Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)is a summer annual broadleaf plant that is grown as a cover crop for its fast-growing, weed-smothering and pollinator-promoting properties. It establishes rapidly (Figure 1) and flowers as soon as three weeks after planting. Buckwheat is well proven to smother warm-season annual weeds through shading and competition. With very fine roots, it […]
Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is a winter annual legume that is grown as a cover crop for its nitrogen (N) production, weed suppression and the mulch it provides. When seeded in late summer, hairy vetch grows slowly throughout the fall while establishing its root system. In the spring, it grows rapidly and can fix […]
Field peas (Pisum sativum) are a cool-season annual legume that are grown as a cover crop to fix nitrogen, complement other species in mixtures and to boost protein levels in mixtures seeded for forage production. Peas have viny above-ground growth (Figure 1) and shallow roots compared to other species. They germinate and grow best in […]
Winter 2024 and Spring 2025 Conditions Regular freeze-thaw cycles occurred, but with so much snow cover across most of the province, few fields were exposed to very cold air temperatures. Springtime reports indicated there was below-average alfalfa winterkill. On March 28th, 2025 an ice storm struck central and eastern Ontario, as well as the counties […]
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a short-lived perennial legume with a long history of use as a green manure in Ontario. It establishes best when underseeded in a small grain crop (Figure 1), and Ontario research has found it to supply up a substantial nitrogen credit to its subsequent crop. Beyond its nitrogen fixation benefits, […]
Oats are a cool season cereal commonly grown as a cover crop either on their own (Figure 1) or as the base of mixtures. They establish quickly, grow rapidly, and typically die over winter. Oats provide benefits in terms of weed suppression, soil structure improvement, and as a harvested or grazed forage. They perform well […]
Learn how cover crops help to maintain soil quality and crop productivity. Introduction Cover crops play an important role in maintaining soil quality and productivity on Ontario farms. Traditionally, they have been associated with reducing soil erosion and adding organic matter to the soil. Indeed, they are very strong in these categories: according to the […]
Planting corn directly into a living cover crop before it is killed by herbicide or tillage is not something that would have been considered 30 years ago. However, with advances in planter technology, herbicide options, and a greater awareness of cover crop benefits to soil health, more growers are doing it. According to the 2022-2023 […]
Join the OMAFRA Soil Team and the Ontario Soil Network in London for a full day of collaborative learning. Dive deep into diagnosing and finding solutions for real soil health challenges in a real field! Share learnings and experiences with other soil health professionals, and pick up a great new ideas along the way. A […]
Co-authored by Mike Cowbrough, OMAFRA Weed Management Specialist – Field Crops An annual ryegrass cover crop is excellent at scavenging nitrogen, improving soil structure, and preventing erosion. It tolerates low light levels well enough to be inter-seeded into an established corn crop and grows quickly enough with adequate moisture to help suppress weeds. For ruminant […]
With winter wheat harvest beginning in parts of the province, cover crop seeding will be close on its heels. Adoption of cover crops has increased in Ontario over the last number of years, and for good reason – they help improve water infiltration, compete with weeds, and capture left-over nutrients. In this article, I’ll share […]
Cover crops can produce nitrogen. We looked at when different species release nitrogen and the impact that adding manure has on the timing and release of nitrogen. The simple answer Predicting nitrogen (N) availability from cover crops is complicated. Cold and wet conditions in the spring negativelyimpact soil microbial activity and can result in significant […]
This article shares the findings from a 2021 on-farm trial that compared fall cover crop termination with planting green. It was conducted near Hagersville, Ontario, as part of an Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Tier Two project. Highlights To watch a short video with in-season footage from the trial, click below: Background Information on […]
The value from manure comes in the nutrients provided along with other components that benefit soil health. Manure adds a layer of complexity to fertilizer management, but it also provides benefits to crops that commercial fertilizer on its own cannot provide. Research helps with understanding the principles of how nutrients behave in different environments and […]
Cereal rye is a versatile cover crop that can be seeded late into the fall in Ontario. Not to be confused with annual ryegrass – a grass that can be challenging to control – it is a winter cereal that overwinters reliably and grows rapidly in the spring. Delayed termination of rye by herbicide prior […]