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Information for Buckwheat Growers

Buckwheat Cover Crop Handbook

 

Use winter protection

Oats provide dead winter cover and a small amount of soil aggregate stabilization. Good for early spring crops.

Fall-planted mustards will thrive under cool conditions and often reach the flowering stage. They are killed by heavy frost and the residue provides winter cover. Weeds in the following crop are suppressed by mustards. Do not use mustards if your next crop is a crucifer.

Hairy vetch with rye or oats fi xes nitrogen if left until late May. Only for crops to be planted after June 10. Volunteers are a problem in future small grains. Sow in late August.

Late-mid to late September:
Rye is best for protecting the ground and stabilizing soil aggregates. There is a risk of excess growth in spring. Large rye plants are hard to incorporate and excess residue can inhibit the next crop.

Volunteer buckwheat will be killed in first hard frost and leave minimal cover by spring. Light cover allows the soil to dry early, but some weeds will grow.

 

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