Cover Crop Species Selection
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Collapse ▲As we enter the later summer months, growers may be starting to plan for cover crops this fall. Deciding which cover crop species to use is often one of the first decisions.
Choosing cover crop species that are suited to a farm’s specific location, rotation, and goals can enhance their effectiveness and success at the farm level. There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation when it comes to species selection.
Considerations to Make
This video walks through several important questions that farmers should answer to better understand which species will work for their farm.
Monoculture or Mixture
Growers will also need to determine if they want to plant one or multiple cover crop species. Diverse cover crop mixtures are growing in popularity. While mixtures can accomplish a lot, there has been limited research suggesting that they are best option in all scenarios.
Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of mixtures to decide what best suits an operation.
Advantages of Mixtures:
- Address multiple goals at once
- Insurance against weather extremes
- May be favored in cost-share or incentive programs
Disadvantages of Mixtures:
- May dilute the effectiveness of individual goals
- A limited number of species dominate
- More complex management, equipment needs, and termination strategies
Growers who decide to plant mixtures should consider the compatibility of the different species and how their location and environment may influence it.
An NC State study compared different legume and small-grain cover crop combinations in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont regions in North Carolina.
Cover Crop Species Selector
As mentioned in the Considerations for Selecting a Cover Crop Species video, the Cover Crop Selector Tool is a great resource that can help farmers narrow down species and select ones that will work best for their operation.
Enter your site conditions, cover cropping goals, cash crop growing window, and more to receive detailed recommendations from the Cover Crop Species Selector.