Cover Crops

ProductCategoryTypeDetails
Oil Seed RadishCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallUpright and spreading plantHigh water use and poor salinity toleranceVery good nitrogen scavengerCan aid in reducing compactionDoes not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
TurnipsCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallUpright and spreading plantHigh water use and poor salinity toleranceGood at scavenging nitrogenGood forage productionDoes not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Dwarf Essex RapeCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallBelongs to the cabbage familyHigh protein and high energy level feedVery cold, heat and drought tolerantValuable feed source when other crops are in a summer slumpGood nutrient scavenger
Hybrid Forage BrassicasCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallHigh protein and high energy level feedUsually very cold, heat, and drought tolerantBred specifically for forage production and grazingVery good regrowth after grazingVery good RFV
Ethiopian CabbageCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallVery good biofumigantVery fast growingGenerally flowers in 60 daysEffective taprootUp to 5,000 lb. DM/acre
Austrian Winter PeasCool Season Legume, Cover CropsWinterUpright plantLow water usePoor salinity toleranceFlowers attract pollinatorsForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Common VetchCool Season Legume, Cover CropsWinterAnnual or biennialProstrate plantLow to medium water use and poor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsFlowers attract pollinators
Hairy VetchCool Season Legume, Cover CropsWinterAnnual or biennialProstrate plantLow to medium water use and poor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsFlowers attract pollinators
LupinsCool Season Legume, Cover CropsWinterUpright plantLow water usePrefers acid soilsFlowers attract pollinatorsDoes not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Winter BarleyCool Season Grass, Cover CropsWinterUpright plantLow water use and good salinity toleranceBenefits from arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsVery good forage productionVery good nitrogen scavenger
Winter TriticaleCool Season Grass, Cover CropsWinterUpright plantHigh water use and good salinity toleranceExcellent regrowthVery good forage quality and quantityWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Winter OatsCool Season Grass, Cover CropsWinterWalken oats have enough cold tolerance to survive our winters for the last 6 yearsVery good early and late forage productionMedium water use and fair salinity toleranceVery good nitrogen scavengerWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Cereal RyeCool Season Grass, Cover CropsWinterUpright plantHigh water use and good salinity toleranceWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsVery good nitrogen scavengerVery good residue builder
CanolaCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsWinterAnnual and biennialUpright and spreading plantMedium water use and good salinity toleranceVery good at scavenging nitrogen and other nutrients from the soilFlowers attract pollinators, and it does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Red CloverCover Crops, PerennialLegume, PerennialBiennial or short lived perennialUpright plantMedium water use and poor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsFlowers attract pollinators
Crimson CloverCover Crops, PerennialLegume, PerennialAnnual or biennialUpright plantThrives well on both well-drained sandy soils and clay type soilsDoes not do well in extreme cold or heatGood quick producer of nitrogen
White CloverCover Crops, PerennialLegume, PerennialUpright plantMedium water use and poor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsFlowers attract pollinators
Yellow Sweet Clover Cover Crops, PerennialLegume, PerennialAnnual/biennialUpright plantModerate water use and fair salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsFlowers attract pollinators
Chicory Cover Crops, Perennial, Warm Season BroadleafBroadleaf, PerennialWarm season broadleaf Perennial Upright and spreading plant (vine) Will form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations Attracts Pollinators it does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Spring BarleyCool Season Grass, Cover CropsSpringUpright plantLow water use and good salinity toleranceBenefits from arbuscular mycorrhizal associationVery good forage productionVery good nitrogen scavenger
Black Oats Cool Season Grass, Cover CropsSpringWinter cereal for Zone 8 and warmerVery fibrous root mass and tillers wellVery good biomass productionWorks as a spring planted crop in colder climatesVery durable residue when it reaches maturity
Spring OatsCool Season Grass, Cover CropsSpringUpright plantMedium water use and fair salinity toleranceWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsVery good nitrogen scavengerVery good forage quality
Safflower Cover Crops, Warm Season BroadleafSpringUpright plantHigh water use and good salinity toleranceDeep rooting plant that can aid in reducing soil compactionEffective at reclaiming mobile nutrients deep in the soil profileWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and flowers attract pollinators
LentilsCool Season Legume, Cover CropsSpringUpright and spreading plantLow water usePoor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsSelf pollinated, but flowers may attract pollinators
Yellow Field Peas Cool Season Legume, Cover CropsSpringUpright plantLow water usePoor salinity toleranceFlowers attract pollinatorsForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Spring Forage PeasCool Season Legume, Cover CropsSpringUpright plantLow water usePoor salinity toleranceFlowers attract pollinatorsForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
AC Greenfix (chickling vetch)Cool Season Legume, Cover CropsSpringVery good nitrogen producerGood forage productionVery efficient with moistureShort season plant, can produce up to 134# at 72 days of growth
Sunn HempCover Crops, Warm Season LegumeSummerUpright plantTolerates poor, sandy, droughty soils and requires good drainageHas a strong taproot with many well-developed lateral rootsVery good nitrogen producerCan produce 6-7 tons dry matter per acre
Laredo SoybeansCover Crops, Warm Season LegumeSummerUpright and spreading plantMedium water useBlack seeded, pure forage soybeanSelf pollinated, but flowers may attract pollinatorsForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
CowpeasCover Crops, Warm Season LegumeSummerUpright and spreading plant (vine)Low water usePoor salinity toleranceFlowers attract pollinatorsForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
SunflowersCover Crops, Warm Season BroadleafSummerUpright plantHigh water use and fair salinity toleranceDeep rooting plant that can aid in reducing soil compactionEffective at reclaiming mobile nutrients deep in the soil profileWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations and flowers attract pollinators
Sorghum SudangrassCover Crops, Warm Season GrassSummerUpright plantMedium water useFair salinity toleranceBenefits from arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsSelf pollinated by the wind
Pearl MilletCover Crops, Warm Season GrassSummerUpright plantLow water useGood protein contentSelf pollinated by the windWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Guar Cover Crops, Warm Season LegumeSummerVery good heat tolerance and drought tolerance 90-120 day maturity Good salinity tolerance Forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
German “R” MilletCover Crops, Warm Season GrassSummerAnnualUpright plant typeLow water usePoor salinity toleranceForms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Subterranean CloverCover Crops, Warm Season LegumeFallReseeding cool season annualExcellent weed and erosion suppressorProstrate very dense plant growthForms seed pods at, or below ground level
Annual RyegrassCool Season Grass, Cover CropsFallAnnual or perennial typesMedium water useFair salinity toleranceWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsVery good nitrogen scavenger
PhaceliaCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallUpright plantLow water use and low salinity toleranceVery fibrous roots and good nitrogen catch cropWill form arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsAttracts beneficial insects
BuckwheatCool Season Broadleaf, Cover CropsFallUpright plantMedium water use and poor salinity toleranceEnhances soil P availabilityDoes not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associationsAttracts pollinators very well
PerennialPerennial
Warm Season Legume
Cool Season GrassSpring
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