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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass.

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Matt Page

09-06-2005 11:36:50




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I'm in East Texas first of all, high rainfall, poor, acidic sandy soil. Labor Day weekend I plowed over about three acres of grass for a new garden next year, and it is powderbowl white and dry. I know I'll need to lime the tar out of it as soon as possible, but was wondering what would be the best cover crop to grow over the winter to add organic matter...??? Hoped maybe that and pour on the fertilizer and I might get by. What are your experiences with this? Matt.

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El Toro

09-07-2005 06:04:15




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
I would give it a heavy coverage of cow or steer manure if you have any readily available. I had
a man that had feeder steers and he rented the
ground and he had to dispose of the manure. I hauled many truck loads of that manure when it was available and it was free. My neighbors
complained of the smell and I plowed it under.
You should've seen all the worms in that ground
the following spring. Hal

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Farmalldan

09-06-2005 20:44:31




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
Matt,
Take a good look at hairy vetch or its relatives. Pretty good biomass if you can wait for plant development in spring, excellent nitrogen fixation. Also good mixed with cereal rye as the rye provides support for the vetch and helps topgrowth. Be aware that rye has some herbicidal traits and may reduce seed germination of spring sown crops. I agree with Gene that you should check with your extension office.

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gene b

09-06-2005 17:30:02




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
You should go to your local extension office for this and also you local fertilizer people as they know your conditions best.



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El Toro

09-06-2005 14:38:43




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
I've always used buckwheat, when I could find it and barley for the cover crop over winter. I also
composted in leaves, grass and corn stalks and cobs. I shredded the corn stalks and I plow this down in the fall along with tomato vines and bean vines after mowing them off with a big mulching mower. I usually replow the barley under in the spring if it is tall. I also lime in the fall
with pellitized lime because it is easily spread.

I mulched all the tomatoes with straw and hay do to the dry weather we had this year. I try to stay away from hay due to the weeds. That will be plowed under too. You should contact your county farm agent in your area and have a soil analysis taken to determine what your soil requires. You could plant soybeans on 1.5 acres
next spring and that will build up your soil too.
The rest of the area will make a big garden. Hal

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Thomas C. Olson

09-06-2005 11:50:47




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
Hi Matt,

We use a 3-year rotation in our garden. It's divided into thirds and each year we plant 2 and leave one fallow. The fallow section gets planted with buckwheat in the spring. After that is tilled under, I sow it with winter rye. As the other 2 sections are harvested, I till under whatever mulch (shredded leaves) remains and plant winter rye. Next spring, the rye in all 3 sections gets tilled under and the next section to be "rested" gets the buckwheat..

Tom

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Janicholson

09-06-2005 12:15:08




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Thomas C. Olson, 09-06-2005 11:50:47  
Sense it is a smallish plot, you might consider (getting domated) purchasing rotted old hay. Many old grey bales would provide massive organics. Putting back as much as a double crop of hay might be a place to start. I'd unroll it, and disk it in.
My two cents,
JimN



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Dave_Id

09-06-2005 11:40:41




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 Re: O.T. Best winter crop for adding biomass. in reply to Matt Page, 09-06-2005 11:36:50  
I planted buckwheat in a garden just to till under after it got tall. It was recommended in Organic Gardening magazine. It was supposed to add good stuff back to the soil.



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