Friday, 6 December 2013

Winter cover crops

The picture shows the rooting difference between mustard and stubble turnip variety.

It is clear that the mustard sown after wheat prior to potatoes has a much smaller rooting ability and therefore impact on soil structure compared to a more extensive and penetrative stubble turnip root.

It was also noticed this autumn that the mustard suffered badly from diamond backed moth larvae in comparison to the turnip varieties.

Mustard has started to fall away now whilst the benefits of the continued root exudate and growth for soil microbes will continue with the Stubble Turnips.

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