Abstract

Tillage radishes are being utilized by farmers as a new cover crop for their unique characteristics. Tillage radishes are quick at scavenging nitrogen, provide good ground cover, and break down very quickly in the spring to make way for spring planting and provide available nitrogen to the next crop. The plants winter kill, but the dead frozen plant material can still supress the earliest spring weeds from establishing. The holes left by decomposed roots allow more water to infiltrate the soil. Growing tillage radish as a cover crop in the northeast is new and best practices for success have yet to be established. Proper seeding rates must be determined to enable the crop to proivde quick ground cover and substantial root growth while minimizing planting costs.

Keywords

Vermont, University of Vermont

Publication Date

2014

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