COVER CROP MIXTURES AFTER CORN SILAGE TO IMPROVE YOUR OPERATION

Sjoerd DuikerRon HooverCharlie WhiteDean Hively

2009-2012Brian Blouch, Myerstown

2012-2013Tim Kurtz, Elverson

Thanks to these cooperators

Cover Crops – Why?• Erosion control• Water management• Nutrient retention and

recycling• Soil compaction reduction• Weed control • Potential to provide feed

Cover crop mixtures• Search for species that complement each other:• Soil erosion control in fall and winter• Soil erosion control in spring• Nutrient uptake in fall and winter• Nutrient uptake in spring• Nitrogen fixation potential• Root system – taproot vs fine roots • Feed production potential in fall• Feed production potential in spring

Example of Geographic Spread (2010/11)

Spring Biomass

Crimson + RyegrassRyegrass +Triticale

Rye + F.OatRadish + Rye

Rape + HV + RyeRadish + HV + rye

Rye

Ryegrass + F.OatCrimson + F. Oat

F.Oat + RyeRadish + vetch + Rye

Crimson+ RyegrassOats + Rye

Crimson + TriticaleRye

Ryegrass + OatsCrimson + oat

Crimson + ryegrassHuron rye + Oat

Crimson + TriticaleRye + Oat

Radish + Vetch + RyeRye

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000

Spring Cover crop Biomass (lbs/A)

Summary of 9-10 annual on-farm cover crop trials in PA

Calculations based on 4 reps (2011) or 3 reps (2012+2013)

Spring 2011

Spring 2012

Spring 2013

Dry matter (lbs/A), average, minimum and maximum

Average Minimum Maximum(lbs/A)

Crimson + Ryegrass 70 21 104Ryegrass +Triticale 73 41 126Rye + F.Oat 76 44 139Radish + Rye 82 49 161Rape + Vetch + Rye 87 50 169Radish + Vetch + rye 89 52 164Rye 93 47 182

Ryegrass + F.Oat 52 21 74F.Oat + Rye 69 26 107G.Oats + Rye 73 34 97Radish + Vetch + Rye 82 39 120Rye 84 35 120Crimson + F. Oat 103 57 144Crimson+ Ryegrass 106 63 140Crimson + Triticale 112 65 147

Ryegrass + G.Oat 31 5 72Crimson + G.Oat 54 7 135Huron rye + G.Oat 66 16 125Rye + G.Oat 66 17 122Crimson + Ryegrass 70 18 125Radish + Vetch + Rye 79 16 158Rye 82 16 176Crimson + Triticale 83 23 130

Spring 2011

Spring 2012

Spring 2013

Spring Cover crop Biomass N (lbs/A)

Summary of 9-10 annual on-farm cover crop trials in PA

Calculations based on 4 reps (2011) or 3 reps (2012+2013)

2012 Fall Yields-Berks County

Crim

Clo

ver+

Ann

Rye

Crim

Clo

ver+

Trit

ical

e

Crim

Clo

ver

+ O

at

Ann

Rye

+ O

at

Oat

+A

roos

tock

Rye

Oat

+H

uron

Rye

Till

Rad

+H

V+

Rye

Aro

osto

ck R

ye

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Abo

vegr

ound

Bio

mas

s D

M (

lbs/

acre

)

2013 Spring Yields-Berks County

Crim

Clo

ver+

Ann

Rye

Crim

Clo

ver+

Trit

ical

e

Crim

Clo

ver

+ O

at

Ann

Rye

+ O

at

Oat

+A

roos

tock

Rye

Oat

+H

uron

Rye

Till

Rad

+H

V+

Rye

Aro

osto

ck R

ye

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Abo

vegr

ound

Bio

mas

s D

M (

lbs/

acre

)

2013 Cover Crop Trial-Berks County-Nutrition

CrimClov

er+ARG

CrimClov

er+Trit

icale

CrimClov

er +

Oat

ARG +

Oat

Oat

+Aroos

tock

Rye

Oat

+Huron

Rye

TillRad

+HV+Rye

Aroos

tock

Rye

0

10

20

30

40

50

60Crude Protein ADF NDF

For

age

Qua

lity

(%)

2013 Cover Crop Trial-Berks County-Nitrogen

Crim

Clo

ver+

Ann

Rye

Crim

Clo

ver+

Trit

ical

e

Crim

Clo

ver

+ O

at

Ann

Rye

+ O

at

Oat

+A

roos

tock

Rye

Oat

+H

uron

Rye

Till

Rad

+H

V+

Rye

Aro

osto

ck R

ye

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Seq

uest

ered

N in

spr

ing

biom

ass

(lbs/

acre

)

Growing degree calculations from http://www.weather.com/outdoors/agriculture/growing-degree-days/

0 500 1000 1500 2000 25000

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Average versus Actual Growing Degree Days - base 40F

Average GDD-base 40F

Act

ual G

DD

-bas

e 40

F

Comparison of GDD-40 accumulation between cover crop establishment and termination times in PA and NY

Bethel, PATroy, PA

Mainville, PAGratz, PA

Gap, PALandisville, PAManheim, PA

Soudertnn, PAAirville, PA

Pennsylvania Furnace, PAManheim, PA

Bethel, PAWilliamsburg, PA

Doylestown, PAGratz, PA

Chambersburg, PAGap, PA

Watsontown, PAAirville, PA

Elverson, PARome, PA

Doylestown, PAButler, PA

Waynesboro, PALancaster, PA

Allensville, PAHarrison Valley, PABeaver Springs, PA

Delta, PA

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

GDD Avg

500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1700 1900 2100 2300 25000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

f(x) = 3.95589402170938 x − 2213.48652525069R² = 0.421308389245364

Crimson Clover and Oat Mixture

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 22000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

f(x) = 4.24037437473973 x − 1990.80416640271R² = 0.394754060291021

Crimson and Annual Ryegrass Mix

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g Bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

500 700 900 1100 1300 1500 1700 1900 2100 2300 25000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

f(x) = 4.74133816944258 x − 1817.39686321644R² = 0.466570851449773

Crimson Clover and Triticale Mix

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 22000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

f(x) = 2.80195437743774 x + 701.901280270285R² = 0.21404389586131

Tillage Radish/Hairy Vetch/Rye Mix

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 22000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

f(x) = 2.95803108039045 x + 351.224062231981R² = 0.247435565116597

Rye Oat Mix

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 22000

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

f(x) = 3.61390498878894 x + 96.6496291783606R² = 0.271815437393079

Cereal Rye

GDD - base 40F

Sprin

g bi

omas

s (lb

s/A)

Spring Biomass vs GDD accumulation

Average Protein concentration

Crimson oat

Crimson ryegrass

Crimson triticale

Huron grain oat

Radish rye Radish vetch rye

Rye Rye oat Ryegrass oat

Ryegrass triticale

10

12

14

16

18

20

22Pr

otei

n co

cent

ratio

n (%

)

Conclusions• Recent temperatures appear to have increased respective to recent past• This opens new opportunities for cover crops and double cropping of

forages after corn silage• Rye most productive, but other species have higher protein

concentrations• Ryegrass and triticale mixtures with crimson clover look promising• Cover crop adoption has dramatically increased

• It is important to use adapted varieties, proper seeding and establishment methods, and timely establishment methods to have success!

Cover Crop Websitehttp://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/soil-management/cover-crops

Thank You!

Mena Hautau, Extension Educator, CCAPenn State Extension-Berks County1238 County Welfare Rd., Suite 110

Leesport, PA 19533