Midwest Cover Crop Council

Drilled Seeding Depth:: 1/2 - 1 inches
Drilled Seeding Rate:: 15-20 lb./A PLS
Broadcast Seeding Rate:: 17-25 lb./A PLS
Aerial Seeding Rate:: 18-25 lb./A PLS
Seed Count:: 16,000 Seeds/lb
Frost Seed:: No
Fly-free Date:: No
Inoculation Type:: pea/vetch
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; Requires more moisture to germinate well with broadcast or aerial seeding May not perform well on excessively drained soils in the fall.

Termination Methods:: Tillage, Chemical, Roller Crimper
Comments:: Follow NRCS guidelines for cover crop termination dates for crop insurance. If terminating with only tillage, multiple passes often required. Mow of crimp during reproductive stage (full bloom). Roller crimping is the most difficult/variable termination method. Use caution to completely terminate hairy vetch in a timely fashion in wheat growing areas to prevent volunteering and contamination of adjoining and future cereal crops.

Legume Nitrogen Source:: Excellent
Total Nitrogen:: 90-180 lbs./A
Dry Matter:: 1800-5000 lbs./A/year
Nitrogen Scavenger:: Fair
Soil Builder:: Very Good
Erosion Fighter:: Good
Weed Fighter:: Good
Good Grazing:: Fair
Quick Growth:: Fair
Lasting Residue:: Good
Mechanical Forage Harvest:: Fair
Grain Seed Harvest:: Very Good
Cash Crop Interseed:: Excellent
Comments:: Total N not N fertilizer replacement. Dry matter highly dependent on planting and termination date and precipitation. Tolerates low fertility, wide pH range, cold or fluctuating winters. Non host for sugarbeet cyst nematode and a poor host for soybean cyst nematode. Performs well with competition and shading in a mixed stand or interseeding.

Scientific Name:: Vicia villosa
Life Cycle:: Winter Annual or Cool Season Annual
Growth Habit:: Climbing
Preferred Soil pH:: 5.5-7.5
Min. Germination Temp.:: 60F
Heat Tolerance:: Fair
Drought Tolerance:: Good
Shade Tolerance:: Good
Flood Tolerance:: Fair
Low Fertility Tolerance:: Very Good
Winter Survival:: Expected
Comments:: Winter survival depends on fall growth Some varieties have poor winter hardiness Great variation in varietal winter hardiness

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:: Very Good
Other - Attract Beneficials:: Excellent
Other - Bears Traffic:: Poor
Other - Short Windows:: Fair
Comments:: Tolerates low fertility, wide pH range, cold or fluctuating winters. Non-host for sugarbeet cyst nematode and a poor host for soybean cyst nematode.

Delayed Emergence:: Could be a moderate problem
Increased Weed Potential:: Could be a moderate problem
Increased Insects/Nematodes:: Could be a moderate problem
Increased Crop Diseases:: Rarely a problem
Hinders Crops:: Occasionally a minor problem
Establishment Challenges:: Occasionally a minor problem
Mature Incorporation Challenges:: Could be a major problem
Comments Pro/Con:: Do not plant in fields where small grains are grown for a cash crop since seed contamination decreases small grain value. Hard seeds reseed but can be easily controlled with herbicides; Hairy vetch has been a problem in cover crop research in the past if allowed to go to seed. Hairy vetch is a host for root knot nematode, soybean cyst nematode, and Penetrans Root-Lesion Nematode. Cutworm can also be a problem. Can occasionally cause hairy vetch toxicosis when grazed