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Sustainable Crop Rotations with Brassica Cover Crops
James J. Hoorman [email protected] Sundermeier
[email protected]
Dr. K. Rafiq Islam [email protected]
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Type of Cover Crops
Legumes: Make Nitrogen, low C:N ratiocowpeas, Austrian winter
pea, hairy vetch,red clover, soybeans
Grasses: Accumulate nutrients (fine roots), C:N ratio depends on
killing date: oats, cereal rye,annual ryegrass, barley, wheat,
Sorghum-Sudan
Brassicas: Good for surface compaction and weed control: Daikon
radish, turnips, kale, rape
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Brassicas• Fast growing, high in moisture, freeze out
and die at 150 Fahrenheit.• Absorb 5-5.3% N if nitrogen is
available.• Release natural fumigants and natural
weed suppressant chemicals as they decompose.
• Smell like propane, gas leak, or dirty diaper when they
decompose at temperatures above 500 F.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Cover Crop Radishes
Disadvantages• Should not be sown too
early in the summer –potential reseeding
• May not be sown too late (need at least 6-7 weeks growth for
best results)
• Hard seed will come up in spring
• Smell at spring thaw
Advantages• Potentially deep
penetrating large tuber• Enhances soil
percolation• Usually reduces soil
compaction• Earthworm “Heaven”• Voracious scavenger of
nutrients• Good for Grazing
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Radish with winter pea
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Austrian Peas & Radishes in different boxes - planted @ the
same time.
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Radish & Winter Pea OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Daikon radish
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Soil
dept
h (in
)
0
5
10
15
20
25
Penetration resistance (lbs/in2)0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Openfield
Radishfield
Compactiondecreased by >40%
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Manure appliedDairy Poultry Sludge Swine
Dec
reas
e in
NO
3 (%
).
NO
3 co
nc. (
ppm
)
-100
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
Soil NO3 without Oilseed Radish Soil NO3 with oilseed
RadishPercent decrease in soil NO3 conc.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Fall soil nitrate after manure application
21.3
6.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
No cover Oilseed RadishAverage of 24 tests, 7 field sites
ppm
nitr
ate
N
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Chart1
No cover
Oilseed Radish
ppm nitrate
Average of 24 tests, 7 field sites
ppm nitrate N
Fall soil nitrate after manure application
21.3
6.5
Sheet1
Sundermeierfall nitrate12 in sampleNO 3 ppm
datefarmercountyppm NO3ppm NO3
no coveroilseed radish
11/18/06SNWyandot169
manureswine1916
source39
16
12/4/06DOSeneca3612
swine287
247
11/2/06ThomasHancock1612
swine275
186
11/15/06HerringshawWood133
dairy143
133
11/7/07RikerWood267
sludge257
285
315
11/7/07HainesWood134
poultry204
153
135
11/9/07HordsCrawford346
swine204
284
24 teststotal ave21.36.5
ppm nitrate
No cover21.3
Oilseed Radish6.5
Sheet2
Sheet3
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Recycling of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by Oilseed
radish____________________________________Nutrients Concentration
Content
(%) (lbs/a)____________________________________Nitrogen 1.89
650Phosphorus 0.97 23Potassium 3.27 230Sulfur 0.81 60Calcium 2.17
150Magnesium 0.26 20
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Radish & Winter Pea – SpringOHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
EXTENSION
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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Daikon Tillage Radish Ground hog Radish
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Seed Cost Matters
• There are “no good deals” on “Cheap” Seed...
• Especially not on ARG, Radishes, Turnips, Hairy Vetch,
etc...
• VNS (often times) ≠ Very Nice Seed!
Dave Robinson slide
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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No good deals on cheap seed...
Farmer “saved” 5¢/# on cheap seed {50¢/acre} (left) and now has
a “disaster” on his hands!Good radishes on right cost a bit more
but have the tubers farmers want.
Dave Robinson slide
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Other Brassicas• Kale: Drilled 3-5#/A 0.25 to 0.75 inches
Broadcast 4-6#/A• Rape or Canola (Dwarf Essex)
Drilled 3-5#/A 0.25 to 0.75 inches Broadcast 4-6#/A
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Rape/Kale
Rape Seed or Dwarf Essex Drilled 2-5 #/ABroadcast 3-6#/A
Fibrous root system15-25% CP for ForageGood ForageNeeds to be
planted earlier than Kale
Kale SeedDrilled 3-5#/ABroadcast 4-6#/A
Cold tolerantReaches 25 inches tallGrazed until
December-JanuaryGood for wildlife
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KaleOHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Rape (Dwarf Essex)OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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SUMMARY• Brassicas (radish, kale, rape) grow quickly
and recycle nutrients & reduce compaction.• Only buy the
Daikon radish and do not buy
VNS (Variety Not Specified) radish. • Radish will die in the
winter and may smell
bad when they decompose. Kale and rape should survive the
winter.
• Cover crops need 60-90 days of fall growth to survive winter.
Plant early maturing crops or plant early to maximize cover crop
growth.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
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Sustainable Crop Rotations with Brassica Cover Crops
James J. Hoorman [email protected] Sundermeier
[email protected]
Dr. K. Rafiq Islam [email protected]
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]
Slide Number 1Slide Number 2BrassicasSlide Number 4Cover Crop
RadishesSlide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Radish &
Winter Pea Slide Number 10Slide Number 11Slide Number 12Slide
Number 13Slide Number 14Radish & Winter Pea – SpringSlide
Number 16Slide Number 17Seed Cost MattersNo good deals on cheap
seed...Other BrassicasRape/KaleKaleRape (Dwarf Essex)SUMMARYSlide
Number 25
