Grower Comments From Citrus Cover Crop Field Meeting
Nick Sakovich and Ben Faber
UCCE Ventura County, 669 Cnty Square Dr., Ventura CA 95695
- Crimson clover - growers have not found it to reseed effectively. However, it will grow and bloom as long as it is cool.
- Medics, subclover and rose clover reseed more consistently.
- Cahaba white, Lana and purple vetches seem to have nematicidal properties.
- Sicklebar does not cut vetch.
- Fusarium fungus attacks peas. Growers have experienced inconsistent germination of peas from year to year; could be snail and/or mice feeding.
- Trefoil - noninvasive.
- Don't take more than 1/3 off any cover crop. You can take more off for frost purposes, for example, but it is not best for the longevity of the cover.
Perennial Clovers
Identification for perennial clovers - Red clover: pink/fuchsia flower; has runners, but won't root; has watermark. White clover - white flower and has watermark. Strawberry clover - no white watermark on leaf, has runners that root.
White and strawberry clovers can root to 6 to 8 feet deep, but not in the first year.
Strawberry and red clovers live up to 7 years. However, they should not be mowed to less than 4 inches in order to maintain a thick stand.
Goal herbicide works well on clover. Roundup will control clover at higher dosages and keeps it pruned back.
Strawberry clover is more aggressive than white. White does better
in cool weather. White is more shade tolerant, strawberry is more
stress tolerant.
| Positive Attributes of Cover Cropping | |
| Adds organic matter | Increases microorganism activity |
| Controls erosion | Controls weeds |
| Keeps dust down | Dries deep soils |
| Saves Water | Has nematicidal properties |
| Builds soil | Acts as an insectary for beneficials |
| Contributes to better aeration | Aesthetics value |
| Adds nitrogen to the soil | Less coyote damage to irrigation lines |
| Adds humus to the soil | Fewer ants |
| Negative Attributes of Cover Cropping |
| More snail, gopher and snake problems |
| Water consumption could go up with perennial cover crops |
| Increase in labor, equipment and energy use |
| Interference with cash crop |
| Potential for greater frost damage |
| Some Planting Considerations |
| Planting depth is very important |
| In general, plant small seeds shallow and larger seeds deeper |
| Need good soil contact |
| Scratch soil or cultivate |
| Cover seed, or at least roll it |
| Timing is important to get a jump on the weeds |
| List of Cover Crops Growers Like | |
| Alfalfa | Blando brome |
| Perennial clovers - white, strawberry, | Bell bean/oat or rye |
| red - 'Kenland' | Vetch/pea |
| Birdsfoot trefoil | Yellow sweet clover (allelopathic) |
| Medics - bur and barrel | Rapeseed - can plant as late as Feb. |
| Lana vetch/barley | Lupin |
Cover Crop Research and Education Summaries