Midwest Cover Crop Council

Drilled Seeding Depth:: 1/4 - 1/2 inches
Drilled Seeding Rate:: 10-20 lb./A PLS
Broadcast Seeding Rate:: 12-25 lb./A PLS
Aerial Seeding Rate:: 12-25 lb./A PLS
Seed Count:: 150,000 Seeds/lb
Frost Seed:: No
Fly-free Date:: No
Inoculation Type:: crimson, berseem
Comments:: If participating in a cost share program, check for specific required planting dates and rates. If used for forage/grazing increasing seeding rate is recommended. Success of overseeding or aerial seeding after main crop maturity and before harvest is dependent on rainfall and although it can work well, it is usually less dependable than drilling or soil incorporation of seed. Do not save patented seed. When interseeding, time seeding to match appropriate crop growth/maturity. If planting in 15 or 30in rows, use the low end of the drilled seeding rate. If the system is organic, be careful to use an OMRI certified inoculum;

Termination Methods:: Tillage, Chemical
Comments:: Follow NRCS guidelines for cover crop termination dates for crop insurance. If terminating with only tillage, multiple passes often required. May be difficult to control in an organic system due to lack of certified herbicides and difficulty terminating via tillage. can reseed if maturity is reached

Legume Nitrogen Source:: Very Good
Total Nitrogen:: 70-150 lbs./A
Dry Matter:: 1500-3000 lbs./A/year
Nitrogen Scavenger:: Fair
Soil Builder:: Very Good
Erosion Fighter:: Good
Weed Fighter:: Good
Good Grazing:: Excellent
Quick Growth:: Fair
Lasting Residue:: Good
Mechanical Forage Harvest:: Excellent
Grain Seed Harvest:: Poor
Cash Crop Interseed:: Excellent
Comments:: Total N not N fertilizer replacement. Dry matter highly dependent on planting and termination date and precipitation. Non host for sugarbeet cyst nematode and a poor host for soybean cyst nematode. Good for underseeding Easy to kill by tillage or mowing Small seeded legumes are not very competitive with weeds when seedlings. Entire growing season required to attain very good subsoiling. N production is dependent on length of growing season in the spring

Scientific Name:: Trifolium incarnatum
Life Cycle:: Winter Annual
Growth Habit:: Upright to Semi-upright
Preferred Soil pH:: 5.5-7.0
Min. Germination Temp.:: 42F
Heat Tolerance:: Good
Drought Tolerance:: Fair
Shade Tolerance:: Very Good
Flood Tolerance:: Fair
Low Fertility Tolerance:: Good
Winter Survival:: Expected
Comments:: Great variation in varietal winter hardiness Does not tolerate flooding Modest growth in fall, exceptional spring growth.

Soil Impact - Subsoiler:: Good
Soil Impact - Frees P and K:: Good
Soil Impact - Loosens Topsoil:: Very Good
Soil Ecology - Nematodes:: Very Good
Soil Ecology - Disease:: Good
Soil Ecology - Allelopathic:: Fair
Soil Ecology - Choke Weeds:: Good
Other - Attract Beneficials:: Very Good
Other - Bears Traffic:: Fair
Other - Short Windows:: Fair
Comments:: Non host for sugarbeet cyst nematode and a poor host for soybean cyst nematode. Good for underseeding Entire growing season required to attain very good subsoiling.

Delayed Emergence:: Could be a minor problem
Increased Weed Potential:: Occasionally a minor problem
Increased Insects/Nematodes:: Could be a moderate problem
Increased Crop Diseases:: Occasionally a minor problem
Hinders Crops:: Rarely a problem
Establishment Challenges:: Occasionally a minor problem
Mature Incorporation Challenges:: Occasionally a minor problem
Comments Pro/Con:: Host for root knot nematode, soybean cyst nematode, and Penetrans Root-Lesion Nematode. small seeded legumes are not very competitive with weeds when seedlings may cause bloat when grazed