USDA NRCS PLANT MATERIALS PROGRAM: NATIONAL COVER CROP CULTIVAR ADAPATION TRIALS Prepared by: Shawnna Clark RESULTS @ BIG FLATS PLANT MATERIALS CENTER ONLY: PMC Manager/Agronomist Daikon radish cultivars (seeding rate- 9 lb/A) seeded on 9/1/15 and 9/15/2016. The graph above represents the above and below ground biomass taken after no additional top %N growth was recorded and when plants were starting to be affected by frost. The harvest dates were 11/25/2015 and 12/6/2016. DEFENDER oilseed daikon radish seeded 9/1/15. This picture height root length (root was taken at harvest date 11/2015. Notice the stubbier roots cultivar shoots Big Flats Plant Materials Center, Corning, Daikon radish seeded 9/1/15 and subsequent residue on (cm) diameter) () and more fine lateral roots than the picture below. March 26, 2016.. (roots) seeding date: 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 NY 14.3 12 CONCORDE 14.8 4.0 (1.9) (.50) INTRODUCTION: 15.5 12 CONTROL 14.3 4.0 (1.7) (.50) 18.4 15.5 10 1.95 Incorporating cover crops into a cropping system improves soil health, DEFENDER 39.1 12.3 3.5 (1.9) (1.4) (.25) (1.46) 18.0 14 BIG DOG 13.3 4.0 conserves energyb, anduilds resilience and manages climate risk. Cover crops (1.7) (.50) 24.9 17.5 11 2.35 NITRO 26.3 11.5 4.5 can be leguminous or non-leguminous. Leguminous cover crop species provide (2.6) (2.1) (.50) (1.35) 25.1 16.3 11 2.43 LUNCH 24.6 11.3 5.0 (3.1) (2.5) (.50) (1.69) a nitrogen source for subsequent commodity crops. Non-leguminous cover Daikon radish seeded 9/15/16. Daikon radish seeded 9/15/16. 22.8 18.3 13 2.17 Photo taken 11/6/16. Photo taken 2/22/17. DRILLER 25.3 11.5 4.0 crops, such as small grains and brassicas, are effective in reducing nitrate SODBUSTER daikon radish seeded 9/1/15. This picture was (2.3) (1.8) (.50) (2.06) taken at harvest date 11/2015. 24.7 16.5 10 2.36 SODBUSTER 26.4 12.3 5.5 (2.8) (2.3) (.50) (1.43) leaching, adding soil organic matter and for soil erosion. Utilizing a mix of 21.7 18.3 14 2.08 ECO-TILL 28.3 12.0 3.0 (2.6) (2.1) (.25) (1.36) leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop species can provide multiple 19.2 19.0 12 1.91 GROUNDHOG 22.3 12.5 5.0 (1.5) (1.0) (.25) (1.51) 22.9 18.3 10 2.28 benefits. While cover crops provide numerous agronomic and environmental TILLAGE 26.7 12.5 5.0 (2.2) (1.9) (.75) (1.42) 15.8 5 GRAZA 8.3 2.5 benefits, these benefits are not fully achieved unless cover crop (2.0) (.25) varieties/cultivars are planted that meet the objective of the cover crop planting Daikon radish (9 lbs/A) seeded at 3 different dates. All were harvest in late fall. When seeded at 9/1/15, the above and below ground biomass were similar but when seeded 14 days later, there was significantly more above and the producer’s expectations. ground biomass than below, due in part to the smaller length of the large portion of the taproots.

PURPOSE: To evaluate growth characteristics and productiono attributes f commercially Cereal rye cultivars (seeding rate- 100 lb/A) seeded on 9/3/15 and 10/5/2015. The above ground dry biomass was taken at 3 different harvest dates. Please note that the 6/1/2016 harvest date was the average harvest date for all cultivars. Actual harvest dates varied and biomass samples were taken at 50% Field peas cultivars(70 lbs/A) seeded at 3 different dates. Three of the seeded winter peas were not winter hardy at any of the 3 seeding SURVIVOR-15 winter pea (70 anthesis, which represents the typical time of termination (ex: roller-crimper) before the following cash crop planting. Data is sorted by total biomass on the dates (not shown). Dry biomass was not harvested in 2016 due to poor emergence, seeding method, winter kill, and weediness the lbs/A) seeded on 9/1/15. This available varieties/cultivars and local sources of selected cover crops identified 5/10/16 harvest dater. following spring. All of the peas represented below were hand broadcasted, which left most exposed to the elements as well as the deer, photo was taken in the fall rodents, and geese. If hand broadcasting, the data alludes to that it will need to be seeded earlier to have a chance in the spring. (11/25/15). This pea cultivar by NRCS State Agronomists/Soil Health Contacts and PMC staff. This study does not have tendrils and harvest date: 11/25/2015 5/10/2016 6/1/2016 creeps along the ground while will also provide cover crop adaptation and growth data for different become established. Some of cultivar winter hardy (%) DM (lbs/A) % N the cultivar, ARVICA, DUNN seeding date: 9/3/15 10/5/15 9/3/15 10/5/15 9/3/15 10/5/15 are upright, and will winter- geographical regions of the U.S., and inform local recommendations for cover seeding date: 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/16 kill. 1620.9 279.4 4591.5 2936.1 4428.3 4105.4 crops as well as future soil health studies and potential plant breeding needs. ELBON SURVIVOR-15 49 12 24 3140.2 n/a n/a 3.44 OKLON 1713.3 316.2 4422.3 2957.0 4118.0 4294.2 FROST MASTER 20 n/a n/a 494.2 n/a n/a 3.28 48 n/a 22 938.1 n/a n/a 3.63 WHISTLER winter pea (70 lbs/A) WINTER GRAZER 1586.7 340.2 3774.8 2914.6 3783.1 3901.3 WINDHAM seeded on 9/1/15. This photo Materials and Methods: LYNX 57 n/a n/a 710.1 n/a n/a 3.99 was taken on 3/25/16, showing AROOSTOOK 1492.4 316.2 4029.0 2301.6 3713.4 4724.8 a lot of winter damage. There mean: 43 12 23 1321 3.59 was a series of very cold days (in MATON 1386.2 336.2 4008.1 3405.1 3625.8 4824.8 the 20’s) following this date and all WHISTLER plots were black oats (Avena strigosa ) 60 lb/A daikon radish (Raphanus sativus ) 9 lb/A MATON II 1689.3 235.3 3894.1 3181.9 3594.0 4387.9 completely winter-killed. SoilSaver Big Dog Graza PRIMA 1286.5 249.7 3340.3 2519.2 3298.1 3695.6 black-seeded winter oats (Avena sativa ) Concorde Groundhog WHEELER 1340.5 252.1 3353.9 2873.8 3066.4 4271.0 Cosaque Control Lunch 1477.4 289.6 3083.3 3424.3 2924.8 4257.9 Hairy vetch cultivars (18 lbs/A) seeded at 3 different dates. Overall, the hairy vetch cultivars showed the most winter-hardiness among the leguminous species seeded, especially HAZLET when seed by 9/1/15. Note that LANA wooly pod vetch is a different species than hairy vetch and is a cultivar from the Western US, and is not very winter-hardy in the Defender Nitro GUARDIAN 830.86 220.1 2962.6 3013.0 2885.8 2848.1 Northeast. balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) 5 lb/A Driller Sodbuster BRASETTO 1386.2 313.8 2772.9 2457.6 2792.1 3373.9 Fixation Frontier Eco- till Tilllage cultivar winter hardy (%) DM (lbs/A) % N ABRUZZI 1463.6 311.4 2727.3 2904.2 2466.8 4330.2 3539.6 453.9 n/a 727.4 n/a 1171.6 seeding date: 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/16 crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) 18 lb/A cereal rye (Secale cereale ) 100 lb/A MERCED AU Robin Contea Aroostook Maton II FL-401 3277.2 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a TNT 97 50 50 5027.9 4269.6 3258.2 2.90 1720.8 301.1 3580.0 2739.7 3391.4 3860.5 AU Sunrise Dixie Bates Merced mean: GROFF 93 79 38 5132.9 3575.7 2621.9 3.80 AU Sunup KY Pride Brasetto Oklon PURPLE BOUNTY 9460 47 2556 5905.4 3425.03125.2 6132.2 3.23 Elbon Rymin Cereal rye cultivars (seeding rate- 100 lb/A) seeded on 9/3/15 , 9/15/16 and 10/5/2016. The above chart shows the last 3 seeding dates (excluded was 10/5/15 date). All rye was harvested at 50% anthesis and the corresponding biomass, heights and percent cover (not shown) data were taken. Overall, rye biomass was PURPLE PROSPERITY 100 64 56 5793.0 3419.0 2669.9 2.78 field peas (Pisum sativum) 70 lb/A FL 401 Wheeler highest when rye cultivars were seeded on 9/15/16. 98 62 4437.3 2744.9 2317.0 2.98 Arvica Lynx Guardian Wintergrazer cultivar Winter Hardy (%) Height (cm) DM (lbs/A) % Total N VALLANA 38 Dunn Maxum Hazlet Abruzzi seeding date 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/2015 LANA (wooly pod) 57 35 8 1421.8 1262.3 1183.7 2.65 Frostmaster Survivor-15 Maton ELBON 61 69 60 138 136 127 4428.3 6587.2 4105.4 0.95 mean: 90 5663 36 4620 31162530.2 3030 3.05 76 60 59 90 79 80 2792.1 6464.1 3373.9 0.95 Windham Whistler BRASETTO WHEELER 61 60 69 124 133 114 3066.4 6461.7 4271.0 1.00 MATON 66 58 70 126 131 135 3625.8 6360.9 4824.8 0.95 OKLON 62 73 60 135 131 128 4117.9 6146.6 4294.2 0.93 COASAQUE is a black-seeded winter oat and SOILSAVER is a true Black Oat cultivar. Soil Saver is not winter-hardy in the Northeast but did produce 1750 lb/A of dry biomass red clover (Trifolium pratense ) 9 lb/A hairy vetch (Vicia villosa ) 18 lb/A when harvested on 11/25/15. COSAQUE showed some winter hardiness and produced nice biomass in the spring, but never fully matured, so harvest date was in mid-june. WINTER GRAZER 58 60 51 129 134 126 3783.1 6143.0 3901.3 1.13 Cinnamon Plus Kenland CCS-Groff Purple Prosperity FIAXATION and FRONTEIR are balansa clover cultivars, which do not put on a lot of top growth in the fall. However, in mid-spring, a lot of above ground biomass is produced, 100 73 72 110 120 110 2885.8 5969.2 2848.1 0.85 Cyclone II Mammoth Lana TNT GUARDIAN especially from FIXATION, which is winter-hardy in the Northeast US. FRONTIER is not adapted as a winter cover crop here in the Northeast, but will flower considerably earlier AROOSTOOK 60 69 50 141 131 127 3713.4 5886.7 4724.8 0.83 than FIXATION. Dynamite Starfire Purple Bounty Vilana MATON II 62 54 59 129 126 135 3594.0 5421.5 4387.9 0.98 cultivar Winter Hardy (%) 50% Bloom (DAP) Height (cm) DM (lbs/A) % N Freedon Wildcat HAZLET 65 56 42 98 101 94 2924.8 5369.3 3424.3 0.93 seeding date 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/2015 RYMIN n/a n/a 31 n/a 120 136 n/a 5274.0 4333.8 n/a ABRUZZI 50 55 54 128 122 138 2466.8 4743.8 4330.2 1.05 COSAQUE 51 20 0.0 n/a n/a n/a 16.7 35.0 20.0 3029.2 n/a n/a 2.62 MERCED n/a n/a 9 n/a n/a 120 n/a n/a 1171.6 n/a • Randomized Complete Block Design, with 4 reps SOIL SAVER 0 0 0.0 0.0 n/a n/a 34.0 n/a n/a 1795.8 n/a n/a 2.41 FL-401 n/a n/a 12 n/a n/a 130 n/a n/a 2826.0 n/a • Correct pH and nutrient deficiencies for cover crop growth mean: 65 62 56 123 122 121 3399.9 5902.3 4068.3 0.96 FIXATION 90 58 42.0 272 251 231 64.3 60.0 26.0 4783.6 3909.5 n/a 2.40 using soil test FRONTIER 29 11 4.0 255 238 218 57.5 20.0 11.0 343.4 314.5 n/a 3.00

Minimum Fertilizer Application Cereal rye cultivars and their corresponding seeds/lb. It is very important to note that seeds/lb will vary within a cultivar from year to year and even more importantly, between cultivars. Knowing • Nitrogen (N) – 40 lb. in fall this information before you seed will ensure accurate seeding rates and can save money per acre. FIAXATION balansa clover seeded 9/29/17 (left). There is only about • Potassium (P) - 60 lb in fall 2015 lot 2016 lot year 0.5 cm of top growth, but the roots cultivar are 20 cm long and producing (seeds/ lb) (seeds/ lb) difference nodules. (photo taken, 10/27/17). • Phosphorus (K) – 30 lb in fall The photo to the right, is FRONTIER Merced 33,022 23,900 (9,122) balansa clover, seeded 9/1/2015 and the photo was taken on 11/25/15. • Germination and Field Emergence Elbon 30,609 29,673 (936) Aroostook • Beginning of Regrowth (Green-Up) 24,438 23,895 (543) Wintergrazer-70 23,759 21,619 (2,140) • Bloom and Flowering Maton 21,860 20,000 (1,860)

• Winter Hardiness Maton II 21,860 18,381 (3,479) Crimson Clover cultivars (18 lb/A) seeded at 3 different dates. Winter-hardiness, heights, and dry biomass data were significantly lower when seeded past 9/1/2015. To date, KENTUCKY PRIDE and DIXIE were the best performers, especially when seeded a month later. AU SUNUP was the earliest cultivar to bloom but was the least biomass producer. • Plant Height Abruzzi 20,855 23,895 3,040 Oklon • Disease and Insect Resistance 19,970 21,315 1,345 cultivar winter hardy (%) 50% Bloom (DAP) Height (cm) DM (lbs/A) % N Wheeler 14,515 12,042 (2,473) MERCED cereal rye is a ‘spring type’ cultivar that will produce more seeding date: 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 9/15/16 10/5/16 9/1/15 above ground biomass quicker when seeded in the fall and most will Hazlet 14,088 12,507 (1,581) winter-kill leaving behind less residue in the following spring. A cultivar like this could be used as emergency forage in the fall, while providing Kentucky Pride 94 54 50 267 248 229 65 53 34 5676.7 1456.7 1474.2 2.39 Guardian 12,760 16,214 3,454 weed suppression, erosion control and organic matter. Contea 72 34 29 266 242 222 66 44 20 5572.3 521.4 763.5 2.64 Dixie 97 45 43 266 244 229 67 51 36 5494.2 1221.1 1419.0 2.74 Brasetto 11,413 13,084 1,671 AU Robin 85 42 14 260 242 222 67 48 27 5329.1 1136.0 898.0 2.54 AU Sunrise 86 30 3 260 242 222 67 43 19 4957.6 903.3 667.5 2.58 AU Sunup 89 34 7 253 238 218 66 33 20 3429.0 538.0 0.0 3.09 mean: 86 37 19 261 242 223 67 44 24 4956.4 864.0 749.6 2.72