PRACTICE COVER CROP (Ac.) 340 DEFINITION In addition to other criteria for non-irrigated Crops including grasses, legumes and forbs for cover crop termination, the cover crop seasonal cover and other conservation purposes termination must be at or before the time periods PURPOSE specified in the attached: NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines Non-Irrigated – Reduce erosion from wind and water. Cropland. (See Attached). Increase soil organic matter content. For irrigated areas with consumptive use Capture and recycle or redistribute nutrients limitations, evaluate the cropping system in the soil profile. consumptive use with CO 449 Job Sheet 1 to estimate the amount of water available for Promote biological nitrogen fixation and cover crop use. reduce energy use. Additional Criteria to Reduce Erosion from Increase biodiversity. Wind and Water Suppress Weeds. Establish cover crops prior to critical erosion Manage soil moisture. period(s). Minimize and reduce soil compaction. Plants selected for cover crops will have the physical characteristics necessary to provide CONDITIONS WHERE APPLIES adequate protection. This practice is applicable to all lands requiring Determine the amount of surface and/or canopy seasonal vegetative cover for natural resource cover needed from the cover crop using current protection and or improvement. erosion prediction technology. CRITERIA Additional Criteria to Increase Soil Organic Matter Content General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Select cover crop species that produce high Species selection, seedbed preparation, seeding volumes of organic material and or root mass to rates, seeding dates, seeding depths, fertility maintain or improve soil organic matter. requirements, and planting methods will be consistent with approved local criteria and site Use the NRCS Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) conditions. procedure to determine the amount of biomass needed to maintain a positive trend in the SCI Select species that are compatible with other soil organic matter sub-factor. components of the cropping system. Plant cover crops as early as possible and Herbicides used with cover crops must be terminate as late as feasible, to maximize plant compatible with the following crop. biomass production considering crop insurance Do not plant State-listed noxious weeds. criteria, the time needed to prepare the field for planting the next crop, and soil moisture Do not burn cover crop residues. depletion.
COVER CROP (Ac.) 340 DEFINITION Crops including grasses, legumes and forbs for seasonal cover and other conservation purposes PURPOSE Reduce erosion from wind and water. Increase soil organic matter content. Capture and recycle or redistribute nutrients in the soil profile. Promote biological nitrogen fixation and reduce energy use. Increase biodiversity. Suppress Weeds. Manage soil moisture. Minimize and reduce soil compaction. CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES This practice is applicable to all lands requiring seasonal vegetative cover for natural resource protection and or improvement. CRITERIA General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Species selection, seedbed preparation, seeding rates, seeding dates, seeding depths, fertility requirements, and planting methods will be consistent with approved local criteria and site conditions. Select species that are compatible with other components of the cropping system. Herbicides used with cover crops must be compatible with the following crop. Do not plant State-listed noxious weeds. Do not burn cover crop residues. In addition to other criteria for non-irrigated cover crop termination, the cover crop termination must be at or before the time periods specified in the attached: NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines – Non-Irrigated Cropland. (See Attached). For irrigated areas with consumptive use limitations, evaluate the cropping system consumptive use with CO 449 Job Sheet 1 to estimate the amount of water available for cover crop use. Additional Criteria to Reduce Erosion from Wind and Water Establish cover crops prior to critical erosion period(s). Plants selected for cover crops will have the physical characteristics necessary to provide adequate protection. Determine the amount of surface and/or canopy cover needed from the cover crop using current erosion prediction technology. Additional Criteria to Increase Soil Organic Matter Content Select cover crop species that produce high volumes of organic material and or root mass to maintain or improve soil organic matter. Use the NRCS Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) procedure to determine the amount of biomass needed to maintain a positive trend in the SCI soil organic matter sub-factor. Plant cover crops as early as possible and terminate as late as feasible, to maximize plant biomass production considering crop insurance criteria, the time needed to prepare the field for planting the next crop, and soil moisture depletion.