Seeding Rye Into Standing Ripe Oats

Fergienewbee · Aug 11, 2014

I plan to drill some rye and I would like to leave my oats standing for cover. Can I just spray any weeds/grass and then drill my rye? Ground is pretty light, and not a lot of weeds/grass.

Larry

paul · Aug 11, 2014

I guess the purpose is to build the soil some?

Should work, the drill will plant a lot of oats and will compete with the rye for sprouting and moisture, not sure which will win that battle.

I'd do so e legume, alfalfa or clover in the mix if this is soil building?

Paul

Fergienewbee · Aug 12, 2014

Paul;

Yup--mostly for plow-down next spring and to add some organics to the soil. I might throw some vetch in the mix for a little N, although plan is to plant cow peas in this plot next spring.

Larry

paul · Aug 13, 2014

Got it, then the grasses build organic matter now, cow peas do the N later. If you have thin topsoil less tillage is better at keeping the organic matter around. Me I have very deep topsoil and pretty good organic matter so I look at other things, and beat the snot out of the ground along the way.

Turnips or tillage (aka oil) radish are getting popular in the mix, they send down a deep thin root and pull nutrients up to the bulb, they kind or recycle nutrients and keep them in the field near the surface. But of course, first you need some nutrients deeper in the soil to start with.... The deeper roots help break up and mellow the ground some in a low or no tillage system.

Paul

Seeding Rye Into Standing Ripe Oats

Fergienewbee

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paul

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Fergienewbee

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paul

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