Cover crops:
What are they for?
Planted in autumn to allow germination of grassweeds, maintain soil structure, keep soil dry at depth but retain moisture in surface to allow drilling of Spring crop to break autumn weed cycle, especially of blackgrass but also meadow brome, sterile brome and Italian ryegrass. These weeds and the crop are destroyed in the Spring with glyphosate.
Stages of Cover crop development in field heavily infested with blackgrass
End November End February 11th March Cover crops and autumn germinated weeds destroyed in Spring to allow direct drilling of Spring cereal, with minimal soil disturbance, preventing spring flush of weeds. Results show a large reduction of blackgrass in Spring crops compared to autumn fallow.
After Autumn Fallow After Autumn Cover Crop
What species are used ?
Typically winter hardy black oats (Avena strigosa) and vetch provide the best results - low autumn canopy allows blackgrass germination, high root mass dries the soil and high spring vigour retains moisture in soil surface. The addition of berseem clover significantly improves soil structure.
Products available:
Agrovista offer combination products designed to have optimum effect in different scenarios and conditions, these combinations have been extensively researched in our Development trials. Chlorofiltre 26 is primary product with Chlorofiltre 25 performing very similarly. Chlorofiltre 31 is a premium product having additional soil conditioning benefits due to the inclusion of berseem clover.
Chlorofiltre 26Pack size 25kg Part number 110764Black oats
Purple vetch
Drill at 25kg/ha in autumn at depth of 1- 2.5cm
Roll to provide good seed bed
Apply slug pellets if necessary
Apply Glyphosate + Companion Gold in spring
Allow 2 weeks gap prior to drilling spring crop
Unique combination developed as cover crop mix, allows germination of autumn weeds and improved soils structure for Spring drilling
Chlorofiltre 25 Pack size 25kg Part number 110744Black oats
Common Vetch
Drill at 25kg/ha in autumn at depth of 1- 2.5cm
Roll to provide good seed bed
Apply slug pellets if necessary
Apply Glyphosate + Companion Gold in spring
Allow 2 weeks gap prior to drilling spring crop
Unique combination developed as cover crop mix, allows germination of autumn weeds and improved soils structure for Spring drilling
Chlorofiltre 31 Pack size 25kgPart number 110784Black Oats Common vetch Berseem clover
Drill at 25kg/ha in autumn at depth of 1- 2.5cm
Roll to provide good seed bed
Apply slug pellets if necessary
Apply Glyphosate + Companion Gold in spring
Allow 2 weeks gap prior to drilling spring crop
Superior cover crop, allows germination of autumn weeds and improved soil structure for Spring drilling
Addition of berseem clover provides superior soil structure for Spring and improved surface moisture retention