Cover Crops

Notes from the field

On a dull day in early February there's not usually much activity to report from the field, however a closer inspection under some overwintered cover crops shows where the real activity is and demonstrates the important role these plants are playing in our crop rotations.

Rye & Vetch

Earthworms are a good sign

Visual assessments of earthworm presence in a spade of soil can give an instant crude indication of soil health and biological activity. By simply comparing an un-cropped area such as a bare stubble or cultivated field with an area under a cover crop you quickly get a feel for how much more life there is in soils where crops are actively growing.

Rye & Vetch root zone

Forage rye and vetch mix - drilled 28th September
High level of biological activity
creating a wonderful soil crumb

Soil biology

Soil biology needs a constant supply of fuel; cover crops stimulate and feed biological activity keeping soils alive between cropping seasons.
The two cover crops I inspected both hosted large numbers of healthy active worms (worm colour is a good indicator of health, they are often pale in anaerobic soil conditions). And the crumby nature of the soil created by the life supported by these crops is an ideal starting point for the new season vegetable and salad crops. Cover crops pull moisture out of the soil whilst their rooting improves the free movement of water and air improving soil health and drainage and leaving the land in a friable condition allowing field operations to commence earlier in the spring.

Caliente mustard

Caliente mustard - drilled 10th September

Mustard root

Many active worms under this mustard crop

Can only be a good thing!

Protecting the soil surface reducing the risk of erosion, keeping pesticides and nutrients in the field and out of our watercourses, providing an alternative weed control tool, increasing soil biological health, improving the soils ability to feed crops naturally and even reducing the risk of flooding. There seems to be no end to the list of benefits cover crops can provide.