Simple deep rooting cover crop suggestions please.

[Drillman]

As above we have some heavyish land to sort out, it’s had spuds on it and headlands are largely churned to mud so won’t be drilled this autumn with anything unless we get a prolonged spell of dry weather.

what I’m thinking is probably in. Spring is to level the ruts out and plant some sort of cover crop for the summer. What I’m after is something with a strong deep rooting system to it to try get some structure back.

suggestions please.

 

[cquick]

Sunflower, millet/sorghum, linseed, rye/oats, beans.
If there's no OSR in the rotation then add radish or mustard.

You can buy all these as birdseed or off the heap

 

[crashbox]

Agree with the above that brassicas have some good deep tap roots, and are cheap.

 

[teslacoils]

Oats. Sunflower. But of kale. Simple, cheap.

 

[Kingston]

Sunflower, millet/sorghum, linseed, rye/oats, beans.
If there's no OSR in the rotation then add radish or mustard.

You can buy all these as birdseed or off the heap

I occasionally see people saying to buy as birdseed, is it significantly cheaper and anywhere that would you recommend? Thanks

 

[Andrew K]

Radish would be my choice.

 

[Flatlander]

Sorghum Sudan grass at around 10 lbs an acre. It has an immense root structure and grows quick in heat. This was planted July 7 th. Picture taken September 14th. No fertilizer.

 

[ollie989898]

Sorghum Sudan grass at around 10 lbs an acre. It has an immense root structure and grows quick in heat. This was planted July 7 th. Picture taken September 14th. No fertilizer.

This stuff is scary once it gets growing. Wants to be put into nice warm soil though.

 

[Great In Grass]

Two mixtures which work really well.

2.25kg Oil Radish • 1.75kg Crimson Clover

Or/

1.00kg Tillage Radish • 1.75kg Berseem Clover • 1.75kg Oil Radish

 

[Drillman]

Think we decided as the land is low lying, wet and had spuds on it and is generally a bit of a mess, the best option is pull the geriatric subsoiler thru it as we have one, level it out with the discs and plant whatever we got left over this spring into it.

then whole crop pre harvesting the wheat in the rest of the field That we did get drilled.