Agrovista has been working with cover crops for several years, notably at its Project Lamport site in Northamptonshire - a seven-year rotational cover crop trial to develop novel blackgrass control strategies. It is proving to be a stern test - blackgrass populations exceed 2000 headsim2 at the site. However, using the right species and mixes while creating a platform to encourage maximum black-grass germination in the autumn before spraying off and direct drilling into the mulch has reduced populations to less than 8 heads/m2.
Black-grass trail
Agrovista will be participating in the Cereals 2016 blackgrass trail, a new initiative that will help visitors glean all the information they need to help them combat the rising threat of this pernicious weed. Visitors will be able to quiz experts from the Agrovista team on how the astonishing Project Lamport result was achieved, including the vital topic of matching specific species to a specific purpose, an area that Agrovista has been working on for many years.
Importantly, visitors will also discover what Agrovista's mixes won't do. Unlike many mixes in the market, the company's cover crop offerings exclude species or varieties that could carry over disease, or create seed-shedding problems that might lead to future weed problems on the farm.
Better soils
Visitors can also discover how to use cover crops to improve soil structure and drainage, to make difficult soils easier to manage when it comes to cultivation and drilling of crops and to allow timely field work. Perspex root displays will bring the topic to life. Cover crops can also be used as companion plants, increasing nitrogen scavenging and release as well as reducing weed and pest burdens. Agrovista has developed techniques for use in oilseed rape and maize to do just this and is continuing this work in other crops.