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Mill Bay, British Columbia

For the past several years, I've used the standard Fall Rye as a cover crop and tilled in Spring.

This year, alongside the bag of Rye seeds was a bag of Lugume Mix that was 50% Fall Rye, 40% Austrian Peas (Winter Peas), and 10% Vetch.

Is it a good idea to rotate in something like this or is the Rye good enough. I don't need masses of OM as mine is already high so I wondered if I would get more biomass from this other mix.

Thanks/Glenn

10/14/2010 7:02:57 PM

If you want to "fix" some free N then go with the mix, the amount of OM/biomass will depend on how much growth is present when incorporating in spring.

10/14/2010 7:51:24 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Dan, what do you mean by "fix" some free N?

10/14/2010 7:55:55 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Legumes such as Austrian peas are nitrogen fixers.

10/14/2010 8:20:18 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I think Dan is talking about the Nitrogen cycle, fixation and uptake, all driven by the microorganisms in your soil.

10/14/2010 9:19:36 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Diaries, today...Shaz, is mixin in "Hairy Vetch" w/ winter rye...I think?? That would be Shazzy!!! Peace, Wayne
PS..I think Andy has lead us in the right direction, the better the micro's in yer soil, the more benefits, the cover crop will give!! Maybe?? Peace, Wayne

10/15/2010 12:41:07 AM

most annual legumes will fix atmospheric N when planted as part of a cover crop, a good thing,,,just make sure you can get it incorporated in spring before the growth is to much for your tiller and that same material has time to breakdown in the soil

Google for details on how this works lots of info and tests out there

10/15/2010 7:44:16 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks, I was just confused by the term "fix". I'm guessing it refers to fixing a lack or depletion of N in the soil from the previous crop.

10/15/2010 10:45:22 AM

East Jordan, MI

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/organic/nitrogen-nodules-and-nitrogen-fixing-plants.htm

10/15/2010 7:28:13 PM