Timeline for Managing Cover Crops
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 16, 2016 at 0:36 | comment | added | Citizen | @J.Musser Yo! Where you be? Come visit once in awhile. :-) | |
| Feb 25, 2016 at 7:59 | comment | added | Richard Grevers | @Jstorage The aim is to build a good microrhizal network - which helps transfer nutrients from soil to plant by a symbiotic relationship. Pulling roots out damages or destroys these fine filaments. So the theory is that you interplant between the roots of the last crop, and only dig the bed when you get to the root crop step of the rotation. This came from a very experienced organics and biodynamics assessor who was staying with us. | |
| Feb 24, 2016 at 20:03 | comment | added | J. Musser | @JStorage You can, if you want to. As long as it's all returned to the soil to decompose, you should be good. I usually do larger scale, so uprooting individual plants is harder work than pulling a flail mower through. | |
| Feb 24, 2016 at 20:00 | comment | added | JStorage | Just so I am clear, I can uproot the cover crop and cut it up into pieces rather than mowing the top only. Just want to make sure I get the most out of the cover crops. | |
| Feb 24, 2016 at 19:56 | comment | added | J. Musser | @JStorage, the roots of a legume have a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules. These bacteria fix nitrogen for the plant. If you kill the plant, the nitrogen moves to the soil. The tops will naturally add nitrogen as they decompose (as all green matter does). The reason for cutting the plants is that they die faster when cut, and that the smaller the pieces are, the faster they will decompose. About the allelopathy, if your seedlings have at least 3 true leaves (not counting the cotyledons), they should be fine. | |
| Feb 24, 2016 at 19:51 | comment | added | JStorage | Thanks. I think that answered a question I had. If the top is rich in nitrogen, what is the role of the roots? Instead of cutting the top (which can be laborious), can I just uproot the cover crop and bury them in the soil for decomposition? Also, if I am transplanting vegetable plants (since I am growing seeds indoors), does your concern about allelopathic effects go away? | |
| Feb 24, 2016 at 19:48 | vote | accept | JStorage | ||
| Feb 24, 2016 at 20:01 | |||||
| Feb 24, 2016 at 19:47 | history | answered | J. Musser | CC BY-SA 3.0 |