Pollinators
Cover crops for agriculture
Cover crops ensure good soil conditions. They supply large quantities of organic matter, which is important for soil structure and fertility on the long term. Many arable crops respond favourably to green manure crops, with potentially higher yields. Besides that, cover crops play an important role in control of nematodes and mineral fixation.
Sunflower
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Sunflower: Summer annual with large yellow flower
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Adapts to various soil types
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Deep and finely branched tap-root system
Cilantro
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Cilantro: Hardy short-lived annual herb
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Also known as coriander when harvested for seed
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Attracts a variety of beneficial insects
Buckwheat
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Buckwheat: Rapid-growing broadleaf cover crop
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Used for weed suppression and soil improvement
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Scavenges phosphorus and releases it for future crops
Scala (Brown Mustard)
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Natural bio-fumigant of root-knot nematode
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Reduces soil crusting
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Improves soil infiltration
Sirene | White Mustard
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High biomass yield - tall plants
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Very good lodging resistance
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Green mass yield potential – 21.6 (20.5-22.8) t/ha
Phacelia
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Use as a fall/winter catch crop/mulch. Produces abundant biomass and does a good job of catching excess Ca and nitrates before they leach into the ground water. Appropriate when it will be followed by a vigorous cash crop, like potatoes, in early spring.
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Ideal as a catch crop for oilseed rotations (non-host for club root disease)
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Intercrop option with maize and sugar beet (data shows phacelia reduces the population of the sugar beet nematode, Heterodera schachtii).