Cool Season Broadleaf
Enhance Soil Health with Cool Season Broadleafs
Cool season broadleaf species are typically going to be seeded mid March to early April in our area in the spring, and late August to late September in the fall. There are many options for legumes to produce nitrogen, Buckwheat to possibly free up some phosphorous and brassicas to scavenge nutrients.
Buckwheat
• Upright plant
• Medium water use and poor salinity tolerance
• Enhances soil P availability
• Does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
• Attracts pollinators very well
Canola
• Annual and biennial
• Upright and spreading plant
• Medium water use and good salinity tolerance
• Very good at scavenging nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil
• Flowers attract pollinators, and it does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Dwarf Essex Rape
• Belongs to the cabbage family
• High protein and high energy level feed
• Very cold, heat and drought tolerant
• Valuable feed source when other crops are in a summer slump
• Good nutrient scavenger
Ethiopian Cabbage
• Very good biofumigant
• Very fast growing
• Generally flowers in 60 days
• Effective taproot
• Up to 5,000 lb. DM/acre
Hybrid Forage Brassicas
• High protein and high energy level feed
• Usually very cold, heat, and drought tolerant
• Bred specifically for forage production and grazing
• Very good regrowth after grazing
• Very good RFV
Oil Seed Radish
• Upright and spreading plant
• High water use and poor salinity tolerance
• Very good nitrogen scavenger
• Can aid in reducing compaction
• Does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Phacelia
• Upright plant
• Low water use and low salinity tolerance
• Very fibrous roots and good nitrogen catch crop
• Will form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
• Attracts beneficial insects
Turnips
• Upright and spreading plant
• High water use and poor salinity tolerance
• Good at scavenging nitrogen
• Good forage production
• Does not form arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
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