Planting Date Effects on Cover Crop Growth.

A lot of attentions has been given to the benefits of cover crops to help reduce nutrient loss by taking up nutrients that could otherwise be lost due to leaching and erosion.  For much of the cornbelt, cover crops are limited in growth by the short time window following corn or soybean harvest.  Data to guide when to best plant cover crops for specific benefits are limited.  Better information on the benefits of planting earlier could help growers prioritize their field operations to enable an earlier planting time of various cover crops.  Six locations with at least two fall planting dates were established with at least five different cover crops (oats, radish, triticale, annual ryegrass, and cereal rye).  Measurements of total above ground biomass were made and analyzed for nutrient content.  The results of the differences in biomass and nutrient uptake will be presented at this poster.