Table 1 – Cover Crop Characteristics
Crop
Growth
Planting Date
N/S of I-70
Seeding Rate
Germ
temp /
Emerge
Weeks
to
Grazing
Yield
tons /
Acre
Soil Tolerance
Termination
Benefits
Cautions
Annual
Ryegrass
Upright winter
an. Or weak
perennial
bunchgrass
12-24 in.
40 deg. F
7 days
8-12
2-4
Poorly drained to
well drained, pH
6-7, tolerant to
low fertility
Multiple
tillage passes,
herbicide
Cereal
Ryegrass
Upright coolseason annual,
requires
vernalization to
head,
3-6 feet tall
34 deg. F
5-8 days
5-7
3-5
Poorly to well
drained soils, pH
5.0-7.0 Tolerant
to low fertility
Multiple
tillage passes,
herbicide,
mow in milk
or dough
stages
Upright winter
annual 1.5-3
feet tall
38 deg. F
6-8 days
5-7
2-3
Higher
yields
when
planted in
the spring
Poorly to well
drained
pH 6.0-8.5
Tolerant to low
fertility
Multiple
tillage passes,
mow milk or
dough,
Nitrogen
scavenger, Soil
builder, subsoiler, loosens
top soil, erosion
preventer,
grazing
Nitrogen
scavenger, soil
builder, subsoiler, loosens
soil, erosion
preventer,
residue, weed
fighter, grazing
Nitrogen
scavenger, soil
builder, loosens
topsoil, erosion
preventer,
lasting residue,
forage/graze
Weed potential,
beyond vegetative
stage before
termination
Choose improved
Winter Hardy Var
Grass tetany
Terminate at least
14 days before
planting corn or
when cover crop 68 inches tall.
Grass tetany
Barley
Japanese
Millet
Upright
summer annual
2-4 feet tall
65
degrees F
3-5 days
.
4-6
3-5
Poorly drained to
moderately well
drained soils pH
4.6 – 7.4 Tolerant
to low fertility
Freeze, apply
herbicides,
till
Nitrogen
scavenger,
Erosion
preventer,
Forage/grazing
Incorporation
when mature can
be a problem
Nitrates
Oats
(spring)
Upright coolseason annual
that grows 2-5
feet tall
N=8/2-9/15
S=8/1-10/10
Inter-seed into cash crops
Drilled 12-20 lbs/A
Depth ¾-1 ½
Broadcast. 13-22 lbs/A
Aerial/surface 14-24lbs/A
N=8/1-10/30
S=8/15-11/15
Inter-seed into cash crops
Drilled 50-90 lbs/A
Depth ¾-1 ½ in.
Brdcst. 55-99 lbs/A
Aerial/surface
60-108 lbs/A
N=8/1-10/30
S=8/15-11/15
Inter-seed into cash crops
Drilled 50-75 lbs/A
Broadcast
w/incorporation 55-83
lbs/A
Aerial 60-90 lbs/A
N=7/1-8-1
S=7/1-8/15
Drilled 12-15 lbs/A
½-3/4 in.
Brdcst. Shallow incorp.
13-17 lbs/A
N=8/15-9/15
8/30-10/20
Inter-seed into cash crops
Drilled 30-60 lbs/A
depth ½ - 1 ½
Brdcst. Shallow incorp.
33-66 lbs/A
Aerial seeding 36-72
38
degrees F
5-8 days
5-7
2-3
poorly drained to
excessively
drained
pH of 4.5-6.5
Tolerant to low
fertility Low
drought, heat and
shade tolerance
Freeze, till,
herbicides
Erosion
preventer,
weed fighter,
grazing value
Use cleaned or
certified seed
Grass tetany
Harmful insects,
nematodes,
diseases follow
cash crop. Mature may limit N
availability
Grass tetany
Crop
Growth
Planting Date
N/S of I-70
Seeding Rate
Germ
temp /
Emerge
Weeks
to
Grazing
Yield
tons /
Acre
Soil Tolerance
Termination
Benefits
Cautions
Pearl Millet
Upright
summer
annual
bunchgrass
2-4 ft. tall
65
degrees F.
7 days
4-5
4-6
Poorly drained to
well drained, pH
5.5-7.5 tolerant to
low fertility
Till,
herbicides,
freeze
Upright
summer
annual, up
to 8 ft. tall
65
degrees F.
10 days
4-5
5-6
Somewhat poorly
drained to
excessively well
drained, pH 6.07.0 heat and
drought tolerant
Freeze, till,
herbicides
Nitrogen
scavenger,
erosion
preventer,
grazing/ forage
value
Nitrogen
scavenger, soil
builder, erosion
preventer,
weed fighter,
forage value
Problem with
incorporation
when mature.
Nitrates
Sorghum
Sudan-grass
N=7/1-8-1
S=7/1-8/15
Drilled 10-15 lbs/A
depth ½-1 inch
Brdcst. Shallow incorp.
11-17 lbs/A
N=7/1-8-1
S=7/1-8/15
Drilled 15-30 lbs/A
depth ½-1 ½ in.
Brdcst. Shallow incorp.
17-33 lbs/A
Triticale
Spring/
winter
Resembles
wheat / rye
parents
Upright
winter
annual
requires
vernalizatio
n to head
3-5 ft. tall
Upright
winter
annual
3-4 ft.
requires
vernalizatio
n to head
N=8/1-10/15
S=8/15-10-31
Drilled 50-90 lbs/A
depth ¾-1 ½ in.
Brdcst. 55-90 lbs/A
Aerial 60-108 lbs/A
38
degrees F.
6-8 days
5-7
3-4
Somewhat poorly
drained to well
drained, drought
tol. Low heat tol.
Till multiple
pass,
herbicides,
mow milk or
dough stages
Nitrogen
scavenger,
Erosion
preventer,
lasting residue,
grazing value
Insects or
nematodes
problem for
following cash
crop,
May limit N avail.
N=Fly free date-10/15
S=Fly free date- 11/15
Drilled 50-90 lbs/A
depth ¾- 1 ½
Brdcst. 55-99 lbs/A
Aerial 60-108 lbs/A
38
degrees F.
6-8 days
5-7
2-4
Poorly drained to
excessively
drained, pH 6.07.5 tolerant to
low fertility
Till (several
passes may
be needed)
mow in milk
or dough
stages
Nitrogen
Scavenger,
Erosion
preventer,
lasting residue,
grazing value
Same as above.
Terminate 14 days
before planting
corn or when cover
crop is 6-8 in. tall
Wheat
(winter/spri
ng)
Prussic acid,
nitrate w/ drought.
Don’t graze till 18”
tall. Problem with
incorporation at
maturity
Considered the higher seeding rates when used for grazing. Early planting dates are essential for grazing cover crops, and for much of the Midwest that means
August or early September to get enough tonnage produced. Following winter wheat harvest in July is an excellent time to plant to maximize growth. Seeding
after corn silage is also a great place for cover crops. Aerial seeding in standing crop can only be done after the stand crop has reached physiological maturity
(USDA rules). An observed guideline is that most cover crops need 50% sunlight on the ground to grow after germinating. Moist soil and predicted rain also
raise the success of establishment.
Legume
Crops
Growth
Planting Date
N/S of I-70
Seeding Rate
Germ
temp /
Emerge
Yield
tons /
Acre
Soil Tolerance
Termination
Benefits
Cautions
Crimson
Clover
Upright to
semi –
upright
winter
annual that
grows 12-20
in. tall
Climbing
winter
annual 3-7
ft. tall
Drilled 10-20 lbs/A
depth ¼-1/2
Brdcst.11-22 lbs/A
Aerial 12-24 lbs/A
42
degrees F.
7-10 days
.75-1.5
Somewhat poorly
drained to well
drained, pH 5.57.0 very good
tolerance to low
fertility
Till, multiple
passes may
be needed,
herbicides
Nitrogen
source, soil
builder,
grazing/ forage
value
Bloat hazard,
attract meadow
voles
N=7/1-9/1
S=8/1-9/1
Inter-seed into cash crop
at maturity
Drilled 10-15 lbs/A
depth ½-1 ½
Broadcast. 17-22 lbs/A
Aerial 18-22 lbs/A
60
degrees
F.
14 days
.75-2.0
Somewhat poorly
drained to well
drained
pH
5.5-7.5 fair
tolerance to low
fertility
Till, multiple
passes may
be needed,
herbicides,
mow full
bloom
Nitrogen source
Field/Winter
Pea
Climbing
winter
annual 2-4
ft. tall
Drilled 50-80 lbs/A
Depth 1-1 ½
Brdcst. Shallow incorp.
55-88 lbs/A
Aerial 60-96 lbs/A
41
degrees F.
9 days
1-2
Till, mow,
herbicides
N source,
Forage value
Sweetclover
Upright
annual or
biennial
1.5-7 ft. tall
Seeded into cash crop at
maturity
Drilled 6-10 lbs/A
Depth ¼-1/2 in.
Broadcast. 7-11 lbs/A
Aerial 7-12 lbs/A
42
degrees F.
7 days
1.5-2.5
Somewhat poorly
drained to well
drained soils pH
6.0-7.0 Not
tolerant to low
fertility
Poorly to
excessively
drained
pH 6.5-7.5
Tolerant to low
fertility
Potential weed due
to regrowth and
hard seed. Bloat
hazard/poor
grazing
Slow ground cover
Seed and
vegetation
potentially
poisonous
Don’t rotate/w
legumes diseases:
sclerotinia,
fusarium root rots
Till, multiple
passes may
be needed,
herbicides
Nitrogen
source, soil
builder,
subsoiler,
loosens top soil
Hairy Vetch
Some consider
invasive. Volunteer
establishment.
Incorporating
when mature
could be prob.
Bloat hazard
Moldy hay can
cause internal
bleeding.
Non-Legume Broadleaves (Brassicas)
Crop
Growth
Planting Date
N/S of I-70
Seeding Rate
Oilseed
Radish
Rapeseed/
canola
Turnip
Germ
temp /
Emerge
Weeks to
Grazing
Yield
tons / Acre
Soil
Tolerance
Termination
Benefits
Cautions
Upright cool
season
annual that
grows 12-18
tall rosette of
leaves, white
tap root
Upright coolseason
winter
annual 3-5 ft.
tall fibrous
roots
N=7/20-9/15
S=8/1-9/30
Drilled 2-5 lbs/A
Brdcst. With
incorporation
6-10 lbs/A
Aerial 6-12 lbs/A
N=7/20-9/15
S=8/1-9/30
Rapid growth
Drilled 2-5 lbs/A
Brdcst/inc.
6 lbs/A
Aerial seed
6-8 lbs/A
45
degrees F.
3-5 days
8-10
2-4
Somewhat
poorly drained
pH 6-7.5 good
heat, drought
tolerance.
Winter kill?
Freeze might
not kill
completely,
till,
herbicides
Nitrogen
scavenger,
subsoiler,
grazing &
grazing value
Odor of decaying
crop. Kill or till 3
weeks before
planting
41
degrees F.
4-10 days
8-10
2-4
Somewhat
poorly drained
pH 5.5-8
tolerance to
low fertility
Till, apply
herbicide,
freeze, some
varieties
might not
freeze
N scavenger,
topsoil
loosener,
grazing value
Upright cool
season
annual or
biennial
when areas
lack winter
kill
N=7/20-9/15
S=8/1-9/30
Inter-seed into
cash crop at
maturity.
Drilled 2-5 lbs/A
Broadcast
6-10 lbs/A
Arial 6-12 lbs/A
45
degrees F.
4-10 days
8-10
2.5-4
Somewhat
poorly drained
soils pH 5.36.8 heat and
drought
tolerance
Till, apply
herbicides,
freeze
N scavenger,
topsoil
loosener ,
weed fighter
grazing value
Veg.concerns alt.
hosts for root lesion
nematodes, flea
beetles avoid
rotations w/other
brassicas. Kill or till 3
wks before planting.
Mod. Weed
Potential
Alternate hosts for
root lesion
nematodes, flea
beetles, kill or till 3
weeks before
planting. <than 35%
of livestock diet
Brassicas are members of the mustard family (crucifer) and are commonly used for sheep and cattle feed in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand. Brassicas
can increase mid-summer forage availability but have a particular advantage for late fall-winter grazing. The leaves and stems have tested 17 to 25% crude
protein and 65 to 80% digestibility.
Brassicas are very high in crude protein and energy, but extremely low in fiber. Their low fiber content results in rumen action similar to concentrate
feeding; thus, proper roughage supplementation is necessary. They should never comprise more than two-thirds of the forage portion of the diet with the
remainder provided by grass hay or stockpiled pasture. Adequate grass supplementation prevents animal health problems. Number of grazings depends upon
planting date, rainfall and growth rate. No-tilling into sod or planting with cereal grains will help to prevent health problems when grazing brassicas.
Several hybrid brassicas are available for grazing: Turnip X Rape; Turnip X Kale; Turnip X Chinese Cabbage. These crops exhibit leafy tops with no large
root. The tops only would be grazed. They can be planted spring, summer or early fall.