Using Oilseed as Biological Plow to Reduce Soil Compaction and Recycle Nutrients

Project Overview

FNC08-708
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2008: $6,000.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2011
Region: North Central
State: Ohio
Project Coordinator:

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: barley, canola, millet, oats, rapeseed, rye, soybeans, wheat, grass (misc. perennial), hay
  • Vegetables: radishes (culinary)
  • Animals: bees, bovine, swine

Practices

  • Animal Production: feed/forage
  • Crop Production: catch crops, cover crops, no-till, nutrient cycling, application rate management, conservation tillage
  • Education and Training: demonstration, display, farmer to farmer, focus group, mentoring, on-farm/ranch research, workshop
  • Farm Business Management: new enterprise development, budgets/cost and returns, farm-to-institution, risk management, value added, whole farm planning
  • Natural Resources/Environment: habitat enhancement, soil stabilization, wildlife, carbon sequestration
  • Soil Management: earthworms, green manures, nutrient mineralization, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, organic matter, soil physics, soil quality/health
  • Sustainable Communities: leadership development, new business opportunities

    Proposal summary:

    Oilseed radish is a unique cover crop that has ability to produce large amounts of biomass, recycle nutrients, and break up compaction. It is susceptible to frost at 20 to 25 degrees F which allows for successful no-till spring planting of subsequent crops. This project is to demonstrate to local farmers the economical and environmental benefits of oilseed radish and legumes (e.g. Austian winter peas) as cover crops for no-till corn-soybean-wheat ration over conventional tillage and chemical N fertilization

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.