Cover Crop

DoubleR · Apr 26, 2012

I have 3 acres of knee high rye on some pumpkin ground I want to work in. I'm trying to decide to best way to get the most out of it. Plow it, or just rototill it in, disk it in, or work in in with a small chiesl plow I have. I usually just plow it and then work it in. The BTO friend of mine says I need to throw the plow away.

Fordfarmer · Apr 26, 2012

Just because he's a BTO doesn't mean he knows everything. It's hard to beat a moldboard plow for working in cover crops.

mkirsch · Apr 26, 2012

The moldboard plow will bury the cover crop where it will decompose and turn into nutrients for the soil.

The rototiller will just wrap the rye up on its tines.

The chisel plow will just knock the rye over and leave it on top.

BushogPapa · Apr 26, 2012

Maybe...just..maybe HE is secretly LOOKING for a Plow...??
More and more are finding they really DO need a plow at one time or another..just KEEP if greased and Painted, to prevent rust..

Ron..

El Toro · Apr 26, 2012

I had rye planted on my garden and I mowed part of it before plowing with my garden tractor. I would plow it under since you have a big tractor. Hal

Dean Olson · Apr 26, 2012

I run a shredder through the garden and then moldboard plow it all under. Makes it look good and clean.

Billy NY · Apr 26, 2012

I would agree on the moldboard plow, properly adjusted and set up, maybe you have those extensions or cover boards to help the sod/grasses completely turn under. Some use a wire in taller grasses, I prefer to mow/shred first with a rotary cutter (brush hog) if its too tall. If tall, thick like hay, that could also plug the plow, but light, cover crop like you say, just coming in, would seem to lay over given the plow it set up right and would that not create some nitrogen when those grasses are flipped over and the roots up, just like fresh lawn clippings(preferably not chemical treatments) on ones garden ?

I'd hook up the plow, have at it with what has to be one of the best kinds of seat time, take some photos and post em here, you know we want to see any kind of dirt being turned, sure beats reading the news LOL !!!!!!!

DoubleR · Apr 26, 2012

Thanks for the responses. It sounds like I have been doing the right thing by plowing it. The brushhog idea sounds good too. My mowboards are always painted up after every use so the plow is ready to go. I don't think my 12 year old Massey that I use to plow with is old enough to post a picture of on this site though. I don't think my Super C that would qualify would handle the 3-16 IH plow I have either.

gene bender · Apr 26, 2012

Plowing it under will do wonders for your soil to keep it from getting too compact.

tomNE · Apr 26, 2012

Wow! the bto knows what he's talking about! the advice your receiving on this board is 50+yrs old and not correct. plow in the rye and get it very deep at all; it will not decompose. It'll still be there next yr when u plow it back up. never plow anything in the spring! puts in a "plow pan" that doesn't let water soak in.
I'd go ask the county agent what to do! when i plant a cover crop. I spray it down with roundup and leave it right on top to add humus to the soil.

El Toro · Apr 26, 2012

I've been using a cover crop for over 40 years on my garden and I've never found any signs of the cover crop in the Fall when I replow the garden. I also plow down any old straw used for mulching the tomatoes along with grass clippings. The soil is nice and loamy after running my Troy Bilt tiller over it. I plowed in Feb. this year since we didn't have any snow and not much rain. I only have spinach planted along with 3 tomato plants. I can cover them if the temp drops below freezing. No signs of the rye on the garden. Hal

Anonymous-0 · Apr 26, 2012

round up then
no-till
strip till
deep zone till
or better yet mow and bale for straw hit with round up then
no-till
strip till
deep zone till
less passes save fuel and time
plowing is just wrong destroys your soil you loss all organic matter kill all you earthworms

its 2012 the moldboard plow is hundreds of years old we can do better

RandyB(MI) · Apr 26, 2012

Plow it under. It does NOT kill ALL the worms and gives the 90% that survive a good source of neutrients. Chemicals suck. Mulch on top of ground helps out erosion but not much else. Your root systems are growing down not up. Todays farmers get their yield from chemicals and genetic engineering. Take them away and they could not get the yeild the "old timers" did. Old timers worked in harmony with nature , todays farmer tries to beat nature. Potato farmers won't even eat their own crop , they raise a seperate field for their "eating potatoes" Wonder why? Do it the old way unless you are in it for the money only.

Cover Crop

DoubleR

Well-known Member

Fordfarmer

Well-known Member

mkirsch

Well-known Member

BushogPapa

Well-known Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

Dean Olson

Well-known Member

Billy NY

Well-known Member

DoubleR

Well-known Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

tomNE

Member

El Toro

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

RandyB(MI)

Well-known Member

Similar threads