Cover Crop Management and Equipment Considerations Louisiana Soil Health and Cover Crop Conference Alexandria, LA January 24, 2018 Kip Balkcom Research Agronomist Conservation Systems Research USDA-ARS, NSDL Auburn, AL

Courtesy: Harry Schomberg, USDA-ARS What is a Cover Crop? A crop whose main purpose is to benefit the soil and/or a subsequent crop in one or more ways, but is not intended to be harvested for feed or sale. A cover crop is a crop whose main purpose is to benefit the soil or other crops in one or more ways, but is not intended to be harvested for feed or sale. Courtesy: Harry Schomberg, USDA-ARS

High Residue Cover Crop I mentioned the second component of conservation systems for us is using a high residue cover crop. Based on the gentleman standing in the back, you can see we try to promote a lot of growth. Rye is a very popular choice for us due to its adaptability to many soil types, biomass potential, and resistance to decomposition. In addition to the aboveground portion, the root system helps to minimize hard pan formation and help break up existing hard pans.

Maximize Biomass Benefits Soil fertility and pH Quality seed Inoculate legumes – specific, fresh /coated Plant early Good stand establishment Terminate late Maximizing biomass is the most important factor determining whether a cover crop is cost-effective or not. Low amounts of biomass provides limited protection against runoff and erosion and does not shade the soil sufficiently to inhibit weed growth or decrease evaporation from the soil surface. For legumes, low biomass production results in limited nitrogen additions to the soil. Factors important for maximizing biomass production in cover crops are similar to those important for enhancing yield in crops grown for sale. These factors include proper soil fertility, good quality seed, and proper inoculation with rhizobia for legumes. Planting a cover crop early and waiting until it reaches full growth to terminate it back ensures that the cover crop provides the maximum biomass. High biomass production by leguminous cover crops provides optimal nitrogen fixation. For all cover crops, high biomass production provides a heavy mulch residue for extended weed control and moisture retention. It also maximizes the amount of nutrients available for decomposition and eventual uptake by crop plants. In normal years, high biomass provides the most benefits; however you will want to modify your management in dry years and terminate earlier, so that the cover crop does not deplete water needed by the primary crop.

Stand Establishment Drilling Photo courtesy of Joel Love, UF

Stand Establishment Broadcast Photos courtesy of Ronnie Barentine, UGA

Stand Establishment Vertical Tillage

Stand Establishment 6 ° Gang Angle 0 ° Gang Angle X

Timely Planting Pictures taken Dec. 15 Photos courtesy of Ronnie Barentine, UGA

Cover Crop Fertilization Fertilized Non-fertilized

Time of Termination Prattville, AL

Termination: Mechanical

Roller Designs

Roller + Tillage Combine operations Rolling the cover crop and performing strip tillage simultaneously.

Planter Attachments

Conservation Systems Research More information available at: Website: www.ars.usda.gov/sea/nsdl Subscribe to mailing list: NSDL-Highlights@ars.usda.gov Contact info: Kip Balkcom USDA-ARS 411 S. Donahue Dr. Auburn, AL 36832 334 - 502 - 2707 kip.balkcom@ars.usda.gov