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Full-Text Articles in Agriculture
Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Summer Annual Variety Trial, Heather Darby, Susan Monahan, Erica Cummings, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Warm season grasses, such as sorghum x sudangrass crosses, sudangrass, millets, and teff are high-yielding summer annuals that can provide quality forage in the hot summer months, when cool season grasses are not as productive. The addition of summer annuals into a rotation can provide a harvest of high-quality forage for stored feed or grazing. Generally, summer annuals germinate quickly, grow rapidly, are drought resistant, and have high productivity and flexibility in utilization. However, it is important to know the challenges of growing summer annuals, including the high cost of annual establishment, increased risk of stand failure due to variable …
Summer Cover Crop Mix Trial, Heather Darby, Katie Blair, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Summer Cover Crop Mix Trial, Heather Darby, Katie Blair, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Many farmers have realized the multitude of benefits cover crops provide in terms of soil health and fertility. Most farmers, however, plant cover crops in the fall to protect their soils from erosion through the winter into spring while they do not have a crop planted. Summer cover cropping may be another option for growers interested in building soil health. Summer cover crops could be planted throughout the season and offer a wide range of species to select from so benefits are maximized. Another benefit to growing cover crops during the summer is increased whole plant above and belowground biomass. …
Late Summer Cover Crop Trial, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Late Summer Cover Crop Trial, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
The Northwest Crops & Soils Program initiated a trial in Alburgh, VT to assess the potential for using annual ryegrass, oats, and winter peas as cover crops in Vermont. These species have not been commonly grown as cover crops in the region because they require an earlier establishment date compared to that of winter rye. Farmers are interested in finding alternative cover crops that may provide additional benefits over the standard practice. As an example, incorporating winter peas, a legume, would provide a nitrogen fixing cover crop to the system. Annual ryegrass may provide better soil cover and easier to …
Tillage Radish Seeding Rate Trial, Heather Darby, Julian Post, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Sara Ziegler
Tillage Radish Seeding Rate Trial, Heather Darby, Julian Post, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Tillage radishes are being utilized by farmers as a new cover crop for their unique characteristics. Tillage radishes are quick at scavenging nitrogen, provide good ground cover, and break down very quickly in the spring to make way for spring planting and provide available nitrogen to the next crop. The plants winter kill, but the dead frozen plant material can still supress the earliest spring weeds from establishing. The holes left by decomposed roots allow more water to infiltrate the soil. Growing tillage radish as a cover crop in the northeast is new and best practices for success have yet …
Tillage Radish Planting Date Trial Dr., Heather Darby, Julian Post, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Sara Ziegler
Tillage Radish Planting Date Trial Dr., Heather Darby, Julian Post, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Farmers are interested in growing tillage radishes as they may potentially offer many environmental and economic benefits. Tillage radishes are quick at scavenging excess nitrogen, provide good ground cover, and break down very quickly in the spring to make way for spring planting. The plants winter kill, but the dead frozen plant material can still supress the earliest spring weeds from establishing. The roots themselves are known to drill through compacted soil layers as they grow and the holes left by decomposed roots the next spring may also allow more water to infiltrate into the soil. Although tillage radish may …
Early Fall Cover Cropping Trial, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Early Fall Cover Cropping Trial, Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Erica Cummings, Susan Monahan, Julian Post, Sara Ziegler
Northwest Crops & Soils Program
Farmers are interested in expanding their cover crop options beyond winter rye. Species of interest include annual ryegrass, oats, vetch, winter pea, tillage radish, and canola. These species have not been commonly grown as cover crops in the region because they require an earlier establishment date compared to that of winter rye. Farmers are interested in finding alternative cover crops and cover crop mixtures that may provide additional benefits over the standard practice. As an example, incorporating winter peas or vetch would provide a nitrogen fixing cover crop to the system. Annual ryegrass may provide better soil cover and easier …