Cover crop mix for new hayfield

[shaz]

I have a new hay field that was in row crops for years and it has a serious compaction problem. PH is 5.5 and potash is low. I don't need to get a hay crop off it this year but next year would be nice.

Considering turnips to help with compaction and hopefully water infiltration as well. Should I be using a mix of brassicas with clover? Radishes?

I'm not in a rush with this but need to make it productive in the next few years. Due to the location grazing is not an option.

Any ideas?

 

[Banjo]

if I were seeding now I would plant annual ryegrass along with perennials, fescue, orhcardgrass, timothy etc. Red clover and whatever else you want

 

[Ebenezer]

Compaction buster. Sorghum or hybrid sorghum/sudan. Let get chest high, mow at as tall a height as you can up to 18". Had some old research somewhere that the mowing stresses the plants and they will put extra effort into the roots to create the most biomass of roots of any crop. Add some sunflowers and cow peas to round out types of species. Increased biodiversity will increase types of fungi in the soil and speed the process of recovery.

 

[tdc_cattle]

I'd go radish over turnips if you want to break up compaction and won't be grazing. What is growing in the field now?

 

[shaz]

I'd go radish over turnips if you want to break up compaction and won't be grazing. What is growing in the field now?

A few weeds. It will be Johnson grass in a month.

 

[SJB]

What kind of hay do you want to grow?

 

[Ebenezer]

Just went to a workshop yesterday. Best use for radishes is with a deep penetrating fibrous rooted grass (annual) or following one in the next season or year. Grass roots are smaller and equate to pilot holes drilled in wood or metal so that the big bit (radishes) can drill the final hole. From some multistate NRCS work apparently. If you mix species, cut seeding rates down to about half, especially the taller or most shading species.

 

[shaz]

What kind of hay do you want to grow?

Considering Vaughn Bermuda so it won't be ready the same time my fescue is.

 

[shaz]

Just went to a workshop yesterday. Best use for radishes is with a deep penetrating fibrous rooted grass (annual) or following one in the next season or year. Grass roots are smaller and equate to pilot holes drilled in wood or metal so that the big bit (radishes) can drill the final hole. From some multistate NRCS work apparently. If you mix species, cut seeding rates down to about half, especially the taller or most shading species.

So maybe a rye with turnips this year followed by radishes and something else later?

 

[tdc_cattle]

Why do you want to use the turnips? If your not grazing them I don't see any advantage if them over radish. Rye is good. Really need a third. This time of year maybe soybean?

 

[SJB]

If it was me, I'd plant a mix of AWP, clover, cereal rye and tillage radish.

I'd also lime this fall. Till all that under in the spring and you should see some improvement and plant. You'll probably want to overseed an annual clover and cool season forage mix in the fall, is imaging Bermuda will go dormant pretty early in mid tn.

 

[shaz]

Why do you want to use the turnips? If your not grazing them I don't see any advantage if them over radish. Rye is good. Really need a third. This time of year maybe soybean?

Considering a crop for a pasture as well. Similar problem just not as bad.

 

[littletom]

I have read that it takes 3 years of turnups, radishs, to do the same as ripping it. Not sure but what I have read. Also ryegrass it suppose to really help compaction. Lime and time will really get you going in the right direction.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Considering turnips to help with compaction and hopefully water infiltration as well. Should I be using a mix of brassicas with clover? Radishes ?

Radishes will not penetrate a major compaction layer. Been there, and did not want to try for two more years. So ignore the seed company pictures. You probably need some mechanical help after liming.
Turnips are cheap and you can broadcast the seed, they are not the best way to regenerate soil.
A simple mix is one each of legume, grass, brassica. Complex cover crop mixes are all the rage now. I usually go with red clover, SS, oats, hybrid kale or rape, and cow peas for a grazing mix.
If you can use balage -- then I would use more SS in the mix. It will increase DM tonnage and seems to leave a mellow soil.
If you don't want to harvest anything then use things that will re seed themselves for a couple years.
Call green cover crop tech line if you have a lot of questions.