As long as man has been dabbling in agriculture, rotating cover crops has been recognized as an important part of the process. Why rotate cover crops? It promotes better soil texture and drainage, nutrient content, and reduces pest and disease issues. Cover crop rotation is specific to the types of crops you are growing and the individual needs of the soil.
Why Rotate Cover Crops?
Cover crops impart their nutrients when tilled into the soil. Their root systems can loosen the earth and reduce compaction. Some plants, such as clover and legumes, fix nitrogen in the soil which has been leached by heavy crops and irrigation. The rule, “right plant, right place” is very true with cover crops. Their individual attributes can enhance future crops through their soil contributions. Almost any of the suggested cover crops will prove to enrich the soil but knowing how to rotate cover crop plants will create an even more effective biodiversity and tilth in soil. The addition of the organic matter is unmatched for increasing the structure of soil and support future crops. Planting a cover crop after every harvest will ensure there is plenty of organic matter for the next harvested crop. It's also a great way to keep down on weeds. Certain cover crops improve certain soil conditions. Knowing which ones provide which benefit can help you as you rotate in cover crops for soil health.
How to Rotate Cover Crop Plants
In a perfect world, every field and garden would have a year or two to lay fallow and replenish itself. Intercropping, crop rotation, cover crops, and green manure are ways to manage the changes that constant planting can cause in soil. Rotation of cover crops is useful to introduce different aspects and benefits to soil. Soils heavily depleted of nitrogen benefit from legumes. Traditionally, they follow spring crops or are planted just before a fall crop. Those that need increased organic matter for percolation and tilth will need ryegrass, sorghum Sudan grass, alfalfa, or even buckwheat. Hairy vetch provides quickly accessed nitrogen due to its rapid growth and quick decomposition and also adds texture to winter hardened soil. Cover crops are planted after a heavy feeding crop has been harvested. Heavy feeders might include tomatoes, corn, and potatoes.
Examples of Cover Crop Rotation
As long as you plant a variety of cover crops and practice crop rotation, your garden should be bountiful. The rule of thumb on general crop rotation is to separate plants in the same family by two years. For example, you cannot plant potatoes in one spot and then the next season plant tomatoes because it can invite diseases that affect those in the nightshade family. Rotating cover crops into the planting season is done with the time of maturity of the crop in mind. It makes no sense to use hairy vetch, which is mature in spring, as a fall cover crop. Grains and grasses make excellent fall crops because they need longer to come to maturity. Spring plants like the hairy vetch will be available for summer crop nutrition needs, while the overwintered cover crops are available for early spring plants. Rotating cover crops into successively planted gardens is easy if you choose a short season item. Once spring lettuces are gone, sow some quick red clover and till it in before starting some fall veggies. Rotation of cover crops into the overall season planting agenda simply means taking a break for a little while to grow food for the soil.
-
Get Gardening For Better Sleep: Why Gardens And Plants Can Give You Happier BedtimesWe all know gardening is intrinsically linked to a ‘feel good’ factor – have you ever wondered why it helps with rest? Here’s the thinking behind gardening for better sleep…
-
Electric Composter Guide: Are Countertop Food Recyclers The Future Of Sustainability?Discover how electric composters work, their benefits and limitations – and whether they're worth the investment as a sustainable easy win.
-
Best Late Summer And Early Fall Cover CropsPlanting cover crops is a gift you can give to your garden’s soil. Read on to learn about planting cover crops in late summer.
-
Sunn Hemp Plant Info – Learn Sunn Hemp Uses And CareSunn hemp grass is a warm weather grass. Click to learn more about Sunn hemp uses as well as helpful tips on growing Sunn hemp as a cover crop.
-
Native Cover Crops: Vegetable Cover Cropping With Native PlantsAre there any benefits to using native plants as cover crops? Click here to learn more about vegetable cover cropping with native plants.
-
What Is Field Brome – Information About Field Brome GrassField brome grass can be used as a cover crop to control erosion and enrich the soil. For more information, click the following article.
-
What Is Western Wheatgrass – How To Grow Western WheatgrassWheatgrass is native to North America and graces the Southwest, Great Plains and mountainous regions of the western U.S. It has some erosion control benefits but using western wheatgrass for grazing is the primary purpose. Learn more about it here.
-
What Is Chickling Vetch – Growing Chickling Vetch For Nitrogen FixingWhat is chickling vetch? Also known by various names such as grass pea, white vetch, blue sweet pea, Indian vetch, or Indian pea, chickling vetch is a nutritious legume grown to feed livestock and humans in countries around the world. Learn more about the plant here.
-
Establishing Kura Clover: Learn How To Grow Kura Clover PlantsYou no doubt have heard about the four-leaf clover, but few gardeners are familiar with kura clover plants. Kura is a forage legume and if you are interested in growing kura as a groundcover or establishing kura clover for some other use, this article will help.
-
What Are Austrian Winter Peas: A Guide To Growing Austrian Winter PeasWhat are Austrian winter peas? Also known as field peas, Austrian winter peas have been grown around the world for centuries, primarily as a valuable source of nutrition for humans and livestock. Click this article for info on growing Austrian winter peas.
