Albert Lea Seed House 2017 Farm Seed Catalog | Page 45

NITROGEN FIXING COVER CROPS

Seeding Rate ( lbs / acre ) Species Name Drilled Broadcast 1 / Aerial In Mix

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Approx . Seeds / lb Seeding Date Range Seeding Depth Winter Kill 2 Total N
( lb / A / yr ) 3 Hairy Vetch 25-35 30-40 15-20 16,000 Aug-Oct ½ - 1 '' NO 2 70-200 Common Vetch 50-60 60-75 20-40 7000 Aug-Sept ½ - 1 '' YES 50-120 Winter Peas 50-100 Not Recommended 25-50 2000 Aug-Sept 1 - 2 '' YES 70-150 Field Peas 100-200 Not Recommended 50-100 2000 Mar-May , Aug-Sept 2 - 3 '' YES 70-150 Lentils 40-50 50-75 10-20 15000 Mar-May , Aug . -Sept . 1 - 1½ " YES 20-30 Chickling Vetch 60-70 Not Recommended 20-30 2600 Mar . -May 1 - 1½ " YES 80-100 Balansa Clover 5-8 6-9 2-3 500,000 Mar . -May , July-Sept ¼ '' YES 2 50-100 Lupin 50-90 Not Recommended 20-40 4000 Mar . -May ¼ - ¾ '' YES 100-200 Crimson Clover 12-25 25-30 2-5 150,000 June-Sept ¼ - ½ '' YES 55-130 Cowpeas 50-100 Not Recommended 20-30 3000 June-Aug ½ - 1 '' YES 100-150 Sunn Hemp 15-20 Not Recommended 4-8 11,000 June-Aug ½ - 1 '' YES 100-140 Berseem 12-15 15-20 2-5 200,000 May 15-Aug 30 ¼ - ½ '' YES 55-100 Yellow Blossom 8-12 15-20 2-5 259,000 Feb-May ; Aug 1-Aug . 30 ¼ - ½ ’’ NO 100-200 Mammoth Red 8-12 15-20 2-5 272,000 Feb-May ; Aug 1-Aug . 30 ¼ - ½ ’’ NO 70-150 Faba Beans NEW ! 100-150 Not Recommended 25-50 1,200-1,600 Mar 1-April 30 ; Aug 1-Sept 15 1 - 3 ” YES 50-140
1
Incorporating broadcast seed by dragging or lightly disking will increase successful germination . 2 Winter kill success will vary . Typically dependent on severity of winter and snow cover .
3
Total N is dependent on several factors including soil temperature , how long crop is allowed to grow , etc .

Warm-Season N-Fixing Cover Crops
Crimson Clover *
• Rapidly growing warm-season cover crop clover
• Seed as early as possible in the fall for maximum growth and biomass accumulation
• Commonly used legume component in cover crop blends
• Later seeding into September will result in less growth before freeze up Conventional ________________ $ 1.28 / lb
$ 64.00 / 50lb bag
Iron & Clay Cowpeas
• Vigorous-growing summer annual legume that thrives in hot , wet conditions
• Excellent drought stress tolerance
( better than soybeans ) and good N-fixation capacity ( up to 150 lbs N / acre )
• Widely adapted to varied soil types including nutrient poor , sandy or droughty soils . Ready to plowdown 60-90 days after planting
• Plant after soil temperatures are > 65 ° F in the
summer
Conventional __________ $ 44.00 / 50lb bag
Sunn Hemp *
• Tall-growing , warm-season annual legume with tremendous biomass potential and N-fixing capacity
• Quick growing , very heat and drought tolerant Has the potential to put on over 5,000 lbs of biomass in 60 days . Thrives on poor soils
• Plant after soil temperatures are > 65 ° F in the summer . Requires same inoculant as cowpeas
• Terminate crop at first flower (~ 60 days ) to avoid fibrous stalks Conventional ________________ $ 1.60 / lb
$ 80.00 / 50lb bag
Balansa Clover
• Quick establishing , cool season , annual legume with hollow stems
• Good biomass accumulation and N-fixation potential
• More cold tolerant than crimson clover ; can potentially overwinter
• Potential early fall cover crop option after silage corn , small grains or early soybeans Conventional ________________ $ 2.50 / lb
$ 125.00 / 50lb bag
Berseem Clover *
• Fast-growing summer annual legume
• Will produce good amount of biomass quickly and fix up to 100 lbs N / acre at flowering
• Slightly more cold tolerant than crimson clover
Conventional ________________ $ 2.12 / lb $ 106.00 / 50lb bag
* = variety not stated
Crimson clover
No-till soybeans planted into terminated winter rye