by Deb Jimison
Deb serves as a Resource Specialist in the Tippecanoe Watershed area. Deb is housed in the Pulaski County field office as part of the Division of Soil Conservation team. Before joining ISDA, Jimison worked for Soil and Water Investigation in Elkhart as a soil scientist. She brings a wealth of experience in storm water management and erosion control to the position. Jimison is an Indiana native from Elkhart County. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Purdue University in 1985. She lives in Winamac and enjoys travel, camping, canoeing and observing wildlife.
It seems that the saying “Everything old is new again” is
true in many different areas. Our grandfather’s knew the benefits of cover
crops, but somehow that practice was forgotten in modern farming. As pressure grows from an ever-increasing
world population for food and energy, cover crops have been re-discovered as a
tool that helps the soil help producers. The technological advances in farming
strategies, equipment and chemicals can increase production only so far if
soils aren't revived as well. Cover crops, especially as part of an over-all
system including additional conservation methods, can return to our soils the
properties they once had when first converted into cropland.
Plans can meet individual needs at every farm as each cover
crop addresses different things. Your situation might benefit from erosion
control, holding on to nutrients, knocking back weeds or providing forage. Using
the right plants or preferably a combination of plants with different properties
is a powerful way to give soil a boost. Species with tap roots address surface
compaction to improve water and nutrient movement to cash crops. Others with
fibrous roots can build soil structure and improve tilth. Deep-rooted covers add
permeability in heavy soils. Others may hold expensive nutrients and chemicals so
they don’t get lost to the ground water.
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| Pit showing rooting depths of cover crops although not much is showing at the surface |
As with any practice, there is the potential for problems if
not used correctly. Discuss plans with someone
experienced in using cover crops prior to your first attempt. Do research to
find the proper species, the correct scheduling of planting and termination and
proper control methods for the crops you’d like to try. Then the improvements
you want can be obtained and the negative effects on the next cash crop can be
avoided. Your local ISDA Resource Specialist (RS) is a great source for obtaining
information on cover crops and many other issues. Contact your local RS today with any questions or concerns you may have.
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| Early spring results of a mix of cover crops. |
