Innovation in cover crops Use and importance of cover corps around the world Crucifer cover crops Peter-Jan Jongenelen, productmanager cover crops

Innovation in cover crops

Use and importance of cover corps around the

world

Crucifer cover crops

Peter-Jan Jongenelen,

productmanager cover crops


Content- Company

- Cover crops used

- Crucifer cover crop market

- Advantages on crucifer cover crops

- Farm rotations

- Nutrients and catch crops

- Future research


Joordens Zaden

Company based in the south east of the Netherlands

Owned by a French multi specie breeder; R.A.G.T. Semences

Specialized in breeding crucifer catch/cover crops

In Scandinavia since 2005 via Agortus


Used cover cropsArable farming: - Oil seed radish (nematode resistant)- White mustard (nematode resistant)- Ryegrass - Phacelia- Rye- French marigolds

Dairy farming:- Rye- Clovers- Ryegrass- Forage rape


Why crucifer cover crops? Amelioration of the soil structure

Organic matter

Prevent erosion and dust blizzards

Ameliorate the drainage of the soil Prevent soil fungi Nematode issues Limited possibilities chemical correction


Crucifer market

NL B FR D/A OC UK S DK USA

White mustard 2007 25 74 320 300 1 30 0.8 10 10

Oil radish 44 2 13 113 1 1 1,6 3.3 2

Forage rape 20 2,5 18 20 0.4

BioFum blends 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.4 0.3

Stubble turnip 0.5 0.1 0.4

Kale

Turnip

X 1000 ha


Netherlands Cover crop choice mainly dominated by

nematode issue in field

Many different nematode populations in one field

N fixation is additional benefit

Pure N fixation in sandy soils after maize Oil seed radish Rye Ryegrass Forage rape


Belgium

Cover crop choice mainly dominatedby price.

Important beet cyst nematode issue

Importance of other nematodepresent in soil is growing

First approach to N fixation crops on sandy soils. For this purpose, same crops are used as in NL


France Cover crop choice mainly dominated by price

New law in place, where farmers are obliged to grow in winter, on bare fields, a cover crop for N fixation

A lot of crops used and tested, but winner so far; white mustard

Beet cyst nematode is most important nematode

Use of cover crops in mulching rotation, mainly oil seed radish

Start of use cover crops towards soil born fungi


Germany

Cover crop mainly dominated by price and beet cyst nematode resistance

Mulching and low tilling system is widely used

Cover crops mainly seeded after winter barley

Market is opening for other nematode problems like Root knot and stem nematodes


Oceania New market, solutions mainly

found in chemicals

Soil born fungi are main problems

Organic matter improvement is as important

Use of brassica’s for biofumigation

Crop choice mainly dominated by what is available

Market destroyed 5 years ago, due copying concept by crops that hadn’t effect on soil born pathogens


England

Cover crops mainly used in game cover Wide rang from maize to forage rape

Less importance on beet cyst nematode

New law for N fixation and to use cover crops for that, didn’t make it


USA Upcoming market, now

dominated by chemical solutions

Problems with organic matter and water

Start use of mustards and oil seed radish towards nematode issues

Crop choice mainly dominated by price

Big market for game cover, mainly mixtures


Plant parasitic nematodes

The most known:

Beet cyst nematode, white and yellow

Root knot nematode (false)Root knot nematode

(Northern)Stem nematodeStubby root nematodeRoot lesion nematode


Oil seed radish advantagesNon host to; •Globodera rostochiensis and pallida (PCN)

•Heterodera avenae (Cereal cyst nematode)

•Heterodera goetingiana (Carrot cyst nematode)

•Meloidogyne naasi (RKN)

•Ditylenchus dipsaci (Stem nematode)

•Ditylenchus destructor (Stem nematode)

•Tabaco Rattle virus (TRV)

Bad host to:

•Paratrichodorus teres (Stubby root nematode)

On variety level resistant to; •Heterodera schachtii and betae (BCN)

•Meloidogyne chitwoodi, fallax and incognita (RKN)

•Trichodorus similis (Stubby root nematode)


Oil seed radish advantages

As plant

• Long tap root. Up till 1,5 - 2 meters

• Regrowth after cutting

• Leafy product

• Tuber tends to bulb

• Has a frost resistance up to – 6 degree C

• Reduces Rhizoctonia spp


White mustard advantages

Non host to; •Globodera rostochiensis and pallida (PCN)

•Heterodera avenae (Cereal cyst nematode)

•Heterodera goetingiana (Carrot cyst nematode)

•Meloidogyne naasi (RKN)

•Ditylenchus destructor (Stem nematode)

On variety level resistant to; •Heterodera schachtii and betae (BCN)


White mustard advantages

As plant

• Stems and leaves

• long tab root, up to 1 – 1,5 meters

• Frost susceptible

• Easy to destroy

• Fast growing crop, even at lower temperatures

• Reduces Rhizoctonia spp


Rotation with crucifers

• Year 1; Potato

• Year 2: sugar beet/ cabbage

• Year 3: onion/ carrots

• Year 4: Wheat: cover crop

• Year 5: Potato

Farm rotation Netherlands/ Belgium



• Year 1; Potato


• Year 3: Sugar beet

Or

• Year 1: Wheat

• Year 2: Wheat: chemical fumigation

• Year 3: Carrots

• Year 4: Wheat

Farm rotation France



• Year 1; Potato


• Year 3: Sugar beet

• Year 4: Potato

Or

• Year 1; Potato

• Year 2: sugar beet/ cabbage

• Year 3: onion/ carrots


• Year 5: Potato

Farm rotation Germany


Nematode table


Rotation conclusion

Most cover crops are seeded after cereals in well prepared soils

In some occasions after early harvested potatoes, leek etc

In moderate climates crops are grown over winter, f.i. Tasmania


Nutrients and catch crops

France

DM yield ton/ha

Total N kg/ha

Total P kg/ha

Total K kg/ha

Mustard 1,1 22 4,4 23,6

Radish 1,5 32,4 7,2 47,4

Source: ITB trial 2009, Annois France


Nutrients and catch cropsNetherlands

Crop length (cm)

N content kg/ha

Mustard 20 30

Radish 20 30

Italian rye grass

15 34

White clover 20 68Source: N content cover crops, PPO, Wageningen


Future research

More focus on nematode reducing cover crops as use of chemicals are more and more restricted

Biofumigation and fungi

Can we copy Biofumigation lab results towards practice

Try to put as many resistances in one cover crop

Within Brassica group, more species with potential


Overall conclusion We can’t provide a culture system for all countries. Need is

to adapt the system towards the use of the cover crop. Main question in these; “what is the target to use your cover crop for”.

We can learn from other countries

Most important criteria for a farmer; before making his choice on a cover crop, he needs to know what is happening in his soil. F.i. Which soil born pathogens are present.

Cover crops can have positive effects on a soil and the next crop seeded, but can destroy it as well

With nematode resistant radish and mustard, we can solve many nematodes issues and improve soil health.

Documents

Innovation in cover crops Use and importance of cover corps around the world Crucifer cover crops Peter-Jan Jongenelen, productmanager cover crops