Cover Crops in Rice

Use of vetch for winter cover crop following rice crops is well known. What isn't known is how they benefit the soil. Recent trials by the University of California shows at least one cwt. of yield increase using vetch cover crop - but we don't know why.

Advantages:

• Yield increase
• Break disease cycle
• Produce nitrogen
• Add organic matter to the soil
• Enhance wildlife cover
• Makes the land look nicer and you a proud farmer!

Cover Crops that Can Be Used:

• Berseem Clover: very wet feet tolerant. Lots of winter growth. Fine stemmed and leaved.
• Purple Vetch: wet feet tolerant. Produce lots of cover late in the spring.
• Lana Vetch: early maturing, excellent wildlife cover, tolerates dry and wet conditions.
• California Pea: late maturing, excellent wildlife cover, native legume, tolerates dry and wet conditions.
• Annual Ryegrass: tolerates wet feet better than any other grass. Can produce heavy cover and organic matter.
• Wheat: tolerates wet feet and can add height for vetch to climb for more organic matter production.
• Brassicas: mustards, turnips, others can provide excellent break for disease reduction while producing organic matter. Needs for the rice field to have winter drains.

Cover Crop Mixtures: Give Kellogg's Ag. Service a call @ 530/872-2624 for more information about a cover crop mixture for your particular needs!

copyright 2002 Kellogg's Ag. Service