Cover Crop Options For Fruit Orchards - University Of Florida

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Cover Crop OptionsforFruit OrchardsDanielle Treadwell, Associate ProfessorHorticultural Sciences UF-IFASddtreadw@ufl.edu

Cover Crops Defined A cover crop is not harvested forprofit, but rather is included inthe farm or garden to provide oneor more ecosystem services. Cover crops can reduce fertilizerand pesticide inputs, attractpollinators, increase biodiversityand improve soil health.

National Cover Crop Initiative“Cover crops to me are just thenext natural step in trying tohave a broader system, and Ithink the single biggest issue wehave as farmers in this countryis we don’t farm with a systemin mind.”- panelist Howard G. Buffett, aphilanthropist and Illinoisfarmer.National Cover Crop Conference 2014, Omaha, NE

National Cover Crop Initiative20 Million Acres inCover Crops by 2020 Improved access to technicalsupport and equipment Recognizing innovativefarmers Develop educational materialsand consistent messaging Increase research Align program requirementsamong farmer agencies(NRCS, RMA, etc.)

National Cover Crop Survey 2,102 farmers participated. 80% produced row crops, 20% producedspecialty crops 86% of respondents cited soil health was akey benefit of cover crops; 54% believed thatthose benefits began in the first year of use. 66% reported weed control was improvedfollowing cereal rye cover crop Non-users cited technical assistance,incentive programs, and more knowledge toinfluence over-Crop-Survey-Analysis

Adding Cover Crops to Your System1. Choose your objective.

Adding Cover Crops to Your System2. Consider your equipment.

Adding Cover Crops to Your System3. What time of year will covers help most?

Adding Cover Crops to Your System4. Create a short list of cover crop species

Cover Crop Establishment Time and labor required for planting andestablishment is a primary barrier to covercrop adoption. Fertilizer and irrigation to establishment arenecessary. Typically, nitrogen rate 40 lbs/a Legumes should be inoculated.

Managing Cover Crops Orchard mowers will likely not be able tomanage the amount of biomass generatedby covers. If cover crop establishment fails, beprepared to implement a Plan B. Use seasonal temperature changes to youradvantage Scout your covers as you would your crop.

Terminating Cover CropsMOW. Flail mowers deposit material directlyunder the deck; rotary mowers (Bush Hog)throw plant material unevenly outside ofdeck.SOIL INCORPORATE. May be difficult with alot of residue. May require several passes.ROLL/CRIMP. Equipment highly customizable.Regrowth is possible if plants are not fullyterminated. Timing of termination VIP.

Warm Season Cover CropsCOMMON NAMESunn hempCowpeaLablabPearl milletSorghum SudangrassBuckwheatSesameSunflowerLATIN NAMECrotalaria junceaVigna unguiculataLablab pupureusPennisetum glaucumS. bicolor x S. sudanenseFagopyrum esculentumSesamum indicumHelianthus annuusCULTIVARS‘Tropic Sun’‘Iron Clay’‘Tiff’ series‘Manor’Various lines‘Mammoth’

Cool Season Cover CropsCOMMON NAMELATIN NAMECULTIVARSCrimson cloverTrifolium incarnatum‘Dixie’Alyce cloverAlysicarpus ovalifoliusAustrian winter peaPisum sativum spp. ArvenseDaikon radishRaphanus sativusTriticaleTriticum aestivum X triticosacaleCereal ryeSecale cereale‘Frost’‘FL 401’‘Wrens Abruzzi’

Cover Crop Management Plan January: Breaking dormancy, first bloom, leaves emerge COVER CROP TERMINATION February: Full bloomMarch: Petal fall, fruit cell division, full canopyApril: Vegetative and fruit growth, first mature fruitMay: Fruit matures/harvestJune: Final harvestJuly: Summer prune PLANT COVER CROP ROTATION #1 August-November: Vegetative growth TERMINATE FIRST COVER CROP PLANT COVER CROP ROTATION #2 December: Defoliation, dormancy, winter prune

Thank you!Danielle Treadwellddtreadw@ufl.edu

philanthropist and Illinois farmer. National Cover Crop Conference 2014, Omaha, NE. . and consistent messaging Increase research Align program requirements among farmer agencies (NRCS, RMA, etc.) 20 Million Acres in Cover Crops by 2020. National Cover Crop Survey 2,102 farmers participated. . crop adoption. Fertilizer and .