Summer planted cover crops

If you are thinking of planting cover crop in wheat stubble after harvest, now is the time to start planning and making arrangements so you are ready to plant when the time comes. So here are a few things to think about before putting the seed in the ground.

First off think about what you are wanting to accomplish? Do want to use it for livestock grazing? Is there a compaction layer that you want to break up? Do you want to increase the ground cover because of the short and thin wheat stubble? Use a seed mix that meets your goals. Don’t plant a cover crop just to plant one.

Also ask yourself does it make economic sense for me to plant a cover crop. What is going to be my potential economic return of planting a cover crop, both short and long term, in comparison to not planting one? Try to keep seed cost reasonable at $20 or less.

Some herbicides that are used to spray wheat could prevent some cover crop species from coming up. Always check the herbicide label and if in doubt ask you’re your crop advisor or pesticide vendor.

One of the purposes of planting a cover crop after wheat harvest is to reduce evaporation, improve water infiltration and increase the water holding capacity of the soil. But realize upfront that cover crops do use moisture, just like any green growing plant. Depending on the amount of rainfall during the season they may use more then what they save. This could have a negative effect on the next cash crop yield. This is especially true as we move south and west across the state.

Always plant in a clean seedbed. If weeds are present spray to kill them. Cover crops can be very effective in suppressing difficult to control weeds but not if they are already present when the cover crop is being planted.

I like planting the cover crop as soon after harvest as possible. Preferably right behind the combine. This allows full advantage of the moisture and growing season available to grow the cover crop. If you are trying to control weeds you need to get the cover crop planted before a flush of weeds emerge.

Be prepared to spray the cover crop field if weeds become an issue. This is especially important if volunteer wheat becomes an issue since it provides a “green bridge” for the wheat streak mosaic virus. The last thing you want is this virus to spread to you or your neighbors newly planted wheat.

For more information about this or other soil health practices you can contact me at [email protected] or any local NRCS office.