Commodities: Sustainable Agriculture: Conservation Tillage

Cover Crops

What are cover crops and what do they have to do with conservation tillage?

Cover crops are those plants used to create beneficial residue cover (hence "cover" crops). Using these species allows for individual choice in covering acreage, depending on your climatic zone, weather patterns and personal choices. Use the following lists of crop species to learn more about these crops.

Small Grains

•  Winter:
  • Cereal Rye
  • Annual Ryegrass
  • Winter Wheat
  • Black Oats
•   Summer:
  • Millet
  • Buckwheat
  • Sorghum
  • Sudangrass

Legumes

•  Winter:
  • Crimson Clover
  • Hairy Vetch
  • Lupin
  • Subterranean Clover
  • Medium Red Clover
  • Berseem Clover
  • Balansa Clover
  • White Clover
  • Annual Sweet Clover
  • Winter Pea
•   Summer:
  • Sunn Hemp
  • Velvetbean
  • Pigeonpea
  • Cowpeas

Brassica

•  Winter:
  • Forage Rape
  • Mustard
•   Summer:
  • Oilseed Radish

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