smooth, rippled, notched and seed depth. ground. fluted coulters to prepare the seedbed. Ensure adequate down-pressure: Expert Tips Sizing Coulters Planters fitted with coulters may Pitfalls of Coulters need to have about 500-pounds The biggest danger of coulters is Large diameter coulters are more of down-pressure per row the potential for them to operate effective at cutting residue but to penetrate the soil and cut below the seed trench and create require more weight, or down residues. See “Downforce / a false bottom. They also tend to pressure, to penetrate the soil. down-pressure” on page 60 lift cool damp soil up into the seed Most farmers recommend using for more information. zone which can have a negative the largest diameter available Keep Coulters Sharp effect on germination. (that fits the planter) because - Jim Hershey they have the best angle for Coulters on no-till planters PA No-Till Alliance President should be sharpened as needed. Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, PA cutting residue. A sharp coulter will be much more effective at cutting residues, Coulters in long-term no-till particularly when soft and wet. We have not used a coulter for the past 3 years and will probably never go back. Newer planters with pneumatic and hydraulic downforce can easily penetrate the ground under most conditions. In some of our mellow no-till ground, the coulter was actually causing premature sidewall collapse, which in turn affected seed depth. Not having a coulter is also one less wear item to worry about. - RJ Fulper Fulper Family Farms
74 Components & Retrofits Retrofits 75 Components & & Components Coulters should operate Coulters should operate close to, but never the seeding below, depth Coulters should cut residues and fracture the soil surface Maintiance Key is Sharpness Coulter tested University State Iowa and notched rippled, smooth, at dif- showed, coulters fluted different at sharpnesses, ferent on spends different dpeths, stalks corn as cut to ability levels. moisuture different Conclusion: of cornstalks The percentage by affected not was sheared type coulter dryThe easier stalkscut were - the mois As stalks,” wet than stalks increased of content ture - 67%, the percent 13% to from stalks decreased sheared of age 33%. to 89% down from the of ability Stalk-shearing - supe was sharpenedcoulter coulters. other of that to rior - corn wet 90% of than More the by sheared stalks were at — even sharpenedcoulter level. the low-soil-strength coulters dry soil is hard, If and be need to sharpened not may wet as is when soil often as soft.” and Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D North Jersey Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, ch coulters No-till tips No-till have planters A lot of “no-till” ahead of just a single coulter while others the disk openers, will have like the picture above row cleaners. them just behind coulters is to The idea behind soil ahead of lightly work the and in heavy the disk openers this has a soil no-till situations just a coulter will place. Running in the seed also hairpin residue trench in both worked and no-till situations. Ideally, coulters are only needed in no-till planting into heavy soils. Remember to run them just above the seed trench, this can be set by putting the row unit on a level surface and adjusting them accordingly. http://agryguy.blogspot. com/2014/12/is-there-perfect- row-unit.html to dit When to No-till No-till No-till
Selecting coulters
PREFERRED FOR CUTTING RESIDUES
Smooth Toothed Rippled with Smooth Coulters with a smooth Coulters with toothed blades Edge surface and sharp edge are are very effective at cutting The rippled coulters with designed for cutting heavy, residues. The toothed design a smooth edge cuts well, tough residue. However they drives the blade rotation loosens a narrow band of are prone to causing sidewall resulting in less smearing soil, and helps the coulter smear. and improved sidewall rotate through the soil. fracture.
76 76 No-till Components & Retrofits Components & Retrofits
DOWNPRESSURE REQUIRED
SOIL DISTURBANCE
TILL NARROW STRIP
Directional Wave Bubble Wavy Coulters with directional Bubble coulters open a Wavy coulters create large waves shed off soil at the slot. It provides excellent chunks of soil and often backside. These are a soil penetration and interfere with closing favorite among long-term residue cutting, but is only the trench. They also no-tillers. recommended in sandy require significantly more or very dry soils. These downpressue to operate. coulters will cause sidewall compaction in heavy loam Expert Tip and clay soils. 13-wave coulters minimize issues caused by coulters with less waves and are commonly used when a wavy coulter is desired. - Joel Myers Myers Farm and former Pennsylvania State Agronomist
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Seed slot openers No-till drills and planters typically rely on angled metal disks to create a “V” slot in the soil into which the seed is dropped.
Expert Tip Creating a seed slot Disk Openers When to replace blades The major function of seed The vast majority of conservation Many farmers rely on blade slot openers is to create a well- tillage equipment uses disk diameter to decide when to defined groove in the soil where openers to create the seed slot replace opening disks. It is the seed can be placed at the or trench. Disks can cut through essential to also consider bevel proper depth. residue and reduce potential length. clogging problems. Disks vary in The ideal seed slot meets the thickness from 3mm to 4mm, are Replace planter blade when the following criteria: beveled along the outer edge, and bevel is between 3 to 4 mm in Right Angle and shape: Slots rotate freely on a roller bearing. length, even if the blade has not should be “V” shaped and just worn 1/2” diameter. Replace drill Double Disk Openers: Most narrow enough for a large seed blades when bevel is worn down modern equipment uses double- to drop into bottom of the slot. below the 10 to 12mm. disk openers; Double disk If the trench is too narrow, the openers consist of two smooth seed will become hung up on the When blades get to 5mm, the disks angled in a “V” formation. side-walls, at an improper depth, cutting ability is lessened by 30%. with an air pocket below. If the They are a wide array of disk At this stage they don’t cut well trench is too wide, it won’t close arrangements. See “Opening and cause massive sub furrow properly. Disk Arrangement” on page compaction, and roots can’t go down. Fractured Sidewall: 80 f0r more information. The walls - John Nance of the trench (side-walls) should Prescription Tillage be fractured to allow water to flow in and out of the trench, as needed.
Double Disk Opening Blade should touch!
Disk opening blades should have a 1.5” to 2” contact area. To measure the contact area, slide 2 business cards between the blades -- one in from the top, and the other from the bottom. The space between the cards should be about 2”.
When blades are Too tight, they When the blades are Too loose, the generate too much side load on the trench will loose its “V” shaped and bearings and fail prematurely. instead look more like a “W”. Seeds will not fall to the bottom of the trench, causing inconsistent seed depth.
78 Components & Retrofits
: t r Poor Alignmen Disks need to the create to touch “V”. Adjust perfect frequently. •
Bevel:
Retrofits Worn Disks need a long, well defined edge. bevelled Disks should be replaced frequently. 79 •
Components & & Components Bearings:
ng reasons the followi ail for Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D North Jersey Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, Bad Double disk openers rotate bearings. around need to They be replaced frequently. • Tip Expert disk openers f Double openers Double disk require frequent maintenance checks to perform at their highest potential. Common problems include: No-till No-till No-till
Opening Disk Arrangement
Single Disk Double Disk Double Disk Drills Only aligned Offset Blades These openers usually Kinze, John Deere and Case IH, Deutz Allis, and consist of a single concave 16 White Planters Landoll Planters to 22-inch disk, run at a slight The most common disk With this design, the leading angle to the direction of arrangement in which edge of one disk runs slightly travel with depth controlled double-disks, of the same ahead (0.5 to 1.5 inches) of by a gauge wheel beside size, with no fore/aft offset the other. In some cases, the opener. Single-disc create the seed slot. the trailing disk is a smaller openers rely on soil cohesion Maintenance Check: diameter than the leading to prevent soil from falling They should have about disk. ahead of the seed. two inches of blade contact The leading disk cuts the This system is common on on the leading edge. When residue and soil and the drills. blades are too tight, they generate too much side trailing disk helps open the load on the bearings and seed slot. fail prematurely. When Maintenance Check: the the blades are too lose, the rear disk should be tucked in trench will loose its “V” behind the leading disk, just shape and instead look more touching. like a “W”. Advantage: This design is Advantage: Perform better better for cutting residue, than offset configuration creates a narrower seed in wet ground. Blades and trench, requires less down- bearings last longer. pressure, and results in less sidewall compaction.
80 80 No-till Components & Retrofits Components & Retrofits
Bevel Blades are bevelled along the outer edge to create a sharper edge. The sharpened edge reduces the amount of down-pressure necessary to penetrate the soil and improves residue cutting.
Blade Thickness Blades vary in thickness from 3mm to 4mm (3.5 being the most common). 3 mm blades are simply too flexible for no-till, and often resulted in pinched slots. Thicker blades will wear less but require more down-pressure to penetrate the soil and can dull quickly.
Blade Diameter Drill blades range from 14 to 16 inches in diameter. Planter blades range from 18 to 19 inches in diameter. Larger diameter blades are better at cutting tough residue. Bearing Disks rotate on bearings Replace blades after 0.5 inches of which can quickly wear -- typically every year or 500 become worn and acres. sloppy as the flange becomes loose. Edge Replace disk if there is Most blade edges are smooth ANY blade wiggle. although STP offers a toothed No-till Tip: Double opening disk that helps drives bade roller bearings last rotation. longer and will prevent trench from narrowing.
81 81 No-till gauge /depth wheels Gauge wheels roll along the soil surface and are responsible for setting the depth of the planting unit and seed openers.
Gauge wheels Walking Gauge Wheel Gauge wheels are typically Walking gauge wheels allow Expert Tip located alongside the opener a single gauge wheel to raise, Adjusting Gauge wheels for the blade(s). Gauge wheels serve the rather than both wheels, when amount of residue in the field is following important functions: a rock, root ball or hard dirt important. Gauge wheels may clod is encountered. With only Depth Control ride up on residues and in the one wheel raising, the depth case of heavier cover crop mats Gauge wheels run along the soil control of the row unit is much they will need to be adjusted so surface to control the planting more precise. High amounts of that the disk openers cut the seed depth; ideally gauge wheels residue can provide challenges furrow to the appropriate should be as close as possible to in properly gauging seed depth. depth in the soil underneath where the seed drops, to get the The walking gauge wheel option the residue. Although the row most precise depth control. allows the gauge wheels to walk cleaners are designed to clear the over root balls, cloddy soils and Prevent Sidewall Blowout residue from the seed planting residue with lessened impact on row, the residues and/or cover Locating the gauge wheel depth control than rigid gauge crop mats to the left and right of alongside the blade also prevents wheels. the seed furrow may be enough soil from being thrown out of to ride the depth gauge wheel up the slot by the opener blades. higher resulting in the disks Keeping soil close to the slot, not disks not cutting a deep improves slot closure. enough furrow in the soil. - Dave Wilson, Agronomist Penn State Extension Educator
82 No-till Components & Retrofits Componen t s & Re tr Gauge wheels ofi t s Standard Gauge Reduced Inner Narrow Gauge Wheels Diameter (RID) Wheels Standard Gauge wheels RID gauge wheels have a Narrow (skinny) gauge are about 4.5” wide. narrow footprint with an wheels are about three indentation near the disk inches wide. Standard width gauge openers designed to let wheels distribute the Pro: Narrow gauge the sidewall bulge upward weight of the planter wheels operate in a more while the blade exits the resulting in less narrow swath. They are soil. compaction. less likely to be disrupted Pro: In heavy clay by bouncing over root soils they may reduce balls and corn stalks and compaction along the edge enable producers to use of the seed slot. more narrow row cleaners. They also provide more Con: This lifting effect accurate depth control also can create air pockets in fields with undulating, in the trench. uneven soil surface. While RID wheels are Con: Narrow gauge designed to reduce wheels concentrate sidewall compaction, planter weight and most experts agree that downforce pressure closer the solution to sidewall to the seed slot increasing compaction is reducing the potential for more down-pressure. sidewall compaction.
Rubber or Urethane Materials Rubber wheels tend to take shock out of the Expert Opinion: planter row unit, shed mud better, and cause If you’ve got really good soils, high organic less sidewall compaction. The urethane matter and no infiltration problems, then gauge wheels have tremendous wear-life. urethane are probably a good option -- otherwise, urethane may not be a good choice.
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Closing wheels / press wheels The row-unit closing systems close the seed slot and properly pack the surrounding soil around the seed, ensuring proper seed-to-soil contact and uniform emergence.
Closing the slot in Seed closing systems Drag chains No-till Closing Wheels: Most planters Drag chains drag a hand-full of In conventional tillage systems, and drills use closing wheels, soil, levelling the seed zone and soil tends to naturally tumble often mounted in a V-shaped drops loose soil into any unclosed into the slot. The closing wheels configuration, to close the seed areas of the seed slot. slot and firm the seedbed at the simply firm the soil above the Expert Tip seed. same time. See “Closing wheels Comparison” on page 86. Add drag chains Seed closing systems in Drag Chains are a simple and conservation tillage must have Press Wheels: Press wheels firm economical addition to a planter some method of moving soil back the soil around the seed after that can significantly add to into the seed slot. This often it has been covered. This is not its performance. However involves chopping the sidewall. effective in most no-till scenarios. sometimes excess residues can build up in the drag chains.
Keys Cover the seed w/ Avoid 1 2 to closing loose soil Packing the slot This creates the moist environment Closing systems should not essential for good germination. compact the soil above or beside the seed; compaction will delay Seed slots should be closed from germination and stunt root the bottom up. This prevents air development. gaps from forming around the seed. Air pockets around the seed will lead to soil drying around the seed and delayed germination.
84 Components & Retrofits
Limited Depth 5 It is essential that closing wheels not dislodge seeds. Some closing systems will have a tendency to dig deeper in seeds certain areas and move out-of or along the seed trench. Retrofits 85 /Stalk Mud Cleaning Components & & Components 4 Many closing systems build Many up with mud or crop residues reducing their effectiveness. Closing wheels should be able to shed mud and stalks. umble the Sidewall Cr 3 Closing systems should aim to or crumble the side walls crack of the slot. This ensures (1) seed roots the can easily penetrate surrounding soil and (2) water can freely diffuse in and out of the slot. Sidewalls that are not shattered open up as the soil dries. may No-till No-till No-till
Closing wheels Comparison
Type Smooth short spiked long SPIKED Curved Spoke Cage Type Double Disk Combination Description Traditional Short notched Long Spikes Unique curved Close trench from Inverted double Combination of Wheels; Can be spikes composed composed of cast teeth to chip-in the top. Designed disks followed by a spiked closing rubber or cast of iron or plastic. iron or steel. side wall to reduce air single press wheel. wheel and smooth iron wheels compaction pockets. closing wheels. Least aggressive Most Aggressive without ejecting of spiked wheels of spiked wheels soil from the seed zone set-up 1.5” to 1.75” 2..25 to 2.5” across the bottom wide at across the bottom Ideal Tilled soils Typically no-till Heavy clay and Typically no-till Strip till or Dry, course Minimum tillage Conditions soils with good wet soil soils with good soil conventional till textured no-till situations and soil structure structure soils medium to dry soils Trench Poor Good Good Good Fair Fair Closing Firming Soil Good Fair Poor Fair Good Fair Fair Sidewall Poor Good Good Fair Poor Fair crumbing Avoids Poor Fair Good Poor Poor Good Packing Mud and Good Fair Good Poor Poor Good Stalk Cleaning Depth Good Good Poor Fair Good Good Limiting Comments Shorter spikes May wrap up won’t ever flip cover crops seed out of the trench
86 86 No-till Components & Retrofits Components & Retrofits
Closing wheels Comparison
Type Smooth short spiked long SPIKED Curved Spoke Cage Type Double Disk Combination Description Traditional Short notched Long Spikes Unique curved Close trench from Inverted double Combination of Wheels; Can be spikes composed composed of cast teeth to chip-in the top. Designed disks followed by a spiked closing rubber or cast of iron or plastic. iron or steel. side wall to reduce air single press wheel. wheel and smooth iron wheels compaction pockets. closing wheels. Least aggressive Most Aggressive without ejecting of spiked wheels of spiked wheels soil from the seed zone set-up 1.5” to 1.75” 2..25 to 2.5” across the bottom wide at across the bottom Ideal Tilled soils Typically no-till Heavy clay and Typically no-till Strip till or Dry, course Minimum tillage Conditions soils with good wet soil soils with good soil conventional till textured no-till situations and soil structure structure soils medium to dry soils Trench Poor Good Good Good Fair Fair Closing Firming Soil Good Fair Poor Fair Good Fair Fair Sidewall Poor Good Good Fair Poor Fair crumbing Avoids Poor Fair Good Poor Poor Good Packing Mud and Good Fair Good Poor Poor Good Stalk Cleaning Depth Good Good Poor Fair Good Good Limiting Comments Shorter spikes May wrap up won’t ever flip cover crops seed out of the trench
87 87 No-till
Troubleshooting No-till
88 Troubleshooting
: -laid xpert Tip Expert Finding elusive seeds Searching for seed is the last thing most farmers want to do at the start of a busy day. The job can be made easier using a It allows Dig-It Tool. producers to more easily locate seed hands and keeps clean. can fail plans 89 Troubleshooting the best Even Seeding Depth and Position Move away soil to find the depth of the trench. Is it the anticipated depth? Are the seeds within the trench at the bottom or hung up along the sidewall? Are they evenly spaced along the trench? Slot Closure loose soil or Is the seed slot fully closed with check in a is there a gap? It is important to variety of soil conditions. Seed Slot Sidewall Gently move away the soil above the seed slot and examine the slot sidewall. Is the soil smeared and smooth? Is the soil hard? If so, the slot may fill with water and roots may have trouble penetrating. Residue Cleaners soil? Are row cleaners digging into the wheat Are long lengths of cover crops or residues getting tangled? Are residue of residue cleaners moving the right amount away from the seed slot? 1 2 3 4 Don’t wait for seedlings to emerge to discover planting problems. planting problems. discover to emerge to seedlings for wait Don’t to of transition years few the first It is crucial, especially during frequently! and check seed placement off the tractor get to no-till, of note for and take look to What No-till No-till
Seeds on soil surface Seeds will be present on the soil surface when opening disk cannot penetrate the soil. This is commonly observed when drilling grains.
Agronomic impacts Uneven and poor germination due to seed exposure or dry soil conditions.
Causes • Not enough down-pressure • Compact and/or dry soil • Dull/Worn Opening Disks
Solutions Plant a Cover Crop the year before: A cover crop will soften the surface of most soils; cover crops prevent crusting and many farmers will plant cover crops specifically for this benefit during the transition to no-till. Add downpressue: It can be difficult to achieve adequate down-pressure, particularly on drills and older planters. Consider retrofitting down-pressure system or adding weights to row units. Remove or adjust coulters. Coulters, particularly wide and wavy coulters, can use up a lot of the total down-pressure available to the row unit. Consider (1) sharpening coulters, (2) replacing wide coulters with narrower coulter or (3) removing the coulter altogether. Replace Opening Disk. Opening disks should have a long, well defined bevel; as they become worn, they lose their bevel and will have difficulty penetrating the soil surface. Opening disks need to be replaced at least every 50 acres (per row unit). Wait for wetter soil conditions. It is important to be aware that dry soils are difficult to penetrate. This is often a problem when planting small grains and cover crops in the late summer and fall.
90 Troubleshooting See “Soil When opening disks Reduce the down pressure : Consider adding spiked tion: a
91 uses Impacts gronomic closing wheels to shatter the sidewall rather than increasing down-pressure. One popular closing wheel configuration staggers one spoked wheel with one solid closing wheel, with the spoked leading. Reduce down pressure: Increase blade rot Under wet soil conditions, the seed slot will not close Under wet soil conditions, the seed slot will will smear, properly, and the sidewalls of the can reduce seed causing side-wall compaction, which side wall which is to soil contact or develop a hard difficult for young roots to penetrate. be difficult to Furthermore, the seed trench can will sometimes adequately close when wet; producers on the closing compensate by adding extra pressure compaction above devices potentially causing sidewall the seed. Solution it for drier soils if possible: Wa ng wheels Adjust closi ar ll sme wa side includes all soil compaction Sidewall in and around and soil smearing compaction the seed slot. A soil the seed reduces seed to Compacted soil around it difficult for the seedling roots contact and makes soil. This causes reduced or uneven to penetrate the with restricted root germination and stunted plants masses. Ca or coulters are dragged through soil, rather then rotating freely, they will smear sidewall. Notched or toothed coulters and opening disks will improve blade rotation and fracture sidewalls. on both the gauge wheels and the closing wheels to reduce the potential to over-pack moist soils. Moisture Content and Planting” on page 38 to determine if your soil is dry enough to plant. Wet Soil Wet Troubleshooting No-till No-till
hair-pinning
Coulters and disk openers are supposed to cut through crop residues however, during certain conditions, they will push the residue into the bottom of the seed slot.
Agronomic impacts Residues in the seed slot impede seed to soil contact resulting in poor and uneven germination.
Causes: • Wet residues (from previous crop or cover crops) • Dull coulters and worn opening disks • Too much surface residue • Ineffective row cleaners
Solutions Wait for residues to dry: Residues are much easier to cut when they are dry and “crispy”. Wait at least two weeks after terminating cover crop with herbicide before planting: Drying cover crops can be incredibly tough and difficult to cut. Most farmers recommend waiting at least two weeks after terminating, when they are completely brown, before planting. If that is not an option, farmers can consider “planting green”. Modify row cleaners: Consider floating row cleaners which will more closely follow the soil surface. Some trash wheels are also more aggressive than others; shark tooth and swept-back toothed wheels will move a greater quantity of residue from the seed trench. Sharpen Coulters and replace opening disks. Sharp coulters and opening disks are much more effective at cutting through tough residues. Improve residue management. Retrofit combine with a Calmer head (or equivalent) to cut residue into smaller pieces. Raise combine height to leave taller corn stalks standing. Consider Planting Green: Green cover will cut easier than any other residue.
92 Troubleshooting Make sure bolts are tight When the planting Traveling too fast is the number Improper levelling of planter Inadequate down-pressure Planter speed to0 fast uses impacts gronomic on parallel arms. There should be no wiggle on on parallel arms. There should be bolts if there is row units. Replace bushings and any wear. Adjust the parallel arms until they are completely level with the soil surface. Solutions Down! Slow rallel Arms: Adjust Pa Add Downpressue: Uneven depth Uneven at a field should be planted Seeds within even encourage to depth a uniform emergence. A the main cause of uneven Uneven depth is from the larger, early- emergence. Competition will decrease the yield of smaller, emerging plants this effect is particularly late-emerging plants; pronounced for corn. Ca • • • one cause of uneven seed depth, skips and one cause of uneven seed depth, from doubles. Especially during the transition keep planter conventional to no-till management, speed below 5 MPH. equipment cannot supply adequate down- pressure, disk openers may not be able to penetrate deep enough -- particularly in area of field with drier soil conditions or more residue. The ideal solution is pneumatic down-pressure units that can supply variable rates of down- pressure depending on soil conditions, however they may be cost prohibitive. Adding weights or heavy duty springs will also add downpressure. 93 Troubleshooting No-till No-till
Poorly closed slot
Ideally, the seed slot should be barely visible after planting. When poorly closed, a narrow trench is clearly visible.
Agronomic Impacts Open side slots cause poor seed to soil contact.
Possible Causes: • Planting too wet: When planting during wet conditions, the slot may sometimes appear closed, but as the soil dries the soil will shrink and open. • Improper closing wheels for soil condition
Solutions Wait for drier soil conditions: Trouble closing the slot is a primary symptom that the soil is too wet to plant in. Adjust down-pressure on closing wheels: Although farmers can increase down-pressure on closing wheels, the practice is generally not recommended as it can compact the soil above the seed. Experts often advise retrofitting the planter with different closing wheels. Retrofit planter with spiked closing wheels: Changing closing wheels from steel or rubber to spiked wheels helps close the slot and break up the sidewall, even in marginal planting conditions.
94 Troubleshooting Modern Seed opening Most no-till uses: Narrowing of the seed trench No or poorly functioning seed firmer Worn seed tube guard 95 Impacts gronomic seed openers, particularly openers with a leading blade, place huge strain on opening disk bearings. These bearings may need to be replaced even more frequently than opening disks. Consider purchasing double bearings which will have a longer life. farmers rely on seed firmers to supply a few pounds of pressure to push seeds into the bottom of the trench. Seed firmers typically need to be replaced annually. Possible Ca • • • Solutions Adjust and shim seed openers. rings on seed openers. e bea Replac e seed firmers. Add or replac Seed not reaching not reaching Seed of trench bottom the into be firmly pressed Seeds should substantial with seed slot of the bottom on either side. contact seed-to-soil A seed slot will be Seed hung up on the sides of the poor seed-to- planted at an improper depth with soil contact and an air pocket beneath. blades should be able to turn, by hand, with blades should be able to turn, by business resistance. Check blade contact with of the two cards, placed at the top and the bottom go no further. blades, and pulled in until they can heavy blades. The distance should be 1.5”-2” with Troubleshooting No-till No-till
Insect pest: Slugs Slugs can cause substantial damage to no-till crop-fields, particularly soybeans. The moist residues on the soil surface create the ideal environment for slugs to thrive.
How to tell if it is slug damage: Slugs create irregularly shaped holes in leaves. The slime trails they leave behind are often tell- tale signs of their presence. One simple tool to determine the extent of the slug population, is to place a shingle or piece of wet cardboard in the field overnight. In morning check the bottom. If the shingle or cardboard is covered in slugs, there is a substantial slug population.
Photo Credit: Ken Wise, New York IPM 96 Troubleshooting Slug Bait Certain baits are designed to kill slugs present in the fields. Always use a bait containing iron chelate as the active ingredient (such as Ferroxx). Iron chelate baits are natural, safe, and will quickly poison slugs without impacting other organisms in the soil. Note that these baits are typically used after a slug population is established and the infestation threatens a crop; they are too cost prohibitive to be used as a preventive measure. Do not use Neonicotinoids Slugs are unaffected by neonicotinoid insecticides; as they consume vegetation containing neonicotinoids, the slugs concentrate the chemical in their tissue. Slugs that have ingested the neonicotinoid will impair or kill the beneficial predator insect that consumes them. Ultimately, this leads to reducing natural slug predator populations. 97
Troubleshooting Experiment with Planting Green Planting green (planting into standing cover crop 6-12” tall) may alleviate slug damage. In theory, the abundant mat of cover crops will distract slugs from the emerging seedlings. Selecting a cover crop that slugs prefer over the planted crops continues to be researched. Improve Trench Closing Trench Improve A poorly closed seed trench with gaps is the perfect cool, moist environment for slugs to thrive. Slugs will actually travel down the seed slot eating one seedling after another. Using a spiked closing wheel and avoiding planting through wet soils will improve closure of the seed slot, impeding slug population - Michael D. Braucher - Michael D. Consider using very aggressive (like shark tooth) row cleaner to remove all of last year’s residue from a wide swath (3-4 inches) above the seed trench. Slugs will avoid ground without residue cover. Remove Residue from Remove around Seed Trench A longer (10-day) forecast A longer (10-day) of warmer weather prior to planting will help to promote faster growth of crops past when plants the time-frame are most susceptible to slug damage. xpert Tip Expert Using Forecast to plan planting Planting Later Wait to plant until soils are warmer and drier. Not only will the soil surface be less conducive to slugs, but cash crop growth will be more vigorous and capable of out-pacing any slug damage. Slugs Solutions to slug but farms can make small changes to their operation to reduce There is no perfect solution to slugs, for damage. populations and alleviate the potential No-till Cover Crops
part two Cover Crops Soil is meant to be covered
98 Troubleshooting
practices. The degree to which cover which cover to The degree Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE. suppress weeds, prevent soil prevent weeds, suppress crops contribute to these soil to contribute crops and planting and termination and planting and termination feed soil organisms which play organisms soil feed and water quality. Living roots Living roots quality. and water health improvements depends improvements health crop yields, nutrient utilization yields, nutrient utilization crop on cover crop species selection species selection crop on cover structure and cycling nutrients. structure soil fertility and quality, control control and quality, soil fertility for the benefit of the soil . They the for an essential role in building soil an essential role erosion, help build and improve help build and improve erosion, Cover crops are grown primarily grown are crops Cover diseases and pests, and promote and promote and pests, diseases 99 biodiversity which, in turn, benefit biodiversity Troubleshooting Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Seed & Species Selection
Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D 100 Seed & Species Selection
4 types of of 4 types cover crop cover Legumes Sun Clovers, Vetch, Hemp, and Peas Brassicas and Forbs Radish, Mustards, Turnips, Rape, and Buckwheat Grasses Pearl Annual Ryegrass, Millet, Sorghum-Sudangrass Cereal Grains Oats, Cereal Rye, Barley, & Wheat Triticale, tion 101 c Sele pe cies S & Seed selection. Rather than compare and rates that, for most common common most for that, rates and cover crop species based on their their on based species crop cover specific soil health building traits, building health soil specific This attempts to simplify cover crop crop cover simplify to attempts This this manual will recommend species species recommend will manual this farming scenarios, will be successful. be successful. will scenarios, farming Choosing a cover crop can seem can crop Choosing a cover pressure may feel daunting. Farmers a species mix perfectly select to soils and agronomic their to tailored needs. Although this sort of great provide can selection meticulous also be overwhelming. it can benefits, Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Cover crop seed 5 practical companies considerations
Serving the To selecting mid-atlantic cover crops
Although there are many Green Cover Seed benefits to selecting a cover Clifton Seed crop species mix that is tailor Kings AgriSeeds made for specific soil types and
Nutrien Ag needs, in practice, cover crop
Growmark species selection is driven by more practical considerations: Lancaster Seed Sales including cost, availability, Seedway seeding date, seeding method,
and termination method.
Note: Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by North Jersey RC&D is implied. 102 Seed & Species Selection te 3 Seeding Da When are you planning planning When are you season to plant? Warm species are typically small for (1) after reserved and certain vegetable grain and (2) when harvests a field is fallowed for an entire season. Cool season species are the most common cover crops. Multi-species are typically only covers worth the investment early when planted very in fall. Some legumes and grow won’t most brassicas well during frosty and cool conditions of October. When planting in mid-late fall, the only viable option is typically cereal rye, triticale, or winter wheat. tion com/ . It is an excellent resource for It is an excellent farmers interested in optimizing crop seed mix. their cover tion 103 2 5 verseed ailability Method c Sele pe cies S & Seed Av Termina greenco ow much work will you you How much work will seed? put into securing mills and seed grain Local suppliers will typically grains, only carry cereal crimson clover ryegrass, and, sometimes radish. Other less common species need to be may and mixes special ordered, increasing cost and wait-time. How will the cover How will the cover crop be killed? Organic need species operations that reliably winter kill or killed can be effectively through tillage or mowing. When using herbicide, pay attention to which seeds/ greater varieties have herbicide resistance. Only can be certain covers crimping. by killed effectively Check out the online smart-mix SmartMix Green calculator by Seed. Covered mix. art https://sm 1 4 Cost t Wan Seeding Method deeper... to delve delve to For tips on reducing seed tips on reducing seed For costs see “Tips for reducing on crop” the cost of cover page 108. ow much do you want want How much do you grains, to spend? Cereal and wheat, such as rye are typically and ryegrass cover the least expensive crops. How are the seeds being established? Seeds that are broadcasted should be for better ballistics. heavier seeds that are too However, germinate well large won’t on the soil surface. Drills and other methods that seeds within incorporate the soil are often more successful and can achieve germination of any excellent crop species. cover Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Seed Classes Seeds classes are designated based on (1) the seed class of the parent plants and (2) results of field and laboratory based testing.
Uncertified or VNS Certified Common (variety not stated) Bin Run
Tag Color
Variety Stated Yes Yes No No
Purity Yes Some None None Requirement Strict purity Free of noxious requirements for weed seed pure seed, inert matter, weed seed, germination, etc.
Third Party Yes, No No No Inspection Usually State Officials
Seed Tag Yes Yes Yes No
Cost Most Market price Comparison Expensive or below
Summary Certified seed Common seed or VNS seed hasn’t gone Bin run is variety identity unverified seed is through the rigors and harvested by a and purity is a specific variety expense of classifying farmer, stored, verified by a that either (1) it as a variety. and planted in the third-party did not meet Seeds are classified fall. Untested bin inspector. rigorous purity VNS when either (1) run may contain or germination seed varietizing a seed noxious weeds. It must be standards, (2) simply isn’t worth the grown from was not grown expense (~$50,000). In lieu of having “Registered” or using registered In other situations, VNS the bin run seed “Foundation” seed, or (3) was designation is used to get tested, as a seed and not certified rid of old or odd seed lots minimum visually must meet (usually in order that don’t meet original inspect samples rigorous purity to reduce costs). variety specs. In some of the seed for requirements. cases, unscrupulous cracked and companies steal varieties damaged seed, and from competitors the presence of and sell it as VNS. weed seeds. 104 Seed & Species Selection a germination Includes the portion tion) A purity test separates A purity test separates Seed coating may contain are coated with a clay to - Species or common name, - Species or common Inert matter includes dirt, plant Seeds from other plants that are Seeds from other plants that are Includes seeds of all plants that are Includes seeds of all plants that terial: are typically coated with rhizobium Purity expresses the composition of Purity expresses the composition tter: tion – (% Germina tion ting Ma to improve N fixation improve seed to soil contact, moisture wicking and, improve ballistics when aerial seeded. Legumes Small grasses a ther Crops: ther Crops: atter + Weed Seed+ Other = 100% Matter + Weed Pure Seed + Inert the seed lot and its degree of contamination by the seed lot and its degree of contamination unwanted components. considered to be undesirable, troublesome, or considered to be undesirable, troublesome, restricted, not wanted. The amount of common, the lot will be and noxious weed seed found in listed separately. ert ma Inert Weed seeds: Co O not considered weeds. Pure Seed: fertilizer, growth promoters and or seed fertilizer, growth promoters and and a treatment as well as an inert carrier polymer outer shell. parts, and damaged seeds. Non-coating inert parts, and damaged seeds. Non-coating matter can interfere with drill function. • • hard seed / Dormant Seed: Germina riety: Kind and Va Purity): Ingredients (% of the seed sample that doesn’t germinate during the seed test but it can germinate later. Dormant seed contains properties that inhibit germination; dormancy is common in vetch, annual ryegrass and crimson clover. and cultivar or variety name of the plant. and cultivar or variety pure seed, inert matter, other crop seed, and weed matter, other crop seed, and weed pure seed, inert seed. test determines the capability of a seed lot to produce normal seedlings under controlled conditions ags 105 c Sele pe cies S & Seed Germination 80% Hard Seed 10% nding seed t seed anding Pure Seed Inert Matter (Includes Coating Material) Seed Weed Coating Material A 1805
Total Germination and Hard Seed 90% Germination and Total
Sample Seed Company 1234 Main Street Seedville, P Net Weight: 50lbs (22.68 KG) Net Weight: Noxious Weeds: None Found Weeds: Noxious E NTAG Coated with ALL VA Gold Pre-Inoculated with Nitragin Caution, Allegiance Treated Test Date: 3/16 Test Ingredients 65.03% Lot# B580.TCTD Lot# 0015% 34.75% other Crop 00.07% 34.00% Medium Red Clover Stated) Not (Variety
Seed tags provide the information needed to verify the quality and the quality verify needed to information the provide Seed tags sale. of seed for components Underst Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops Cover Crops
Calculating Pure Live Seed (PLS)
Cover crop seed quality and cost can vary greatly. Calculate the percent “Pure Live Seed” (PLS) to determine the amount of viable seeds in a lot of bulk seed. PLS indicates the amount of seed in the lot that is capable of developing into seedlings.
The amount of seed required to To calculate percent PLS for this seed, compensate for poor purity and multiply pure seed and germination and germination can be determined by then divide by 100 (example below). The calculating percent pure live seed (PLS). result is the percentage of pure live seed for this bag of seed.
To calculate the amount of seed need to meet seeding rate, divide 100 by the value for PLS.
To calculate the true cost of the seed, given its impurities and anticipated germination, multiply amount of PLS seed need by the cost of the seed.
106 106 Cover Crops Seed & Species Selection Seed & Species Selection
Pure life seed percent and seed costs
Seeds with a low purity and test germination rate are often sold at a reduced price. Often, “bargain” bulk seed with a low PLS percentage will end up costing more to appropriately seed a project than a higher priced bulk seed with a higher PLS percentage.
Seed Lot A Seed Lot B $2.75 / lb. 95% Pure Seed $2.00 / lb. 85% Pure Seed 90% Germination 70% Germination
Which is a better deal?
(95 x 90) / 100 = 85 % (85 x 70) / 100 = 59.5 % 100 / 85 = 1.17 lbs 100 / 59.5 = 1.68 lbs 1.17 lbs x 2.75 = $ 3.21 / lbs. 1.68 lbs x 2.00 = $ 3.36 / lbs.
Seed Lot A is less expensive per lb. of viable seed.
key
107 107 Cover Crops
Tips for reducing the cost of cover crop Here are some ways to keep the cost of cover crops down, especially for farmers planting a lot of acres.
Keep it Simple Pay attention to Consider bin run Percent live seed (PLS) Single species rye, wheat, or oats Bin run seed is harvested by a can be an excellent option for Seeds with a low purity and test farmer, stored, and planted in the many farms. Single species cover germination rate are often sold at fall. Bin run cover crops can cost crops are cheaper and typically a reduced price. as little as $5.00 to $10.00 an acre. easier to terminate. “Bargain” bulk seed with a low For those interested in multi-spe- percent live seed (PLS) rating may If you plan to buy a bin run cies cover crops, opt for ready- end up costing more in the long seed, strongly consider having made mixes, which are less expen- run. it professionally tested first. If improperly stored, the seed may sive and have also gone through See “Calculating Pure Live Seed rigorous testing to ensure the not germinate well. It also may be (PLS)” on page 106 for more contaminated with noxious weed components are well balanced information. within the mix. seeds. Expert tip Test bin run seeds States often offer their own testing services. In New Jersey, the NJ Department of Agricultural Plant Laboratory Services will test germination, purity, and noxious weeds for $55.00 per sample. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Agriculture’s Seed Testing Laboratory offers a wide variety of seed testing services. At a minimum, conduct your own germination test placing 10 seeds inside a wet paper towel in a ziploc bag in a warm location. Check to see if they have germinated after a couple of days.
108 Seed & Species Selection
of antage v olunteers ake ad T Cover cropping after a small grain crop is the easiest place to start. Allow volunteer small grain seed to grow, add a legume, and terminate broad leaf weeds. v tion al ves ? 109 c Sele pe cies S & Seed ow cost drill rent KNOW DID YOU L soil conservation districts Many non-profits and agricultural no-till drills available have for rent at a reduced rate. Examples include North Jersey Audubon, New Jersey RC&D, Habitat. and Team options sa Incorporation money get a full stand of cover To crop through broadcasting, need to apply nearly twice you with a as much seed. Even much higher application rate, surface application of cover result in spotty crop seed may germination. more Drilling the seed takes time and can require renting/ it will using a drill however, ultimately reduce the total price per acre. Another good option is to lightly the seed in the incorporate upper 1/2” of the soil profile using some form of vertical tillage or rotary hoe. or VNS Certified Not Stated (VNS) seed Variety can be a good low cost option. as it can also But be wary, weeds and lower noxious have germination rates. VNS is probably a wise choice if VNS seed or used proven you’ve crop seed neighbor’s cover your has done well. Some VNS seed has the best genetics for your area. Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Science and Seed treatments & merits of Rhizobacteria coatings Legume cover crops will convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into a form of nitrogen that plants can use Legume specific coatings through a process known as nitrogen Legume seeds are often Expert Tip: fixation. This complex chemical coated with a compound Is the inoculant reaction relies on soil bacteria, containing live beneficial necessary? known as rhizobacteria. Legume bacteria. The bacteria will Purchasing legumes coated roots colonized by the appropriate form a symbiotic relationship with inoculate is generally rhizobacteria will form root nodules. with the clover, vetch or bean worth the expense. plant and supply nitrogen When the plants are actively fixing to the plant. These bacteria Plants will only form a atmospheric nitrogen the inside of may not be naturally present symbiotic relationship with a the nodules will actually turn bright within the soil, therefore specific species rhizobateria. red! legume cover crop seeds Bacteria specific to a are often coated with this soybean plant won’t form a Legumes that form symbiotic important inoculant. relationship with clover or relationships with rhizobacteria vetch cover crop. Therefore, produce lots of nitrogen-producing Keep in mind there is no although many strains of such thing as “universal” nodules, which in turn, will create Rhizobium may be present inoculant. Since each legume stronger, healthier plants. in the soil from previous needs a specific strain of inoculated legume crops, they rhizobia bacteria, be sure may not be compatible with to buy the right inoculant. the legume cover crop being Products that are a blend of planted. bacteria are not as effective. Forgo the treatment when you purchased the Expert Tip inoculated seed before and Adding your own are planting the same species Inoculatant of legume, year after year. If legume doesn’t come Rhizobia will be present in coated with inoculant, the soil for about one year consider purchasing it without a host plant. separately. Inoculants are a loose powder that can be sprinkled onto legume seed in the small seed box.
Legume nodules: Rhizobia, a type of root -- colo- nizing bacteria that supply nitrogen to legumes, reside in protective nodules formed by the plant. The bright red color of the opened nodule is an indication of healthy rhizobia inside. (Penn State University;) 110 Seed & Species Selection ting a xpert Tip Expert Is the co necessary? small are broadcasting If you seeds, and brassica grass particularly using a plane the coating is or helicopter, essential. drill is not equipped with If your type or some a fluffy seed box the coating of seed agitator, the ease greatly improves evenly of seed flowing more through the drill. tion 111 Once on the ground, Once on the ground, c Sele pe cies S & Seed t: ac coated seed has a much greater coated seed has uncoated surface area than seed which greatly increases seed to soil contact, and therefore increases that seed’s opportunity for establishment. Moisture Wicking: Seed coatings tend to absorb water, providing a more consistent level of moisture for germination. mproved seed to soil seed to Improved cont Red and white clover seed coated with a Nitro-Coat: a mixture Red and white clover of the specific rhizobacteria that form relationship with red and coating that is natu- and a Calcium Carbonate based white clover water absorbing to speed seed germination. rally Small, irregularly shaped seeds (such as ryegrass) are prone to being blown with the wind when broadcasted (either with a spreader or aerial applicator). Furthermore, many drills are not equipped to plant light fluffy grass seeds. Seed coating doubles the bulk density of the seeds making them easier to manage. When aerially applying, this converts to much greater accuracy of the drop, and greatly reduces the amount of wind drift once the seed leaves the plane. mproved ballistics: Improved Small grass and brassica Small grass and with seeds often are coated of calcium some combination and other carbonate, clay, chemical compounds. These coatings can more than double the size and weight of seed. Coatings have a number of benefits for small seeds including: : specific coatings Small seeds Cover crop seeds are often marketed with coatings or seed treatments designed to to designed or seed treatments coatings with marketed often seeds are crop Cover germination, improve nutrients, soil, supply in the bacteria beneficial either supply treatments: seed receive of seed typically types Two application. easier or facilitate and brassicas). (grasses seeds and small seeds legume Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops cover crop Species comparison
Type Species Seed Size Costs Planting Time Seeding Method Termination Method Notes
Cost per Cost per Cost per Early Broad- Winter 1 Million Summer Fall Drill Chemical Mowing Tillage lbs.* Acre * Fall cast Kill seeds*
Grasses Annual $0.90 $15.30 $4.74 Chemical termination Ryegrass successful only during warm sunny application Sorghum $1.40 $30.80 $77.78 Sudangrass
Cereal Cereal Rye $0.26 $23.40 $11.30 Grains Winter Wheat $0.24 $21.60 $17.14
Spring Oats $0.27 $24.30 $18.00
Triticale $0.28 $25.30 $18.60
Legumes Red Clover $2.05 $14.35 $11.13 Difficult to terminate chemically Crimson Clover $1.50 $22.50 $13.99 Often a favorite legume
Berseem $2.25 $24.75 $16.79 Clover Hairy Vetch $1.90 $34.20 $125.00 Never plant in a field before a cereal grain crop Winter Peas $0.55 $35.75 $137.50
Cow Peas $1.00 $55.00 $243.90
Forbs Dikon Radish $1.65 $11.55 $66.00
Buckwheat $0.70 $31.50 $38.89
Rape $1.00 $6.00 $5.71 Difficult to terminate chemically
* Costs are general approximation based on 2019 cost tables; actual prices will fluctuate greatly from year to year. 112 Seed & Species Selection Difficult to terminate chemically Difficult to terminate chemically legume Often a favorite plant in a field Never crop before a cereal grain Chemical termination Chemical termination successful only during application warm sunny Notes Kill Winter tion Tillage 113 c Sele pe cies S & Seed Mowing Chemical Termination Method Termination Drill cast Broad- Seeding Method Seeding Fall Fall Early Summer Planting Time Planting seeds* Cost per Cost per 1 Million $66.00 $38.89 $18.00 $18.60 $11.13 $13.99 $16.79 $125.00 $137.50 $243.90 $4.74 $77.78 $11.30 $17.14 $5.71 Acre * Cost per Cost per $6.00 $11.55 $31.50 $24.30 $25.30 $14.35 $22.50 $24.75 $34.20 $35.75 $55.00 $15.30 $30.80 $23.40 $21.60 Cover Crops Cover lbs.* Cost per Cost per $1.65 $0.70 $1.00 $0.27 $0.28 $2.05 $1.50 $2.25 $1.90 $0.55 $1.00 Costs $0.90 $1.40 $0.26 $0.24 Seed Size Species Berseem Clover Hairy Vetch Winter Peas Cow Peas Radish Dikon Buckwheat Rape Annual Ryegrass Sorghum Sudangrass Cereal Rye Winter Wheat Spring Oats Triticale Red Clover Crimson Clover Forbs Type Grasses Cereal Grains Legumes rison pa com ecies p Sp cro cover Cover Crops
Science of Herbicide carryover herbicide breakdown Some herbicides will remain in the soil for months Most herbicides are either after application; these residual herbicides can broken down in the soil by significantly harm subsequent cover crop stands. microbes or acid-based When selecting cover crop seeds, pay attention to chemical reactions. These potential for herbicide damage. processes are generally more rapid as temperature and soil The potential for herbicide moisture increase. carry-over damage depends on (1) weather and soil Factors that conditions that influence the inhibit herbicide rate of herbicide breakdown, breakdown include: (2) cover crop species sensitivity and (3) and how long it takes a particular Dry Soil: Herbicide herbicide to break down. molecules will tightly adhere to dry soil particles thus inhibiting In general, herbicides breakdown. with crop rotation Clay soils: Herbicide restrictions of molecules will tightly adhere to clay particles 4 months or less in soil, thus inhibiting should be safe. breakdown. Neutral or Basic Soil: Be wary of planting sensitive In soils with a pH above cover crop species (see 6.8, the chemical reaction following page for more that breaks down triazine information) following a dry and sulfonylurea won’t growing season or within four months of applying a occur. herbicide. Soil with low Farmers concerned about microbial activity: potential carryover of The rate of herbicide herbicides should usually breakdown is slower in opt for cereal rye. Cereal soils with few microbes rye is much less likely to and less microbial activity. be impacted by herbicide These are typically soils residuals, however, even with less organic matter cereal rye isn’t a sure bet. subject to frequent application of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals.
114 Seed & Species Selection
None
ne): Gramoxo iberty): te (Liberty): Dicamba can be a Herbicide carryover te: t ( a Wait at 30 days after qu concern when applied at high rates or planting cover crop less than 120 days after application; cover crop planted 120 days after dicamba application with 24 fl oz/acre or less should not be impacted. from atrazine is a concern for cereals, ryegrass, legumes, and mustards. Atrazine is more persistent in high pH soils. At rates less than 1 lb/ acre, Atrazine impact will be minimal; half-life in Mid-Atlantic probably close to 30 days. Adapted from “Corn Herbicides and Adapted from “Corn Crops” and “Soybean Rotation to Cover Herbicides and Rotation to Cover Senior Dwight Lingenfelter, Crops” by Science Extension Associate – Weed State Extension (2017) Penn 2-4D: Glufosina Glufosinate should not cause cover crop injury. However, be aware that glufosinate should not be applied to food or feed residues within 45 days of harvest. azine: Atr Planting restrictions common following herbicides a Glyphos ra Pa Dicamba: None 2-4D application before planting sensitive broadleaves; amine formulations are more water soluble and can leach into seed zone.
tion uthority) 115 ver crops c Sele pe cies S & Seed mesotrione (Callisto, Halex) mesotrione (Callisto, flumetsulam (Python) (Stinger) clopyralid (Impact), topramezone (Balance Flexx) isoxaflutole etc. nicosulfuron (Accent Q, (Classic, chlorimuron Cloak, etc.) Canopy, (Zidua) pyroxasulfone (Dual, etc.) metolachlor Prefix, (Flexstar, fomesafen Reflex) (Zidua) pyroxasulfone (Pursuit) imazethapyr (Warrant) acetochlor (A sulfentrazone • • • • • • Adapted from “Using herbicides and by crops in corn and soybean” cover Lizabeth Stahl, Extension educator; Jeff Gunsolus, Extension weed scientist and former Extension Jill Sackett-Eberhart, educator co fall • Corn herbicides that inhibit growth: fall seed ryegrass • • Corn herbicides that may inhibit growth of fall-seeded legume or radish. impact to most likely herbicides that may Soybean inhibit growth of fall-seeded legume or radish. • • • • • are herbicides What University of Research by the certain Missouri found that and common pre-emergence corn and post-emergence are more soybean herbicides likely than other herbicides to negatively impact cover crops stand development, particularly sensitive species.
Tillage radish Austrian winter pea Crimson & clover annual ryegrass Winter wheat & winter oats & Hairy vetch cereal rye ver crops
Most Sensitive Least Sensitive ve are most sensiti University Research by the the of Missouri evaluated sensitivity of fall-seeded from cover crops to carryover and common pre-emergence corn and post-emergence soybean herbicides. Results indicated that tillage radish, winter pea, crimson clover and annual ryegrass are among the most sensitive common cover crop species. Hairy vetch, cereal rye, winter wheat, and winter oats are less sensitive. co What Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops Cover Crop Application
Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D 116 Cover Crop Application 3 How much time and willing are you money to spend? Some application methods are more time consuming than others. Drilling cover crop is a slower process but uses less seed per acre, whereas other options that broadcast seed over the surface are a lot faster but require using higher seeding rates to obtain uniform coverage. - ation 117 2 fect coverage? Do you want near per Do you If so, farmers will need to establish good seed to soil contact through light incorporation or drilling. Any form of cover crop broadcasting will result in spotty coverage. c Appli Crop Cover 1 If so, farmers will need to consider a method that allows you to apply the cover crop well before the last frost. In vegetable and silage operations, this may not be an issue, however most grain corn farmers will need to consider an option that interseeds cover crop into standing cash crops. Is having a legume to Is having fix nitrogen essential? Not long ago, the seeding options for cover crops were limited primarily primarily limited were crops cover for options the seeding long ago, Not a plethora has led to crops in use of cover explosion recent a drill. The to and challenges. advantages own with its each of seeding innovations, and the practice implement each to how outline pages The following application crop cover While exploring and cons. pros associated questions: the following consideration into take methods, Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops cover crop application methods Interseeding before cash crop harvest After cash crop harvest
Row intercrops/ Broadcast & Interseeding High Broadcast During Slurry Interseeding Alternating Crop/ Aerial Broadcast light Drill Clearance sprayer Combine Seeding Skip Row Incorporate
Description Specialized seed Alternating row Modified high Fixed wing airplane, Modified combine Shallow injection Cover crop Cover crop Cover crop seed drill designed to of cash crop and clearance sprayer helicopter or drone broadcasts cover of cover crop seeds broadcast seeds broadcast sowed using a no-till drill cover crops in cover crop drops cover crop drops cover crop crop seed during seed mixed with on soil surface on soil drill after crop standing row crops seeds on standing seeds into standing crop harvesting liquid manure in after crop surface and harvest Most common in crops crops spreader tank. harvest incorporated Suitable for corn corn crops. into top 1” after only. crop harvest
Cover crop Early Summer Spring - Early Early Fall Early Fall Fall - Early Winter Fall - Early Winter Fall - Early Fall - Early Fall - Early Winter application Summer (At Harvest) (Post Harvest) Winter Winter (Post Harvest) Timing (Post Harvest) (Post Harvest)
Typical Very Low Very Low High High High High High Low Low Seeding Rate
Equipment Requires Requires drill and Requires Requires contract Requires modified Requires liquid Requires a seed drill needs specialized precision planting specialized with aerial applicator combine manure injector interseeding equipment equipment, or speader equipment typically rented
Time Slow Fast Fast Very Fast Very Fast Slow Fast Fast Slow Requirements (Assuming medium size 10’ equipment)
Seed to Soil Excellent Excellent Fair Poor Fair Fair Poor Good Excellent Contact
Potential for Some None High None N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Crop Damage
Other Not compatible with Modifications Timing, crop maturity Efficient options Dependent on all widths and types needed. Varying and rainfall forecasted for swine and dairy rainfall and soil of corn planters spread width. is imperative operation injecting moisture Dependent of rainfall liquid manure.
Effective Soil Poor to fair Depends on row Fair to Good Fair to Good Fair to Good Fair to Good Fair to Good Excellent Excellent Cover arrangement
118 Cover Crop Application ost Harvest) Low Slow Excellent Cover crop seed Cover sowed using a no-till drill after crop harvest Fall - Early Winter (P Requires a seed drill N/A Excellent Drill
ost Harvest) Low Low Fast Good Cover crop Cover seeds broadcast on soil surface and incorporated into top 1” after crop harvest Fall - Early Winter (P N/A Excellent Broadcast & light Incorporate ation 119 ost Harvest) High Fast Poor Fall - Early Winter (P Cover crop Cover seeds broadcast on soil surface after crop harvest Fair to Good N/A Dependent on and soil rainfall moisture Broadcast c Appli Crop Cover rvest ha sh crop After ca
ost Harvest) Fair Fall - Early Winter (P High Requires liquid manure injector or speader Slow Shallow injection crop of cover with seed mixed liquid manure in spreader tank. Fair to Good N/A Efficient options for swine and dairy injecting operation liquid manure. Slurry Seeding Fair Very Fast Very Requires modified combine High Fall - Early Winter (At Harvest) odified combine Modified combine broadcasts cover crop seed during crop harvesting Fair to Good N/A Broadcast During Broadcast During Combine Poor Early Fall High Requires contract with aerial applicator Fast Very Fixed wing airplane, Fixed helicopter or drone crop drops cover seeds into standing crops None Timing, crop maturity forecasted and rainfall is imperative Fair to Good Aerial Fair Early Fall High Requires specialized equipment, typically rented Fast Modified high sprayer clearance crop drops cover seeds on standing crops Interseeding High Interseeding High sprayer Clearance High Modifications needed. Varying spread width. Dependent of rainfall Fair to Good Cover Crops Cover Excellent Alternating row of cash crop and crop cover Most common in corn crops. Spring - Early Summer Low Very Requires drill and precision planting equipment Fast Row intercrops/ Row intercrops/ Alternating Crop/ Skip Row None Depends on row arrangement rop harvest cash crop ng before Interseedi Excellent Specialized seed Specialized seed drill designed to crops in drill cover standing row crops Suitable for corn only. Early Summer Low Very Requires specialized interseeding equipment Slow Not compatible with all widths and types of corn planters Some to fair Poor Interseeding te ge tion t ac ther eed to Soil Seed to Cont Description crop Cover applica Timing Typical Seeding Ra Equipment needs Time Requirements (Assuming medium size 10’ equipment) ntial for Pote ma Da Crop O Effective Soil Cover cover crop application methods application crop cover Cover Crops
60” corn rows
row arrangement OPTIONS Corn Cover crop
30 60 30 60 Row spacing 30” 60” 30” 60”
60” Row spacing 60” 60” 60”
120 Cover Crop Application
Orchardgrass - 10lbs/acre Berseem Clover - 4lb/acre White Cover - 4lb/acre Radish - 1 lb/acre Seeding recommendation Seed cover crop in early to mid- June (approximately v4 growth stage). Depending on available equipment, cover crop can be drilled with an inter-seeder or broadcast and lightly incorporated. The ideal species for row inter- crops are cool season, drought and shade tolerant and are relatively easy to establish. Try a multi-species mix containing • • • • A mix of annual ryegrass (20 lbs/acre) and crimson clover clover is also a good shade tolerant option. ottom line Bottom only worthwhile Typically harvesting cover are if you in the late fall for feed crop a or if soil health gains are primary goal. cropping ation
121 ow c Appli Crop Cover Cons of cash crop. Yield reduction weed pressure Increased arrangement and R Crop Plant crops in either a 30-60 30-60 row spacing or a straight 60-inch rows with cover crop between each of the 60-inch rows. See diagram on opposite page. The 60-inch rows are formed by simply disengaging every other row unit on a 30-inch planter, so no special equipment is required. Choose an early Row inter-crops
GE CORN:
erosion at reducing Great season and during growing soil health; can improving crop sizable double provide of forage Pros are most suited to corn silage operations. In this scenario, the silage is removed in early fall, opening up the potential for a fall harvest of cover crop for forage. Grain Corn: Cash crops SILA Cover crops are grown between 60-inch corn rows rows corn 60-inch between grown are crops Cover is corn When the season. growing during the summer the protect to remains crop of cover strips harvested, winter. soil during the
s/ ps/ inter-cro Row ws Crop/Skip ro ating Altern maturing variety (96 to 100 day). It is important that the corn tassels before the cover crop is large enough to compete for water and nutrients. Some farmers increase in-row seeding rates by 50-100%- the equivalent of 68,000 seeds per acre based on 30” row setting. Anticipate at least 5% to 7% yield reduction per acre, or greater. Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
30” corn rows
row arrangement Corn Cover crop
Interseeding Row spacing 30” 30” 30” 30” 30” 30”
122 Cover Crop Application
ennsylvania,
10 lbs/acre Orchard-grass 10 lbs/acre Rye Cereal 5 lbs/acre Crimson Clover 5 lbs/acre Daikon Radish 5 lbs/acre - Jim Hershey Alliance President No-Till PA Elizabethtown, PA Hershey Farms, Tip Expert Orchardgrass Although not typically used crop, orchardgrass as a cover shade and looks tolerates great! Seeding Recommendation for The ideal species interseeding are those that are cool season, somewhat drought and shade tolerant, and relatively easy to establish. A low cost option is 20 lbs/A annual rye grass. For greater soil health gains consider the following mix: • • • • ottom line Bottom P In New Jersey, and Maryland, most farmers find interseeding isn’t Farms in northern effective. more have latitudes may success. ation 123 c Appli Crop Cover Hiniker Drill Interseeder Technologies Dawn – DuoSeed Cover Crop Inter-Seeder Hershey Farms LLC & BZ Manufacturing Cons equipment required Expensive crop poor cover Typically post harvest coverage • • • Cost to purchase a new interseeder ranges from $12,000 to $45,000 depending on width and capacity. Most equipment can be used to drill cover crop after harvest, as well. Some equipment will simultaneously apply post emergent directed herbicides and fertilizer. Equipment a Interseeding requires drill that sows specialized seed cover crop into standing corn rows. Interseeders are typically designed to sow 2 to 3 rows of cover crop between 30” corn rows. Manufacturers of Interseeders include: •
Soil Health Coordinator at Soil Health Coordinator Stroud Water Research Center Research Water Stroud -Lisa Blazure against protects crop Cover in rows between crop erosion season growing Pros
Grain Corn Only is typically This practice corn recommended for grain fields where a fall seeding window is often limited. For corn silage fields, a better cover crop stand is usually achieved drilling post harvest. by xpert Tip Expert Interseeding generally occurs Interseeding generally V3 when corn is between and V7 stage; cover crop interseeded into V4 to V5 corn is typically the most successful. At this stage, the potential for injury from short residual pre-emergence herbicides is reduced and the timing is good for sidedress nitrogen. Furthermore, post-emergent glyphosate or glufosinate could also be applied at this time, if necessary, to control escaped weeds prior to cover crop emergence. Timing
An interseeder is a specialized seed drill designed to sow sow to designed seed drill a specialized is An interseeder grows crop cover The crops. row in standing crops cover until harvest. crop corn under the standing interseeding Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
124 Cover Crop Application
10 lbs/acre Ryegrass Ryegrass 10 lbs/acre crimson clover 5 lbs/acre dikon radish 5 lbs/acre ottom line Bottom field is Great option if (1) your set up for a Hagie and (2) you area. in your an operator have Most farmers will find this type of equipment is rare. Expert Recommendation • • • Seeding Recommendation Grasses are more adapted to germinate on the soil surface. Their young roots are smaller than those of legumes, so they can penetrate the surface crust easier. Small seeded brassicas will also establish well so long as soil temperatures are greater than 45° F. ation
125 c Appli Crop Cover very access to Requires equipment specialized amount for larger Potential damage, especially of crop in soybeans. Bradford County Soil Bradford Conservation District cons • • • xpert Tip Expert find a high Where to clearance Interseeder Equipment High clearance sprayers, also called Highboys, can be modified to plant cover crop. The Hagie Cover Crop Interseeder allows applicators to convert high clearance rigs for cover crop seeding at a costs of $40,000. Most producers tend to hire custom operators , at the rate of $8 and $15 per acre, to seed cover crop using a high clearance sprayer. Farmers should anticipate substantial crop damage through head-rows. Level field will have substantially less damage.
is tion tion all applica Lowest cost option to in crop establish cover standing corn and beans placement than exact More aerial
• • Pros
optimal but requires highly specialized equipment that is not available in many regions. Aim to seed through soybeans when first yellow leaves appear and through corn shortly after tasselling. rly f Early ca summer appli Early Timing Farmers can use high clearance sprayers to broadcast seed through corn in V4 to V5 vegetative growth stages (early summer) or corn and soybeans during the end of their reproductive stages (early fall)
nce sprayer Cleara cover broadcast can sprayer clearance Modified high crops The cover rows. and soybean corn between crops until harvest in mid- crop cash the standing under grow fall. h High wit Interseeding causes less crop damage but is generally not recommended. Broadcast cover crop seeds in the summer will struggle to germinate; those that do will be shaded-out by the surrounding corn canopy. Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
Photo credit: Bridgett Hilshey, North Jersey RC&D
126 Cover Crop Application
38 lbs. Winter Rye 9 lbs. Annual Ryegrass (uncoated) 8 lbs. Crimson Clover 4 lbs. Coated Annual Ryegrass 3 lbs. Medium Red Clover xpert Tip Expert Aerial Seeding Mix The following mix works great aerially seeded and qualifies farmers for reimbursement for multi-species through NRCS crop. cover • • • • • Seeding Recommendation adapted to Grasses are more germinate on the soil surface. Their young roots are smaller than those of legumes, so they can penetrate the surface crust easier. Ryegrass should be coated when aerially seeded. See “Small seeds specific coatings” on page 111. Cereal grains may be easily established by aerial seeding if moisture and soil conditions are suitable. Small seeded brassicas will also establish well so long as soil temperatures are above 45° F. ottom line Bottom Great option of grain/bean farmers interested in multi- crop; more species cover in lighter textured effective soils. ation 127 c Appli Crop Cover Expensive Successful germination depends on weather soils in clay Not effective Cons • • • Equipment to Hire an aerial applicator seed apply seed. Optimum drop is from a height of 50 to 60 feet above the canopy. Airplanes are faster and can hold larger seed loads but may have trouble seeding small, irregularly shaped fields. An average airplane can seed 300 to 600 acres a day. Helicopters are slower but more maneuverable and do a better job along end rows and headlands. The turbulence from the helicopter blades may dislodge seed caught in the crop canopy, improving seed to soil contact. Helicopters can seed about 150 acres a day. Some farmers are experimenting with drones, applying 10-12 lbs of grass, although the practice is uncommon and not yet considered economical by most. Aerial applicators charge between $20 and $35 per acre in the most Mid-Atlantic regions. when tion after plants armers for cover Efficient option to amounts of grain large crop corn and soybeans
Pros •
begin drying down, and more light can penetrate the corn canopy. plant achieves 10% leaf drop or yellowing. The leaves that fall after seeding will act as mulch and provide good soil protection and moisture conservation. Aerially seeding is logistically expensive. difficult and and money Farmers can save or arranging resources by partnering with other neighbors’ S or farms, nonprofits, NRC Conservation Districts. xpert tip: Expert Pooling f easier applica to corn Seed into ans soybe Seed into The timing of seeding is crucial The timing of seeding to successful germination. Early to mid-September is generally the ideal time-frame for the mid-Atlantic region. Timing
Fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, and drones can drop drop can drones and helicopters, airplanes, Fixed-wing crops The cover crops. row standing into crops cover until harvest in mid-fall. crop the cash under grow lication al app Aeri Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Horsch seeder hopper feeds air-driven seed to distribution outlets spaced for uniform delivery under combine header. 128 Cover Crop Application
Seeding Recommendation species will The ideal cover crop aggressive be cold hardy, and under and enough to establish Coated through thick residues. and cereal annual ryegrass grains are suitable for a later season broadcast application. See “Small seeds specific coatings:” on page 111. For farmers who are good with For and to tinker, mechanics, like can accept somewhat spotty crop establishment, this cover is a good, low cost option that field time and additional saves passes. ottom line Bottom ation 129 c Appli Crop Cover Harvest will be interrupted crop cover refill need to by seed hopper refill even achieve Difficult to seed distribution over headlands and end rows. Cons • • Equipment onto Air seeders installed cover crops combines can seed Installation will during harvest. creativity require substantial are no kits and ingenuity; there designed for this purpose. The seeder can be manually calibrated or controlled by a variable-speed drive. Ideally, the seeder automatically adjusts seed volume based on the speed of the combine to achieve an even application rate. Plastic tubing routed under the combine transports ryegrass seed from the seeder to the soil surface where it is subsequently covered up by straw and chaff from the corn head. Anticipate an initial investment of at least $15,000 for seeding equipment, although lower cost options do exist. uring harvest During asting adc
ery low cost the field One pass through fuel cost and minimizes soil compaction V
Pros • •
Timing should Agricultural producers the bulk of plan to complete to allow crop harvest by mid-fall for cover crop for adequate time winter. to establish before For producers who wait to harvest until late fall or winter, this cover crop application method may not be appropriate. Combines can be outfitted with a small air seeder that that air seeder with a small be outfitted can Combines seed during combining. crop cover broadcasts Bro Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
130 Cover Crop Application Seeding te: 10 lbs/acre Ryegrass 10 lbs/acre Rye Cereal 30 lbs/acre Crimson Clover 3 lbs/acre ow Seeding Ra L Expert Recommendation • • • Seeding rate Cover crops seeded with a no-till drill have uniform seeding depth and adequate seed to soil contact. As a result farmers can expect excellent germination from all cover crop species regardless of seed size. rate should be kept on the lower end to prevent cover crops from becoming too thick and creating problems when it’s time to plant the primary crop -- especially annual ryegrass — because it can be overwhelming and choke other crops. Drilling is the most reliable and most common tool to crop. establish cover ottom line Bottom ation 131 Replace
“Components & Increase drill weight c Appli Crop Cover Drills travel slowly -- not hments: ac Slow -- depending on drill farmers can expect to size a only plant 100-200 acres day. cons • Retrofits” on page 56. disk-opener blades when the diameters are worn ½ inch from original new size. Consider upgraded closing wheels. See eight: Weight: Att No-till drills use opening disks to create a narrow slot into which the cover crop seed is dropped. The slot is firmed or closed by some form of closing mechanism. When considering purchasing or borrowing a drill to plant cover crop consider the following: Size: Equipment to improve soil penetration and residue cutting. more than 3-5 mph depending on soil condition. A wider drill will enable the farmer to cover more acres faster. al ? germination and Excellent stand for most species lowest seeding Requires rate.
Pros • •
ow cost drill rent any soil conservation districts soil conservation Many non-profits and agricultural no-till drills available have for rent at a reduced rate. Examples include North Jersey Audubon, New Jersey RC&D, Habitat. and Team KNOW DID YOU L options Timing Drill cover crops as soon as possible after harvesting the cash crop.
No-till drills place cover crop seed in the ground with with in the ground seed crop cover place drills No-till residue. or surface the topsoil to minimal disturbance and excellent seeding depth The seeds achieve uniform common drill is the most No-till soil-contact. seed-to crops. cover of establishing means o-till drilling No-till Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops Cover Crops
On this no-till drill, seed from the standard seed box is directed between the opening disks. Seed from the from native seed box (largest tube) and legume box (smallest tube) is directed to the soil surface behind the opening disks, resulting in a much more shallow seed placement; closing wheels will generally push the seed, on the soil surface, into the soil. How to drill a mixture of different sized seeds A diverse cover crop mixture often contains large seeds (peas), medium seeds (cereal grains, vetch, and radish) and very small seeds (clover and ryegrass). Each species has a specific optimal seeding depth -- typically between 0.25 to 1.5 inches. To successfully establish a diverse cover crop mixture, farms can plant different seeds at different depths using multiple seed boxes or plant all seed at a single “average” depth. Both methods can be successful.
132 132 Cover Crops Cover Crop Application Cover Crop Application
When using a grain drill When using a grain drill with multiple seed boxes. with a single seed box or Place large seeds (cereal rye, wheat a pre-mixed seed mixture. and triticale) in the large box, Mix all the seed of all species in sometimes called the grain box. The one drill box (usually the large seed drop tubes from the large box will box) and set the seeding depth to direct seeds to the deepest point in the approximately 0.75 to 1 inch. slot created by the disk openers. It has been theorized that in a mixture Place smaller seeds (legumes, forbs, the larger seeded species planted and brassicas) in the small box, at such a depth will break open the sometimes called the legume box. The seed slot as they germinate and allow drop tubes from the small seed box the smaller seeded species to then can be directed to drop seed at the emerge. rear of the disc openers, resulting in a shallower seed placement. The drop When using this strategy, try to get tubes from the small box can also be a drill with an agitator that will mix left hanging straight down to dribble the seeds to avoid the larger, heavy seed on the soil surface. seed segregating to the bottom of the box. Drilling at slower speeds may Planting mixtures in one pass by reduce seed size stratification. For splitting the species according to seed drills without an agitator it may also size and planting depth has been the be necessary to stop periodically and most effective strategy for obtaining hand mix the seed. optimum seeding depths for various species in a mixture. Expert tip Improve seed mixing Adding zip ties across the agitator bars to increase the “fingers” can aid in the mixing.
- Michael Yacovelli Farm Foreman NRCS Cape May Plant Materials Center
Adapted from “Making the Most of Mixtures: Considerations for Winter Cover Crops:, Charles White and Mary Barbercheck, Penn State Extension, 2017.
133 133 Cover Crops Cover Crops
Drill settings for cover crops Some drills may not specify a calibrated setting for the specific cover crop being planted. The following basic guidelines are designed to help farmers select an appropriate drill rate setting.
IF BUSHEL WEIGHT IS KNOWN, U.S. COMMERCIAL GRAIN BUSHEL SIZES calibrate the drill using the crop setting with most similar bushel weight. Commodity per Weight bushel Commodity per Weight bushel Grass (Blue, 14 lb Sorghum, 56 lb IF BUSHEL WEIGHT is UNKNOWN Smooth grain follow these basic guidelines: Brome, Alfalfa 60 lb • If you’re using a mixture of Orchard & Clover 60 lb seed that is dominated by Redtop) (Sweet, one product then just use Alsike, that seed for the setting; Sunflower 28 lb Crimson, for instance, if planting a (oil type) Ladino, Red, mixture of cereal rye, clover Sudan 28 lb and )White and radish, use the setting grass appropriate for cereal rye; Oats 32 lb the clover and radish are such a minor percentage of Grass, 45 lb Flax 60 lb the overall weight that they Timothy don’t make a difference for Barley 48 lb Rape 60 lb the setting. Millet 50 lb Soybeans 60 lb • For mixes dominated by oats Sorghum, 50 lb Trefoil, 60 lb and barley, use the barley forage Birdsfoot setting. Corn, 56 lb Corn, ear 56 lb • For warm season mixes with shelled everything from millet to Rye 56 lb Vetch 60 lb sunflower to corn, use the milo setting.
To calibrate the drill, collect and weigh the material from one of the seed meters for the distance equal to 1,000th of an acre, which will give a no-tiller an idea on how to set it.
134 134 Cover Crops Cover Crop Application Cover Crop Application
Tips for drilling into heavy corn residue Heavy corn residues on the soil surface can make establishing cover crops difficult. Below are some tips to increase success.
During corn harvest During cover crop Improve residue distribution establishment A chaff spreader will more evenly Sow cover crops on a distribute the residues over the soil diagonal to previous corn surface. rows: By sowing cover crop do not Process corn stalks diagonal to the previous crops, into smaller pieces: Chopping farmers are more likely to have a heads slice stalks into smaller, more uniform cover crop establishment. manageable pieces. This can make Sow cover crops when it more difficult for a no-till drill to residues ARE dry and brittle: cut or penetrate through the heavy Well maintained opening disks mat. should be able to slice through dry, Limit residue accumulation brittle corn stalks. Wet stalks and on soil surface: Raise combine residues are much more difficult to head to chop corn stalks as high as cut through. possible.
See “Improving Residue Distribution” on page 30 for more information
135 135 Cover Crops
Photo Credit: Sious County Soil and Water Conservation District; Broadcasting Seeding Cover Crops Broadcasting Seeding Cover Crop by Farmers Coop 136 Cover Crop Application
Increase seeding tes: containing a wide variety of seed sizes. Spread patterns for seeds will vary based on their respective weights; heavier seeds spread further than lighter seeds. Mixing seed with pelletized lime or fertilizer is a great option for saving time; seed blended with fertilizer should be immediately spread to prevent damage to the seed. rates by 20% to 50% when broadcasting; soils with higher clay content, or those prone to drying or crusting should receive higher seeding rates. Avoid seed mixtures Avoid Seeding Recommendation Ra ottom line Bottom option for An excellent soils who farmers with loamy need to seed a lot of acres quickly. ation seeding
137 higher
much c Appli Crop Cover Spinner Drop Tubes Air Pressure and arying seed sizes seed costs increasing rates, for large Not appropriate germinate don’t seeds as they well V in densities could result stands uneven cons Requires • • • Accurately metering seed, particularly mixes, can be a challenge. Make sure the seeding pattern is appropriate for complete and even ground cover. Equipment common farm Multiple types of equipment can be retrofitted to broadcast cover crops. ast seeding adc
and cheap application Fast method Pros
Broadcast cover crops as soon Broadcast cover as possible after harvesting the cash crop. Wind speed should be 10 mph or less when broadcasting light seed such as annual ryegrass. Rainfall after broadcast planting is critical. Timing
Seed may be broadcast into light residue crops, without crops, light residue into be broadcast Seed may adequate If the seeds receive seedbed preparation. winter achieve an adequate can broadcasting rainfall, cover. Bro Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Example of an implement mounted air seeder: https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/covercrop/planting/
138 Cover Crop Application
Seeding Recommendation The light incorporation of cover crop seeds dramatically improves seed to soil contact, over broadcasting alone. As a result farmers can expect excellent germination from all cover crop species regardless of seed size. ottom line Bottom A good option for farms using some form of tillage regularly- particularly when seeds are applied early enough to in establish winter soil cover lieu of surface residues. ation 139 c Appli Crop Cover Vertical Tillage Rotary Hoe Fluffing Harrow Rollerpacker cons potential for erosion, Increase particularly when surface incorporated. are residues two passes require May field depending on through equipment available • • • Tip Expert deep! Don’t go too tillage to When using vertical seeds, most farmers go incorporate too deep, disturbing too much soil. Cover crops can be broadcast onto a field, followed by a light tillage pass to incorporate, or seeds can be spread and incorporated with a seeder mounted directly on the vertical tillage implement. Implements should be set to run no deeper than 1”. Run straight coulters on the vertical tillage implement. Avoid cupped or concave blades, as these invert the soil and bury the cover crop too deep. Common options include: • Equipment t t h ligh ast wit adc
and cheap application Fast method Pros
Timing Broadcast cover crops as soon as possible after harvesting the cash crop. Wind speed should be 10 mph or less when broadcasting light seed such as annual ryegrass. Rainfall after broadcast planting is critical. Shallow incorporation of broadcasted cover crop seeds crop cover of broadcasted incorporation Shallow development. stand crop cover improves greatly oration incorp Bro Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo Credit: Allamakee SWCD https://allamakeeswcd.org/manure-and-cover-crops/
140 Cover Crop Application
Increase seeding rate at least 30% to account for poor germination. Keep period during which cover crop seed is mixed with manure to less than 1 hour A rainfall event or irrigation within the first week after slurry seeding may be critical in order to achieve a good establishment of the crop. Seeding recommendations High ammonia concentrations within manure will have an inhibitory effect on the germination of some cover crop seeds. Cereal rye is least impacted by ammonia. Avoid using crimson clover. • • • ottom line Bottom A viable option for those injecting liquid already will although cover manure spreading be higher if manure is performed independent of crops. planting cover ation 141 c Appli Crop Cover Cons seed germination Poor necessitates higher seeding rates Equipment manure This method requires injection equipment. Cover- crop seed is mixed directly with liquid manure in a commercial manure tanker. Bypass flow from the PTO pump agitates the manure and keeps the seed suspended in the slurry. Seed-laden slurry is delivered through drop tubes to the fractured and loosened soil behind the aeration tines.
Limits the number of field passes because the manure crop application and cover done in a single seeding are pass Pros
Slurry seeding is most effective on fairly level ground; seed may not be spread evenly when going up or down hills. Manure should be continuously agitated for best results. Application : Considerations Cover crop seed can be mixed into a tank with liquid with a tank into be mixed seed can crop Cover be dripped then can swine or dairy the mixture manure; slurry during manure soil surface fractured onto application. lurry Seeding Slurry Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo by Kyle Spradley, Curators of the University of Missouri; Hundley-Whaley Superintendent Bruce Burdick shares the center in Albany’s recent study that involves what time to terminate cover crops. Burdick has killed the crops at different heights to see which process effects ground tempera- ture and moisture in the spring. Cover Crop Termination
142 Cover Crop Termination “Brown and Down” “Brown and Down” Chemical Control Planting Green: Chemical Control Chemical The most common tool to control cover crops is herbicides such as 2,4-D, glyphospate, and Gramaxone. Chemical control can either occur before planting or, with certain herbicide resistant cash crops, during or after planting. 143 Mowing Tillage Roller Crimping Grazing Mechanical Uprooting cover crop using tillage or mechanically damaging or cutting the aboveground vegetation can be an effective method of cover crop termination. These methods rely heavily on species selection and termination timing to be effective. Cover Cover Termination Crop tural Winter-Kill na Several cover crop species cannot survive colder winters. These cover crops will die over the winter (winter- kill) without the need for mechanical or chemical intervention. Cover crops need to be terminated (killed) before or (killed) before be terminated to need crops Cover is If termination planted. are cash crops the shortly after the cash robbing as weeds, act crops the cover incomplete, sunlight, and nutrients. of moisture, crops solutions, termination crop of cover variety a wide are There levels, and experience operations, of a wide range for suited outline the most will broadly section The following goals. and advantages associated practices, termination common success. increase and tips to disadvantages, Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Cover Crop Termination summary of Options The following table roughly summarizes the basic characteristics of each termination method. More detailed information about each method can be found on the following pages.
Down and Brown: Planting Green: Cover Crop Practice Name Winter Kill Mowing Tillage Roller crimping Chemical Control Chemical Control Grazing
Practice Warm season cover Cover crops terminated Cover crops terminated Cover crops above Soil is overturned, Cover crops stem Cover crops intensively Description crops are naturally using herbicide 10 -14 using herbicide during or ground biomass is cut damaging the cover is crimped along grazed by livestock; killed by winter frosts days prior to planting after planting cash crops or shred. crop root systems their lengths causing most above ground causing desiccation desiccation. biomass is consumed Typical Oct-Dec March-April May May March-April Mid-May through Early June time-frame Early June
Vegetation Varies depending on 1-3” 6-60” 6-12” Varies 3’ - 6’ Varies Height planting date Cover Crop Oats, Berseem clover, Most Species Most Species Legumes and some Most species: Avoid Hairy vetch, winter Most species although Species oilseed radish and forbs only; grasses clovers -- they will peas, barley, triticale, cool season cereals annual medics. and cereal grains will be more difficult to or cereal rye have the greatest considerations regrow after mowing. manage with tillage nutritive quality and alone. digestibility Termination Most effective during Most effective during Only effective when Only effective when Won’t result in timing vegetative growth stage vegetative growth stage cover crops are cover crops are complete termination and during sunny, warm and during sunny, warm flowering or in early flowering or in early considerations conditions conditions reproductive phase reproductive phase Equipment None No specialized Specialized closing wheels, Flail mowers are more Any tillage equipment Pull behind, front Fence and moveable Required equipment opening disks, and residue effective mounted or planter water supplies cleaners will help prevent mounted roller wrapping crimpers Difficulty Easy Easy Easy to advanced depending Easy Moderate Advanced Moderate on cover crop height. Estimated None Most farmers can use $1000-$8000 depending on Most farmers can use Most farmers can use $6,000 - $30,000 Hugely Variable Startup Cost existing equipment planter size and needs existing equipment existing equipment depending on type depending on operation size and needs. Soil Health Fair Good Very Good Very Good Poor Excellent Excellent Benefit Organic Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Sometimes Applicable
144 Cover Crop Termination ence and moveable ence and moveable Sometimes ugely Variable Hugely Variable depending on operation size and needs. Excellent Cover crops intensively crops intensively Cover livestock; by grazed ground most above biomass is consumed Early June Varies Most species although cool season cereals the greatest have quality and nutritive digestibility F water supplies Moderate Won’t result in Won’t complete termination Cover Crop Crop Cover Grazing g oller crimpin Yes $6,000 - $30,000 depending on type Excellent Cover crops stem Cover is crimped along their lengths causing desiccation. through Mid-May Early June 3’ - 6’ winter Hairy vetch, triticale, peas, barley, or cereal rye Pull behind, front mounted or planter mounted roller crimpers Advanced nly effective when Only effective crops are cover flowering or in early phase reproductive R 145 Cover Cover Termination Crop ge Yes Most farmers can use equipment existing Poor Any tillage equipment Any Moderate March-April Varies Most species: Avoid will -- they clovers be more difficult to manage with tillage alone. oil is overturned, Soil is overturned, damaging the cover crop root systems causing desiccation Tilla Yes Very Good Very Most farmers can use equipment existing Easy Flail mowers are more effective nly effective when Only effective crops are cover flowering or in early phase reproductive Legumes and some Legumes forbs only; grasses will and cereal grains regrow after mowing. 6-12” May Cover crops above crops above Cover is cut ground biomass or shred. Mowing Very Good Very No 6-60” Most Species Specialized closing wheels, opening disks, and residue cleaners will help prevent wrapping Easy to advanced depending crop height. on cover $1000-$8000 depending on planter size and needs Cover crops terminated crops terminated Cover or using herbicide during after planting cash crops May ost effective during Most effective growth stage vegetative warm and during sunny, conditions trol Chemical Con n: Planting Gree Good No 1-3” Most Species No specialized equipment Easy Most farmers can use equipment existing Cover crops terminated crops terminated Cover -14 using herbicide 10 prior to planting days March-April ost effective during Most effective growth stage vegetative warm and during sunny, conditions n: Down and Brow trol Chemical Con Cover Crops Cover Fair Yes Varies depending on Varies planting date Oats, Berseem clover, and oilseed radish annual medics. None Easy None Warm season cover season cover Warm crops are naturally winter frosts killed by Oct-Dec Winter Kill tions tions tion tion ted a rtup Cost artup Height timing considera Equipment Required Difficulty Estima St Soil Health Benefit anic Org Applicable tice Prac Description Typical time-frame Veget Crop Cover Species considera Termina tice Name Prac ry of Options of ary summ ation Termin Crop Cover method. termination each of characteristics the basic summarizes roughly table The following pages. on the following be found can method each about information detailed More Cover Crops
Termination is a balancing act Each spring, growers in the northeast need to decide when to terminate their cover crop. This decision is a balancing act between maximizing biomass production to enhance soil quality benefits and minimizing potential risk to cash crop planting and emergence.
When determining an ideal cover crop termination Early Termination: Delayed Termination: date, agricultural producers need to consider the The choice to terminate Delayed termination is a prac- growing season of the early, for most farmers, is tice with both significant po- cover crop, soil moisture, a practical one. In cover tential risks and large potential soil temperature, N crop only a few inches rewards. Termination needs to management, allelopathy/ tall, termination and be timed to maximize soil health weed suppression, and subsequent planting is gains without compromising equipment under a variety relatively straightforward crop yields. When executed cor- of different climatic and requires little rectly, innovative termination patterns and crop rotations. specialized equipment and strategies accelerate soil organic supplies. Moreover, early Poor termination can result matter formation, reduce weed termination paves the way and pest pressure, reduce the in cover crops becoming for early planting. “weeds” and impeding need for chemical inputs, and increase water conservation. cash crop germination, Agronomically easier and in turn, significantly with less risk to cash More significant potential reduce yields and profit. for soil health gains All termination decisions crops impact profitability and the potential for economic gains or losses.
More Available Less Water in Herbicide Soil for Cash Required Crops
Less Risk of More Plant Cover Crop Earlier Cover Crop Available N in Break down planting dates Becoming a Soil for Cash faster are possible Weed Crops
Early Termination 146
Cover Crop Termination
ground ground
Carbon Carbon
Biomass Biomass
n tio
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ore above above ore M
More Weed Weed More
Suppression
season
More N N More
Enhanced Enhanced
protection protection
Atmosphere
soil erosion erosion soil
fixation from from fixation
during growing growing during
during during
summer
Lower soil soil Lower
temperatures temperatures
activity
during during season
biological biological
growing growing
igher soil soil igher H
Reduced Reduced evaporation evaporation
147
na ermi T YED
Slower Slower
residues
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Cover Cover Termination Crop
more more
Deeper, Deeper,
counteract counteract
compaction
larger roots roots larger
A DEL challenge. crops can be a crops, deciding terminate cover terminate cover how and when to started with cover started with cover For farmers getting getting farmers For Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg John Deere tractor spraying a cover crop field with herbicides.
Expert Tip Be prepared for slower soil drying Soil will be slower to dry out after the cover crop is terminated. Dead cover crops don’t pull moisture out of the soil like a living cover crop and can shade Jason Johnson Iowa NRCS the soil. The farmer cropland recently terminat- ed his cereal rye cover crop in prepara- - Jim Hershey tion for planting soybeans. PA No-Till Alliance President Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown,
148 Cover Crop Termination
Don’t let cover crops get too large, particularly when starting out. Cover crops under 6” tall shouldn’t wrap around equipment Plant when dead cover crops are dry. Dry cover crop residue is easier to cut through, reducing potential problems with hair-pinning. xpert Tip Expert be to it for cover Wa d crispy n an brow It is critical to wait 10 to 14 after termination before days planting the cash crop! Newly will crop leaves killed cover be difficult to cut through increasing hair- dramatically pinning. Planting through cover crops that are brown and crispy will be easiest. Planting after Thick cover crop residues can be a nightmare to plant into. The long stems will bind and wrap around residue cleaners and closing wheels. The residues can create a slimy mat, particularly after rain events. Consider the following to reduce potential problems: • • terminating 149 before stems before they joint over ture cover
Cover Cover Termination Crop elongate and become woody. Grasses Legumes - RJ Fulper Family Farms Fulper ver-ma Tip Expert O crop crop reaches When cover stage (the boot reproductive and bud stage in stage in grass legumes) consider switching to a contact herbicide to burn down. When the vegetation a regrowth occurs, the plant will be easier to control with a systemic or contact herbicide. crop terminate a cover If you after it has gotten too big, crop can turn the dead cover into a thick mat that will keep the ground from drying out. early or be prepared Terminate to plant green. Timing Termination Target termination for when the plants are in a vegetative stage and the weather conditions are fair and conducive to growing. During these conditions, herbicides are more effective. Target termination when: • •
Species ver Crop Multi-species mixes can be challenging to terminate and generally require a multi-faceted herbicide program as each species will respond best to a different herbicide and will be at a different phase of development. Cover crop varieties will differ in their susceptibility to herbicide; talk to your seed dealer about how it responds to herbicide. More seed is not always better: dense seeding rates necessitate higher herbicide application rates -- partially when relying on contact herbicides. Red Clover and vetch are notoriously difficult to terminate. Winter wheat is more difficult to kill than cereal rye. Follow special recommendations to kill annual ryegrass.
• • • • • Most cover crops are fairly easy to control in a burn-down program as long as you pay attention to detail. Keep in mind the following details: • Co Herbicide is the most common tool to terminate terminate to tool common most Herbicide is the and uses very effective, generally It is fast, crop. cover own. already farmers most equipment that
l control al control Chemic before planting before Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops Cover Crops
Translocated herbicides: Glyphosate 2,4-D Dicamba
Translocated herbicides are absorbed Increasing Effectiveness by the foliage (and in some cases Apply translocated herbicide when green stems), and moved throughout plants are actively growing -- sunny the plant to stems, roots, and days when daytime temperatures are underground storage tissues. above 55°F and nighttime temper- Ideal for killing plants with well- atures stay above 40°F. Ideally air developed perennial root systems. temperatures should be mild/warm before, during, and after herbicide Common Examples application. • Glyphosate (Round-up) is the most Apply translocated herbicides in the effective burndown herbicide for grass cover crops in cool and variable spring early morning to early-afternoon. conditions After 2PM effectiveness will sharply • 2,4-D is used to control broadleaf cover decline. crops and legumes • Dicamba (Banvel/Clarity) is used to control broadleaf cover crops and legumes • Clopyralid (Stinger) used to control broadleaf cover crops and legumes Always read and follow the label instructions
150 150 Cover Crops Cover Crop Termination Cover Crop Termination
Photo Credit: Aqua Mechanical Tractor Fertilize Field Pesticide And Insecticide
Contact Herbicides paraquat glufosinate
Contact herbicides affect only the Increasing Effectiveness parts of the plant they come into Increase spray volume to a contact with. minimum of 20 GPA to improve Ideal for small, annual plants and coverage when encountering dense mature cover crops in reproductive canopies. phases. Be aware that it is more difficult to achieve complete coverage with Common Examples a contact herbicide in a mixed • Paraquat (Gramoxone SL) can cover crop stand due to the species be used as an alternative to glyphosate for termination of grass being different in size and shape. cover crops, but is generally less This may result in inconsistent consistent. termination. Plan accordingly. Use flat fan nozzle tips that produce a uniform spray pattern and thorough coverage and be sure to include an appropriate nonionic surfactant.
Always read and follow the label instructions
151 151 Cover Crops Cover Crops
General Tips Chemical Cover Crop Control Considerations
1 Always check rotation Cereal rye & Annual ryegrass restrictions other cereal Some crops cannot grains Difficulty Terminating: be planted a certain Somewhat Difficult Difficulty Terminating: number of days before Most Effective Easy or after herbicide Herbicide Glyphosate Most Effective application. Be aware Application Tips: Herbicide: Gramoxone or of any restriction Annual ryegrass has a glyphosate when developing a reputation for resisting termination plan. Application Tips: termination. Always apply Cereal rye is one of the glyphosate during warm, 2 Apply herbicides easiest cover crops to control sunny conditions in the to actively growing using herbicide. Before morning or early afternoon. cover crop boot stage, cereal rye can be Under cool conditions, it may effectively terminated with Most herbicides will take two to three weeks to glyphosate. be substantially more kill the ryegrass and a second effective when applied After boot stage gramoxone, application of herbicide may during warm, sunny or a mixuture of gramoxone or be necessary. glyphosate, is more effective. conditions. As the plant If cold, wet and cloudy actively undergoes Winter wheat can be weather condition persists, photosynthesis, the somewhat more challenging farmers can burn the field herbicide is transported and may require the addition down with Gramoxone to through the plant, of atrazine or metribuzin to achieve about 70% control. maximizing impact. effectively control. Then apply standard rate of glyphosate or another 3 Terminate cover crop application of Gramoxone to prior to flowering fully terminate. when possible Plants that have reached Expert Tip their reproductive phase Be wary of VNS are more difficult to Ryegrass control with herbicides. VNS annual ryegrass can contain a mix of varieties that respond to herbicides differently and break Adapted from “Important dormancy at different reminders for chemically time periods. This can terminating cover crops” by Erin Hill, Michigan State University complicate termination. Extension, Department of Plants, Soil and Microbial Sciences (2017)
152 152 Cover Crops Cover Crop Termination Cover Crop Termination
Vetches Clovers Brassicas Difficulty Difficulty Difficulty Terminating: Somewhat Terminating: Somewhat. Terminating: Somewhat. Depends on species and Depends on species and Most Effective varieties. Red clover is varieties. Herbicide: 2,4-D, dicamba, harder to terminate than clopyralid, or mixes Most Effective crimson, balansa or alsike Herbicide: 2,4-D Application Tips: varieties. For control of most clovers Application Tips: Most Effective or other legume cover Some brassicas, like Herbicide: crops, glyphosate alone is rapeseed, are especially Dicamba generally not effective, but is difficult to kill with useful in mixture with other Application Tips: glyphosate, requiring a herbicides. Only crimson clover can be higher than normal rate of effectively controlled with application and possibly A 2,4-D ester or dicamba glyphosate or gramozone multiple applications. formulation will effectively alone. For other clover control hairy vetch and field Radish, mustard, and turnip varities, Dicamba, atrazine or peas. can be killed using a full metribuzin should be added rate of gramoxone, multiple to increase performance. Expert tip applications of glyphosate, or Avoid using vetch Expert tip glyphosate plus 2, 4-D. in rotations with beware of red small grains clover Vetches have a high Red clover can take up to proportion of hard seed. three weeks to die compared Even when effectively to crimson clover which will terminated with herbicide be dead in five days. in the spring, dormant seeds will continue to germinate in-field for years. This can be extremely problematic for small grain production.
Adapted from “Cover Crop Control Considerations” by Dwight Lingenfelter, Senior Extension Associate – Weed Science, Penn State Extension (2016)
153 153 Cover Crops
Learn more See “Benefits and Risks of Planting Green” on page 92
154 Cover Crop Termination Most farmers aim to terminate cover crops within seven days of planting cash crops and before emergence; termination scenario adheres to NRCS and FSA recommendations and ensures the crop is eligible for crop insurance. Do not plant green when long term weather predictions call for a dry planting season. tips Termination TIMING: for farmers, already Great comfortable crops cover with in and no-till and interested pushing their soil health gains the next level to ottom line Bottom 155
Cover Cover Termination Crop Cons for poor termination, Potential and reduced planter problems, yields, particularlycash crop systems in corn production or in a dry spring when covers the from moisture can rob cash crop. Planting cash crops Although there are many forms of “planting green”, the most typical method is terminate the cover crop in a vegetative growth stage (3-8 inches) at the same time as planting genetically modified cash crop that will not be impacted by the herbicide. It is not uncommon for experienced farmers to describe challenging experiences planting green. Tall covers can quickly wrap and bind around the many rotating elements of a planter or drill. Inadequate termination may leave cash crops struggling to complete against cover crops. See “How to Plant Green Using Chemical Control” on page 166 for more detailed instruction. te: Select cover crops
Species ver crop
Pros plant Enables farmers to during wetter conditions; crop the cover maximizes soil health for greater growth benefits. arieties: that are relatively simple to kill using herbicide and are slower to mature and enter reproductive phase. (Cover crops in reproductive phases are more difficult to terminate with herbicide.) Reducing cover crop seeding rate by 30%, especially if applying manure. Some farmers planting green seed rye as low as 30 lbs/A. Reduce seeding ra Co crop kill cover Easy to v nting: lanting: after p Cover crops can be terminated during or after cash during or after be terminated can crops Cover other and Glyphospate planting using herbicide. crop GMO (ie. Roundup to applied safely be herbicides can emergence. after or shortly before crops Ready) ontrol Control al Chemic Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg and USDA-SARE.
TWO TYPES OF ROLLER CRIMPERS
or
Water Filled Drum Planter Mounted
156 Cover Crop Termination
for successful Expert Tip Tip Expert NRCS Plant Materials Center NRCS - Michael Yacovelli can practice This advanced cut back enable farms to on herbicide and fertilizer but profits, inputs increasing farmers should be prepared and yield for troubleshooting declines. ottom line Bottom TIP EXPERT crimp roller when to the stem should experience In my let me know if hand to snap in my it will crimp well. A mower on the pops rear can cut down whatever are not towing back up if not you a seeder. If using an independent drum roller crimper, it is critical to plant in the same direction as the crops were crimped. planting Crimping and cial Timing is cru termination with a roller- crimper. Grass cover crops should be roller-crimped after they start flowering (anthesis). Legumes such as hairy vetch should be roller-crimped after they start to produce pods.
oller 157 The original roller of roller Cover Cover Termination Crop Roller ZRX - Zone 5500Devastor Yetter Agriculture Dawn Underground Cons planting date until Delays or June for most farms; May potential for poor termination, reduced planter problems, yields, particularlycash crop systems. in corn production crimper, water filled drums are either pushed in front of or pulled behind a tractor. • There are two common types of roller crimpers available: R Pull/Push Drum Crimpers: Planter Mounter Crimpers: Roller crimping units can also be added to the front of planters enabling planters to crimp and plant in a single pass. Manufactures include: • Method crimping etch.
Pros plant in Enables farmers to wetter conditions; maximizes for growth crop the cover soil health benefits; greater mat that a vegetation creates soil; higher N fixation protects when using Hairy V
Not all cover crop species are suited to termination using a roller crimper. Elbon cereal rye, the earliest flowering commercial rye cultivar, is the most common cover crop choice for farmers interested in using a roller crimper to terminate. Triticale may also be used, however, it won’t reach maturity until five to seven days later than Elbon rye, further delaying cash crop planting. Hairy vetch is the only legume suited to termination using a roller crimper. Conveniently, it also reaches reproductive maturity around the same time as cereal rye. ng floweri Plant early grains: : Species Suitable
Roller crimpers are round drums, typically with angled with typically drums, round are crimpers Roller knock designed to are that pattern, fins in a chevron and thus damaging the the stems kinking cover, tall over of the plant. system vascular ping crim Roller Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
158 Cover Crop Termination Seeding rate for grazing Cover crops slated should be seeded at a 1.5 to 2x higher rate. Timing of Grazing When grazing cover crop with cattle consider whether this is a milk producing animal or a beef cattle. Dairy cows should have fiber from cover crops that is more digestible in order to ensure their high milk production, Beef production is different. Typically, with dairy cows, we graze the cover crops at an earlier stage of growth when the cover crop has more digestible fiber compared to later grazing with higher levels of fiber that can be done with beef producing cattle. Dry cows and heifers can graze the more mature cover crops. 159 Cover Cover Termination Crop Penn State Extension Educator Penn - Dave Wilson, Agronomist - Dave xpert tip Expert azing Brassicas ll gr Fa (turnips, brassicas Forage and rapes forage radishes, can brassicas) forage hybrid be planted along with the (Forage summer annual grasses Sorghum, Sorghum-sudangrass, and millet). Put the Sudangrass and seed in the large box grass in the small box the brassicas the seeding of the drill, keep low at 2 of the brassica’s rate brassicas The to 5 lbs./acre. are one of the few crops that will compete with the fast- growing summer annual grasses. will grow underneath the They of the summer annual canopy two will have and you grasses the summer of grazing, levels higher with annual grasses underneath. The the brassicas a higher will provide brassicas portion of protein in the grazing not grazed mix. If the cattle have may in the past, they brassicas to get used a few days take will to them, after that they consume them readily. all Cool season cereals Plant warm-season
pecies S ver Crop
All planting for spring F grazing: grazing: ng for f Summer planti Co
Most cover crops can double as a high quality forage for for forage a high quality double as can crops cover Most integrating fall; spring or late during the early livestock health soil accelerates systems crop into livestock improvements. ps cro cover ing Graz cereal grains such as sorghum sudan and pearl millet in July after harvesting winter grains. If delaying planting until after mid-August, plant oats and peas. The yield will be lower for the oats, but because warm- season grains tend to be lower in digestibility, the forage quality of the will oats be higher than that of the sorghum sudan or millet. After a frost, the cool- season cereals like oats and barley wilt and discolour, but the forage retains its quality. (winter wheat, oats, barley, and triticale) are popular for spring grazing. Cereal rye is the best choice if you’re looking for a grass that comes on early in the spring, although the forage quality of cereal rye will decline rapidly as it matures. Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Cautions Residual herbicides Saturated soil condition Forage toxicity concerns Many post emergence herbicides Allowing animals to graze wet Nitrates concentrate in cover used in corn, and particularly fields can negate potential soil crop during cool cloudy soybean, production prohibit health gains. Wet soil compacts conditions to create toxic nitrate using cover crops established in easily; pugging can easily ruin a levels, particularly in the stem these fields for feed. no-till field. Heavy corn resides or stalk. Prussic acids can be a will protect the field to some concern in warm season annuals See “Herbicide use may restrict extent but always remove cattle after frosts. grazing options for cover crops” from saturated soil. by Iowa State University for more information.
160 Cover Crop Termination
armers without ck Livesto xpert Tip Expert For f crops provides cover Grazing economic and soil health benefits to row crop acres. crop not every However, and not farmer has livestock, farmer grows livestock every crops. With adequate planning, an it is possible to develop between two arrangement crops can be farms, so that cover utilized to benefit both parties. for Grazing Search “Contracts Crops” for assistance Cover agreements. developing Planting after Termination fully terminate Grazing will not a cover crops. Grazing severely ground reduces the above the crop’s biomass and stunts growth however, farmers will need to employ a secondary termination strategy to achieve full termination. Most farmers will use a light application of herbicide, or tillage, to terminate the remaining cover crop. ottom line Bottom of secondaryGood source income for farmers with to but needs nearby, livestock managed. be carefully
161 Cover Cover Termination Crop rop crop cover t your Cons substantial Requires initial management and large expenses; grazing fencing soil can cause saturated compaction. xpert Tip Expert Trea like a cash crop! crop cover Farmers removing crops should “treat their cover and ensure their cash crop” like appropriate the field receive compensate to fertilizer/manure for lost nutrients. or Hay Harvesting ? Haylage have the Farmers who don’t fence or option of installing the cover grazing can harvest spring crop. crops as a second Cover crops will create high quality forage with large income potential. However, the harvest and removal of the above ground biomass reduces potential soil health gains.
Most
Pros soil health gains Accelerates potential profit and maximizes
Temporary Fence: Permanent Fence: Grazing crops, When grazing cover farmers aim to provide AND severely nutritious forage growth through stunt vegetative This intentional over-grazing. is best accomplished through mob grazing or other forms of intensive rotational grazing wherein livestock are confined with small temporary paddocks at high stock rates for a short amount of time. Animals can be confined using either temporary or permanent fence: (continued) s ps cro cover ing Graz permanent fence consists of three to five strands of electrified wire. Anticipate installation costs between $1.50 and $3.00/ ft. Temporary fence is a more cost effective option for (1) livestock well trained to hot wire, (2) rural areas and (3) when animals are not likely to cause a threat to human safety should they escape. Typically, only dairy animals are good candidates for temporary fence. Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg, USDA SARE Winter-killed cover crops
162 Cover Crop Termination ottom line Bottom Most common option for Great operations. organic low risk option for beginning cropers cover 163 Cover Cover Termination Crop Cons be need to crops Cover achieve established earlier to before adequate growth winter-killing; lack of living in the soil during winter roots soil and spring months leaves and leaching to vulnerable erosion. xpert Tip Expert Decomposing Radishes die and begin When radishes off give to decompose, they an odor similar to mercaptan, put in a chemical additive gas. It can propane and natural be so strong, neighbors have reported propane leaks to the authorities! Planting after cover crops Most winter killed to decompose will have begun in the by planting season rich spring. The nitrogen accelerate residues may even the decomposition of other brown resides from the previous season. Decomposing residues on the soil surface may delay soil drying and warming in the spring. rdy Hardy t Frost
pecies: S ver Crop termination related Zero expenses. plant Enables farms to early in growing cash crops season. Pros
Other species, like oats and some brassicas, when sown in summer, will put on a lot of growth, and often maintain active growth into early November, dying slowly after several hard frosts. To maximize biomass production, winter killed crops should be seeded in mid- to late-summer. Oats may be seeded as late as mid-September in milder climates. Somewha ighly frost sensitive: frost Highly sorghum Some species, like sundangrass, buckwheat, field pea, and oilseed radish, will die after the first hard frosts. Species Winter killed cover crops differ Winter killed cover to frost. in their tolerance Co Winter frosts will naturally kill certain annual cover crop crop cover annual kill certain will naturally frosts Winter some offer residues crop of cover species. The mat the winter. during erosion from protection ps cro cover killed Winter Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg, USDA SARE Tillage into mixed cover crop in preparation for planting Chestertown Maryland
164 Cover Crop Termination xpert Tip Expert nt Renting equipme dealers will rent different Many types of tillage equipment Before the hour or acres. by large purchases making any farmers should try the equipment on their land to be sure it meets their needs and goals. ottom line Bottom Most common option for especially operations, organic that and operations vegetable seed a smooth even require bed. Tillage 165 Cover Cover Termination Crop Chisel Plow Disc Spring Tooth Harrow Moldboard (not recommended) Rototiller and soil structure distroys conditions for soil creates crusting. Exposed soil from erosion. to tillage is prone Cons Tillage exposes soil carbon accelerating oxygen to matter soil organic decomposition. • • • • Tips Termination aggressive Farmers don’t need tillage tillage or multiple terminate passes to effectively Farmers most cover crops. should practice conservation tillage and leave at least 30% residue on the soil surface. The remaining residue should be incorporated into the uppermost 2 to 4 inches of the soil surface. There is a wide variety of tillage tools. Common examples include: •
Compatible for organic uses equipment operations; on that most farmers have a seed bed hand, prepares Pros
Species Suitable effective at Tillage is generally species of terminating most cover crops. Cover crops with extensive root systems, such as annual ryegrass, and perennial clover like sweet clover and red cover are notoriously difficult to terminate and may require multiple tillage passes.
Tillage uproots cover crops and integrates their biomass their biomass integrates and crops cover uproots Tillage seed bed. the while preparing the soil into age Till Cover Crops Cover Cover Crops
Tillage is a highly effective means of cover crop termina- tion. Multiple tillage passes may be necessary, which reduces the benefits provided by cover crops. Cover crops with extensive root systems, such as annual ryegrass and perennial clovers,
Photo Credit: Kara Pittman, VA
166 Cover Crop Termination
ottom line Bottom option for small Great and speciality crop vegetable mind that don’t operations waiting until late spring to begin planting. xpert Tip: Expert Planters and Drills attempt to seed cash Never crops using a drill or planter through mow-killed cover crops unless the crops were The and removed. harvested loose stalks will quickly bind row cleaners and closing wheels Planting after Planting with a planter or drill may be very difficult after mowing. The plant stems, detached from the roots, will tend to bind or wrap. The mowed stems will face in many different directions. As a result, the use of mowing to terminate cover crops should be reserved to situations where cash crops will be planted by hand or the stems will be lightly incorporated into the soil. termination
167
Cover Cover Termination Crop Cons Planting must be delayed until late spring; fields are planting using a not suited to planter or drill after mowing. xpert TIP Expert Mowing and herbicide Do not attempt to mow prior mow, to using herbicide. If you then decide to use herbicide, of most the effectiveness herbicides will decline. Mowing is ONLY effective, as a termination tool during early reproductive phases (flowering). During this phase in plant development, plant energy is concentrated into producing seeds and plant will generally die when mowed. Rotary mowers can lead to wind-rowing of crops making some strips hard to plant with the uneven residue. A flail mower is more ideal if the biomass gets to high. Another less common option is the Undercutter roller which is designed to slice shallowly through the soil and cut cover crop roots underground. Termination technique
pecies S ver Crop Barley Cereal rye Hairy vetch Compatible for organic uses equipment operations; on that most farmers have hand, potential for substantial biomass above-ground production. Pros
ulti-species mixes will flower will flower Multi-species mixes at different times. Because of this, farmers will not be able to mow at full bloom and termination will be less effective. xpert TIP Expert ies mixes c Multi-spe The following winter hardy The following winter annuals can be effectively killed through timely mowing: • • • Many forbs and brassicas can also be effectively terminated through mowing, however as they also tend to winter kill, such interventions are typically not necessary. Co
Timely mowing can be an effective tool to terminate terminate to tool an effective be can mowing Timely soil or using the disturbing without crops some cover cover certain for is only effective herbicides. Mow-killing cycle. of their growth times certain at varieties crop ing Mow Cover Crops Cover Advanced soil health practices
part three: Advanced soil health practices
168 Cover Crop Termination Photo credit: Charles Martin, Loysville, Pa Photo credit: Charles Martin, Loysville, 169 Cover Cover Termination Crop es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
Photo credit: Charles Martin, Loysville, Pa Planting Green
170 Planting Green
xt Level 171 & illing No-T ur ake yo T reen G Planting the Ne to ver Crops Co “Planting Green” refers to no-till planting planting no-till to refers “Planting Green” cover growing a primary actively into crop killing it with an herbicide. before crop allows practice soil health This advanced above maximizing longer, grow to covers biomass. ground and below es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
Benefits of planting green Planting green has agronomic and soil health benefits. By allowing cover crops to grow longer, farmers can take advantage of their soil health building traits.
Plant Earlier when Fix more atmospheric Build up soil organic cover crops can’t be Nitrogen into the soil matter faster terminated until later Cover crops selected for their Cover crop residues within a A wet spring may prevent ability to fix atmospheric more mature vegetation have a farmers from entering fields to nitrogen will fix substantially higher C:N ratios and are more terminate cover crops until later more when allowed to grow resistant to decomposition. As in the growing season. Having longer. Peak legume N2 fixation these residues are incorporated to wait an additional 2-3 weeks occurs after flowering so delaying into the soil and decompose, for the cover crops to die and dry termination a few weeks can significant enhancements are out, will push-back cash crop drastically increase nitrogen seen to soil biological activity, planting late into the year. additions to the soil. biological diversity and potential soil carbon sequestration and soil organic matter gains. Farmers cannot plant into dying cover crop; as cover crop slowly dies, the above ground biomass stays moist and difficult to cut through opening up the potential for excessive hair-pinning.
By planting green, farmers don’t have to wait for cover crops to dry down and can plant weeks earlier. Well maintained planting equipment will slice through living cover crop.
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tions able opera Photo Credit: Edwin Remsberg Pumpkins growing after planting into rye Maryland USA crop in Western cover mulch Tip Expert Cleaner & healthier ct for specialty produ veget A dense residue mat will reduce ground contact for crops squash, pumpkin, winter like processing tomatoes, and The physical u-pick operations. barrier can result in cleaner, marketable more attractive to crops that are more likely be free from ground contact defects. soil a thick Create crop Large mats of cover biomass on the soil surface cools the soil, improving soil moisture conservation and reducing plant transpiration during the growing season. The mulch can also reduce (or eliminate) the need for post emergence herbicide.
173 reen G Planting when planting Reduce compaction cover crop Actively growing can dry the soil faster during wet growing seasons. This allows farmers to enter fields earlier for planting and reducing the potential for compaction. Cover crop roots will grow deeper, increasing water infiltration and reducing soil compaction.
amage When planting green, the When planting green, green cover crop residue may serve as a food source for pests like deer and slugs, reducing potential damage to cash crops. Slug Less Deer and D es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
Risks and warnings for planting green Planting green opens farmers up to the potential of significant planting problems and yield losses when not implemented correctly.
Nitrogen tie-up Never Mow first! During Dry Mature cover crop has a high Planting green works well when conditions... carbon to nitrogen ratio. It is the cover crop remains intact Be wary of planting green during essential to apply extra starter and attached to the roots. When a dry spring, or if a dry period fertilizer (in-slot and/or knifed the cover crop is mowed, the is anticipated! Actively growing in beside seed slot) and/or stalks will become entwined in cover crops can rob moisture additional nitrogen during the residue cleaners, coulters, from cash crops, inhibiting planting. opening disks, and closing germination and growth. wheels. The overall nitrogen requirement If a dry spring is underway is typically not higher when Furthermore, herbicides are or drought is in the forecast, planting green, however, more of much less effective when applied consider “pulling the plug” on the the nitrogen should be applied at on cover crop that have been growing winter annual cover crop planting or earlier in the crop’s mowed. and kill it early instead of letting growth. it grow longer in the spring. This will conserve limited moisture in the soil in droughty conditions. Expert Tip Dry Conditions won’t impact high functioning soils as much Soils under long-term no-till and cover crop management typically won’t have a plow-pan or other restrictive layer and should have a higher capacity to hold and store water. These high functioning soils are more resilient against doughty conditions.
174 Planting Green thic Effects a enn State University. P - Heidi Reed xpert tip Expert Allelop compounds releases Cereal rye that can inhibit seed chemicals germination; these are often cited as a reason for the yield decline most farmers planting corn when experience crops. into growing cover the nitrogen It is more likely tie-up is the cause of yield decline. Although small- seeded weeds definitely are large allelopathy, inhibited by seeded weeds and crops like corn, are minimally impacted. studies that Most allelopathy shown otherwise were have performed in the laboratory setting where difference between sterile media versus soil impacts results. f the cover crop is part is of crop cover f the
Terminate cover crop at or within 5 within or at crop cover Terminate crop before but planting, after days I emergence. a no-till system, termination can be can termination system, a no-till above the from 7 days to up delayed termination period guideline, but emergence. crop to prior terminated 175 The 2020 federal guidelines for terminating cover guidelines for terminating cover The 2020 federal Regions: crop in New England and Mid-Atlantic reen G Planting in all Won’t work systems cropping not Planting green is that appropriate for crops depend on early planting and early maturity.
or cash crops following cover crops, Risk crops, or cash crops following cover Management Agency (RMA), Natural Management Agency (RMA), Natural S), Resources Conservation Service (NRC and the Farm Service Agency (FSA), work-group to organized an interagency crop policy a consistent cover develop across the three agencies. The interagency Crop S Cover the NRC group developed with the guiding Guidelines, Termination crops maximize principle that cover conservation benefits and increase while minimizing management flexibility, yield reduction risk in the insured crop. F d Crop Insurance Planting Green and Crop yield losses sensitive Corn seedlings are light and to competition for moisture. Farmers trying to plant green should always start with soybeans, which don’t tend to be strongly impacted by the presence of surrounding cover crops. to Corn is prone es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
Two options for Planting green The term, “planting green” refers to two very different practices: one uses herbicide to terminate cover crop in a vegetative growth stage and the other uses roller-crimpers to terminate cover crop in a reproductive/flowering stage.
Without Roller Roller Crimping 1 Crimpers 2 Hitch Mounted Roller Crimper “Rolling” is a means of In this scenario, cover crops mechanically terminating in vegetative growth stage are cover crops by crushing and/or Most roller crimpers are water- terminated with only herbicide snapping the stems using heavy filled drums mounted with during or shortly after planting. drums or rollers. chevron-patterned blades pushed in front of or pulled behind the Pros: Requires no specialized tractor. Pros: Suitable for organic and roller crimping equipment; non-GMO operations; requires Planting after crimping suitable for a wider diversity little to no herbicide; cover crop of cover crop species; enables Crops usually need to be planted will form an excellent mulch. earlier cash crop planting. in the same direction of travel as Cons: Requires specialized and the crimper traveled. Cons: Potential for cover crop often expensive equipment; to wrap on planter wheels and Expert Tip more mature cover crop breaks disks; requires more herbicide PLANTING DIRECTION down slowly tying-up nitrogen; than roller crimper. prohibits earlier cash crop AFTER ROLLING planting. Although planters should usually plant in the same direction that crops were rolled, there is one exception; Yetter shark tooth coulters work very well planting in the opposite direction as the cover crop was rolled. Do NOT try to plant crosswise over rolled cover crop. - Jim Hershey PA No-Till Alliance President Hershey Farms, Elizabethtown, PA 176 Planting Green Cover crops can only Mounting a roller on the be crimped during planting; in certain years it may be advantageous to terminate cover crops 1-2 weeks before planting to avoid cover crops growing out of control. Also cover crop termination may be uneven behind the wheel tracks. Planter mounted roller- crimpers can not be mounted on split row planter and therefore can not be used in 15” soybean systems. planter enables operators to terminate cover crop and plant in a single pass. ros: Pros: Cons: 177 reen G Planting
Planter mounted options Dawn Equipment and Yetter manufacture a planter mounted cover crop roller crimper, which allows farmers to easily crimp tall cover crops and plant in a single pass. As of 2020, they are not compatible with all planters. Planter Mounted Roller Crimper important to plan accordingly. to important Termination methods associated with planting green are suited suited are green planting with associated methods Termination to a specific blend of cover crop at a specific growth stage - so it is - so it is stage a specific growth at crop of cover a specific blend to Mounting on Planters Most of the tine rollers (hitch- mounted) do not match up to some planters. Be aware, need to be creative farmers may in order to attach a roller to a planter. xpert Tip Expert ounted k M nt or Bac Fro When pulling a rear 3-point hitch mounted roller crimper, the tractor tires push cover crops down prior to contact with the blades, resulting in uneven crimping in the wheel tracks. Front mounting the crimper eliminates this problem; farmers can crimp and plant in a single pass. While front mounting is recommended, a Laforge Systems front 3-point hitch may cost more than a roller crimper. es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
How to Plant Green Using Chemical Control This practice is not recommended for new no-tillers. Those with more experiences with conservation tillage and cover crops are more likely to be successful with this practice.
Who should plant Field /crop Selection Cover Crop green? Easy to kill varieties: Select Farmers with more than three START WITH SOYBEANS: Start cover crops that are relatively years of experience with no-till out with a small field slated for simple to kill using herbicide and cover crops should consider soybeans. Research has shown and are slower to mature and experimenting with planting that soybeans are more adaptable enter reproductive phase. (Cover green. to this practice; soybeans tolerate crops in reproductive phases are being shaded and starting with a more difficult to terminate with Planting green and terminating legume crop minimizes potential herbicide.) with herbicide is a good choice challenges with nitrogen tie-up for the following scenarios: Reduce seeding rate: Reduce by mature cover crops. cover crop seeding rate by 30%, • Situations where cover crop Heavy wet soils: This practice especially if applying manure. grew too large and farmers is best suited to high-clay soils don’t want to wait 2-3 weeks that are slow to dry. Actively for the plant to dry before growing cover crops will lap up Expert Tip planting. rainfall, drying wet soils faster Cover Crop Species • Farms looking to dramatically and enabling farmers to plant boost soil organic matter earlier. and Rate The following mix would be a good • Farms looking to reduce Soils with a longer history choice for delayed termination compaction deeper in the soil of no-till and cover crop. and planting green: profile Soils should be accustomed to no-till with a healthy population • Farms that routinely have • 5 lbs Crimson Clover of soil microorganisms that will substantial slug and deer • 15 lbs Annual Ryegrass aid in the breakdown of cover damage to seedlings • 3 lbs Winter Peas crop residues and the release of • Farms with substantial nutrients. Crimson clover is the easiest erosion between rows during legume to terminate and annual the growing season. ryes are slower to reach maturity in the spring compared to other grasses.
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xpert Tip Expert HERBICIDE of glyphosphate on A full rate should be warm day a sunny, adequate to terminate cover crop. As much as possible, aim to apply herbicide in the morning after most dew has evaporated. Herbicide selection . rate at Most importantly, make sure you burn down the cover crop right away after planting green, so that the cover will die as quickly as possible, especially when starting out with this new practice. 179 reen G Planting rter Fertilizer arter xpert Tip Expert zer Fertili Starter Ideally add a 28% N starter fertilizer using a 2-by-2-inch A 32% N starter applicator. can burn seed and negatively impact germination. St As cover crop matures, it contains less nitrogen per unit of carbon. As a result, mature cover crop decomposes slower and ties up soil nitrogen. To compensate, be sure to add extra starter N if planting corn or other non-leguminous crops. Anticipate being able to cut back on side-dress N application later in the season. Planting When starting out with planting green, aim to plant cash crops when cover crops are between 5” and 10” tall. Plant deep Consider planting a little deeper to cleanly cut the cover crop residue and avoid “hair- pinning” when planting corn. Use short Row cleaner It is crucial ow Cleaners: will wrap with residues. Strongly consider either adding an aggressive stripper (such as the Dawn Bayonet Stripper) or remove the row cleaners all together. that opening disks be sharp with a well defined bevel! Replace opening disks at least every 50 acres (per row unit) to make sure they are sharp enough to cut green residues. spiked closing wheels. These are less prone to wrapping but should also be able to adequately close the trench. Smooth iron wheels are also effective on loamy and sandy soils. ng wheels: Closi OPENING DISKS: R Outfit planters Use a planter, rather than a drill, for establishing soybeans. Planters are better suited for planting through thick residues. es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
How to Plant Green & Terminate Using a Roller Crimper This practice is not recommended for the beginning no-tillers. Those with more experiences with conservation tillage and cover crops are more likely to be successful with this practice.
Field /crop Selection Cover Crops START WITH SOYBEANS: Start Plant early flowering Expert Tips grains: out with a small field slated for What to plant Not all cover crop species are soybeans. Research has shown To start out with, 50 lbs. Cereal suited to termination using a that soybeans are more adaptable Rye is a good choice for roller roller crimper. Elbon rye is the to this practice; soybeans tolerate crimping. being shaded and starting with a earliest flowering commercial legume crop minimizes potential rye cultivar. Triticale may also challenges with nitrogen tie-up be used however, it won’t reach Hairy vetch by mature cover crops. maturity until five to seven days Adding hairy vetch to the seed later than Elbon rye. mixes slated for roller crimping Heavy wet soils: This practice can be problematic. Hairy vetch is best suited to high-clay soils Expert Tips has a large proportion of hard that are slow to dry. Actively Species for roller seed which can remain viable in growing cover crop will lap up crimping the soil for years to come. rainfall, drying the soils faster In order to obtain adequate kill and enabling farmers to plant with a roller only use “winter Waiting until full bloom when earlier. annual cover crops” such as using a roller crimper to control hairy vetch it critical; the practice Soils with a longer history winter grains, hairy vetch, crimson limits seed production, and of no-till and cover crop. clover and winter peas. All of minimizes volunteer problems. Soils should be accustomed to these can be killed by rolling after However, cereal rye will mature no-till with a healthy population flowering or early pod formation. earlier than hairy vetch making of soil microbes, flora, and fauna For organic production don’t use optimum rolling timing more that will aid in the breakdown perennial clovers like medium red complicated for mixtures of cover crop residues and the clover or white clover or biennial containing both species. release of nutrients. clover like sweet clover. These will not kill by mechanical rolling If you do plan to try hairy alone. Annual ryegrass although vetch, Triticale can be a better an annual is not a good candidate companion crop because it for mechanical kill in organic matures at the same time as hairy systems. vetch. - Dave Wilson, Agronomist Penn State Extension Educator
180 Planting Green - As cover Consider 30 lbs of N 2x1 or dribbled behind closing wheels or 5 gallons 7-21-7 starter in furrow. ertilizer: Fertilizer: arter crop matures, it contains less nitrogen per unit of carbon. As a result, mature cover crop decomposes slower and ties up soil nitrogen. To compensate, be sure to add extra starter N if planting corn or other non-le guminous crops. Anticipate being able to cut back on side-dress N application later in the season. St Tip Expert zer Fertili Starter Ideal starter fertilizer should contain: • Planting Planting depth: adjusting gauge wheels to account for the extra biomass. Many producers also recommend planting deeper to reduce hairpinning and potential negative impacts from decaying rye residues. Photo credit: NRCS photo by Tracy Robillard (NRCS Oregon) (NRCS Robillard Tracy photo by Photo credit: NRCS To The ideal tion: 181 reen G Planting For reliable weed ver crop suppression, roller crimpers can be used in combination with herbicides. Burn-down herbicide at rolling suppresses perennials, germinated annuals, and terminates cover crops more uniformly and efficiently. improve the control of the cover crop in organic systems, consider rolling cereal rye twice -- once approximately one week before planting and again on the day of planting. time to roller crimp any cover crop is during flowering. At this stage crimping consistently kills the cover crop before viable seed are produced. anic Termina Org Co Timing is critical! Herbicide: termination Use short Row cleaners It is crucial ow Cleaners: will wrap with residues. Strongly consider either adding an aggressive stripper (such as the Dawn Bayonet Stripper) or remove the row cleaners altogether. Another good option are concave disks that part the cover crop without the danger of crop wrapping . that opening disks be sharp with a well defined bevel! Replace opening disks at least every 50 acres (per row unit) to make sure they are sharp enough to cut green residues. spiked closing wheels. These are less prone to wrapping but should also be able to adequately close the trench. ng wheels: Closi OPENING DISKS: R Outfit planters Use a planter, rather than a drill, for establishing soybeans. Planters are much more suited to planting through thick residues. Different types of roller crimpers are best suited to different situations. See “Roller Crimpers” on page 78 for more information. es es tic c ed soil health pra health soil ed c Advan Advanced soil health practices
A collaboration between farmers, Soils are crop consultants, and agricultural meant to specialists across the mid-Atlantic. be covered
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number ENE19-157
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