Buckwheat for a cover crop
Aug 27th 2014, 1:51 pm
#1
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Location: Rural Virginia
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Buckwheat for a cover crop
In a gardening thread cover crops were mentioned for banks etc to prevent erosion.
Buckwheat is supposed to grow anywhere and quickly so I planted a patch and it does.
I germinates in a couple of days and literally shoots up.
We are in Virginia I am not sure how it will do further north.
Buckwheat is supposed to grow anywhere and quickly so I planted a patch and it does.
I germinates in a couple of days and literally shoots up.
We are in Virginia I am not sure how it will do further north.
Aug 27th 2014, 8:01 pm
#2
Joined: May 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 987
Re: Buckwheat for a cover crop
I hadn't heard of it before, and when I looked it up it looks like some of the 'weeds' I spray my pastures with 2,4-D to kill.
SARE suggest it is for short term erosion control only as "Buckwheat has only about half the root mass as a percent of total biomass as small grains. Its succulent stems break down quickly, leaving soils loose and vulnerable to erosion, particularly after tillage. Plant a soil-holding crop as soon as possible."
Buckwheat / Nonlegume Cover Crops / Text Version / Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition / Books / Learning Center / SARE Nationwide - SARE
SARE suggest it is for short term erosion control only as "Buckwheat has only about half the root mass as a percent of total biomass as small grains. Its succulent stems break down quickly, leaving soils loose and vulnerable to erosion, particularly after tillage. Plant a soil-holding crop as soon as possible."
Buckwheat / Nonlegume Cover Crops / Text Version / Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition / Books / Learning Center / SARE Nationwide - SARE
Aug 28th 2014, 6:29 pm
#3
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Rural Virginia
Posts: 1,076
Re: Buckwheat for a cover crop
I hadn't heard of it before, and when I looked it up it looks like some of the 'weeds' I spray my pastures with 2,4-D to kill.
SARE suggest it is for short term erosion control only as "Buckwheat has only about half the root mass as a percent of total biomass as small grains. Its succulent stems break down quickly, leaving soils loose and vulnerable to erosion, particularly after tillage. Plant a soil-holding crop as soon as possible."
Buckwheat / Nonlegume Cover Crops / Text Version / Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition / Books / Learning Center / SARE Nationwide - SARE
SARE suggest it is for short term erosion control only as "Buckwheat has only about half the root mass as a percent of total biomass as small grains. Its succulent stems break down quickly, leaving soils loose and vulnerable to erosion, particularly after tillage. Plant a soil-holding crop as soon as possible."
Buckwheat / Nonlegume Cover Crops / Text Version / Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition / Books / Learning Center / SARE Nationwide - SARE
I am interested to see how quickly it breaks down it is supposed to be a good source of winter grains for turkey and quail.
Deer I am told do not eat it.
