oats cover crop avena sativa - mcswcd · 2019-10-04 · oats mix well with other cover crops and...

OATS COVER CROP

Version: January 2018Marionswcd.org

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Kevin Allison ‐ Marion County SWCD

Avena sativa

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Source: NRCS FOTG, MCCC Indiana Vegetable Crop Tool

Location Season Seeding Window Additional Freeze RiskSouthern Indiana Spring March 1 – May 15Southern Indiana Fall July 15 – Sept. 30 Sept. 30 – Oct. 15Northern Indiana Spring March 15 – May 30 March 1 – March 15Northern Indiana Fall July 15 – Sept. 15 Sept. 15 – Sept. 30

Seeding Rate

(Broadcast with Incorporation)

4 Ounces/100 Sq. Ft.

Mixtures with legumes should contain no more than 20‐30 lbs/acre of oats (1 oz/100 sq. ft.)

COVER CROPCover Crop Type Non‐LegumeLife Cycle Cool Season AnnualGrowth Habit UprightWinter Survival SeldomInoculation Type NoneOrganic Termination Freeze, Tillage,

Mowing at Flower Planting Depth½” – 1”

OATS COVER CROP

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Oats are a reliable cool season, annual cover crop in the vegetable garden. Its many benefits include quick growth, weed suppression, and nutrient scavenging.

Photo: September of 15

If planted in the fall, the oats will winterkill and leave a mulch that can be left to decompose. Planting oats earlier in their seeding window often increases its ability to outcompete weeds.

Photo: February of 15

A winterkilled oats cover crop works well to prepare for a low‐till or no‐till planting of early spring vegetables. Spring planting options include strip furrowing for direct seeded vegetables or making space for transplants.

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Suitable crops might include peas, beets, carrots, onions, spinach, kale, early greens, and leeks.

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Growers concerned with the mulch’s compatibility with their planting or harvesting methods can rake the oats mulch aside before planting the crop.

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Oat cover crop residue left on the growing bed decomposes as spring temperatures and biological activity increase. Some growers chop up the oats cover crop after it winterkills to evenly spread the mulch residue. Planting an early crop or mulching up helps suppress weeds further into the season.

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Oats mix well with other cover crops and can even improve the productivity of companion legume cover crops like hairy vetch and crimson clover. The oats winterkill, and winter hardy legumes survive into spring and continue increasing soil health.

Oats and Hairy Vetch of 15

Oats and Crimson Clover

Oats (winterkilled) and Crimson Clover

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When mixing with a legume cover crop, reduce the rate of the oats to avoid outcompeting the legume. Though excellent for weed suppression, a thick winterkilled oats can create a mat that also suppresses the legume. If spring legume growth is a goal, mixtures with legumes should contain no more 20‐30 pounds/acre (1 ounce/100 sq. ft.) of oats or cereal rye.

Thick stand of oats suppressing crimson clover

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Oats can also be used with oilseed radish, another winterkill cover crop. In this picture, oats and radishes were mixed and seeded after a sweet corn crop. Oats and radishes scavenge or collect excess nitrogen after the vegetable growing season.

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Oats can increase mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, and several species of vegetables use this fungi network to cycle nutrients from the soil.

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Winterkilled oats are go‐to cover crop for both beginners and seasoned growers. Oats are one of the easiest cover crops to grow and manage.

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCESMCCC Indiana Vegetable Crop Tool: Oats (coming soon)http://mccc.msu.edu/selector‐tool/

http://www.sare.org/Learning‐Center/Books/Managing‐Cover‐Crops‐Profitably‐3rd‐Edition/Text‐Version/Nonlegume‐Cover‐Crops/Oats

http://notillveggies.org/cover‐crops‐for‐no‐till/low‐residue‐winterkilled‐for‐early‐planting/

Indiana NRCS Homepage:https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/in/home/

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oats cover crop avena sativa - mcswcd · 2019-10-04 · oats mix well with other cover crops and...

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