Cover crop are used for natality , soil protection , and to outcompete weeds . They can also be grow in place as mulch . This in - situ mulch replaces import mulches to help harvest growth by inhibit weeds , retaining wet , influence soil heating and more .
Techniques can include :
Both approaches , however , must be consider sagely .
Broadcast Seeding into In-situ Mulch
Flail mowing create an open - mulch , which can allow aggressive weeds to penetrate . However , pre - weeding with tarpaulin refinement and then broadcast medium can yield high - density well - mulched crop . The open - mulch helps seed germinate and protects crop development .
However , if harvest establishment is down and mourning band pressure is high , this can be disastrous ! Proper pre - weeding and broadcast medium is crucial . Mixing source with sand helps ensure even broadcasting .
Roller Crimper Method
Crimpingcover harvest break the vascular system , killing the plant . And rolling lays it in a unidirectional mat . Proper timing ( seed milk - stage ) is crucial to ensure your cover crop ( rye whiskey , for instance ) does n’t keep produce after wrap .
Pre - weeding is still important to remove aggressive weeds . But crimping develop a closed - mulch that is much more weed - cogent evidence . This is full for transplanted crops that can well be plant into mulch .
translate more : Organic no - till growing is good for you and you land .
Cover Crops for Mulch
rye whiskey and vetch are authoritative cover crops used for in - situ mulch . These are popular for both rolled crimping and the flail mowing method .
Rye actually has a weed - seed - curb effect by unblock chemical into the soil !
Vetch is a legume and total nitrogen to help your craw produce . Other pop options admit oat , annual Secale cereale , pea and trefoil . Clover are a semiannual and demand to be killed by tarpaulin civilisation for best results .
Crops can also be used for in - situ mulch . This is called “ crop cover cropping . ” In fact , it is really effective because you have already established a vegetable crop . You just leave it to become a cover harvest .
Then you could only continue with any of the recommended method for rick it into an in - situ mulch .
Read more : What exactly is a cover crop ? reverse out you have some alternative .
Combining Methods
Sometimes we want the best of both worlds . You may require to produce a harvest cover crop and under sow it to rye , which you take into account to become a very dense cover harvest for in - situ mulch . You may also need to use different proficiency for turning the harvest into the mulch .
How about rolling and crimp it ? Or flail mowing it , then using the zipper bottom technique , pulling two pieces of weed roadblock to meet in the midriff of the seam and plant a wrangle of melon ? In this illustration , the melons would have expectant access to nutrients and organic affair from the cover crop .
They would also benefit weed protection from the dope roadblock . And where the zip fastener meets , they would have a mulch to keep weeds out too . This room , you are less at risk of mis - manage pre - weeding techniques .
