By using a disk seeder and not a tine seeder. The disk will get through the chopped green manure and get down to the soil.
Wind and traffic will soon cover it up, but the oats or other grain should soon push through. Disk seeders were used on "new ground", because of roots etc. Just a matter of getting an old one and cutting it down to suit, probably making it three point linkage mounted. You may need to play with the angle of approach for the disk as this tends to have to do with the nature of the trash. I suggest that it is better to sow as soon after slashing as possible. I have designed a modified disk based air seader, with a larger than normal disk. Any one want an investment? This is intended for this sort of application and also direct seeding revegetation. Gil RiverValley wrote: > Gil, > > How do you sow the oats through the previuos cover crop? > > thanks, > Daniel > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gil Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, October 28, 2002 8:11 PM > Subject: Re: RoundUp/Cover crop > > > Hi! Per Garp/NH > > > > Over here we have winter rain, which is our main growing season, followed > by > > spring when most thing finish for harvest, with grapes coming in around > > February. > > > > We start with a legume peas/ fava beans, hairy vetch etc, planted on the > first > > rains. A soon as it flowers, but before it sets seed, it is slashed and > oats > > or other grain sowed through it. Again, as soon as it flowers and is still > at > > the milky stage, slash it and just let it lay on top and there is your > summer > > mulch. Some run the slasher through a couple of times to cut it shorter. > This > > should supply all the N and C required. I like to spray the freshly > slashed > > material with the compost Preps. > > > > Gil > > > > COYOTEHILLFARM wrote: > > > > > Hi All > > > > > > What type of cover crop would you recommend as a companion planting for > > > grapes ?? > > > > > > Thanks > > > Per Garp/NH > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Gil Robertson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 10:34 PM > > > Subject: Re: RoundUp > > > > > > > Hi! Peter, > > > > If the cover crop is slowing vine growth, it suggests that there is a > > > > Nitrogen shortage. The cut cover crop and any mulch is mostly carbon > and > > > > needs a specific proportion of nitrogen to break it down. It is > > > > important to start with a legume with the right inoculant to help set > > > > nitrogen from the air, into the soil, in a form the plant can use. The > > > > break down of carbon, also uses large amounts of nitrogen, which may > be > > > > what has happened. When you get a "nitrogen credit" in the soil, it is > > > > OK to have a non nitrogen fixing cover crop. > > > > > > > > The use of the Preps will help the whole process. I also use the > > > > combined compost Preps, sprayed onto the freshly slashed cover crop, > > > > which seems to help it break down. > > > > > > > > If you have the time and a good Whipper Snipper, using the line, not > > > > blade, you can make a little guard on a long handle, which you can put > > > > against the butt of the vine and slash right to the butt, at ground > > > > level. I do not see properly managed cover crops as competing. They > will > > > > keep out weeds and should produce all the N and C your crop requires. > > > > While they will use some water, if slashed fairly often, they also > > > > reduce water loss from bare soil and the effect of heat on the root > run. > > > > In Oz with our mainly shallow soils, it is important to use all of it > we > > > > can. A sun dried inch or two is wasted country and it also kills > feeder > > > > roots. > > > > > > > > Gil > > > > > > > > J Peter Young wrote: > > > > > > > > > Gil, We had a marvelous green manure crop this spring which, when we > > > > > couldn't get control of it in the vine row, completely shut down > vine > > > > > growth in early summer. It is a young vineyard and apparently very > > > > > sensitive to competition. Once the green manure crop finally fell > away > > > > > natually, the more noxious north coast weeds began to appear because > > > > > of our irrigation. In some areas we did sow a clover vine row cover > > > > > crop, but it was just a competitive. It's sad that next door, my > > > > > conventional farming neighbor who uses a pre-emergent over the > winter > > > > > and then regularly applied RoundUp through teh growing season had > much > > > > > better growth and vigor with less water and a lot less fertilizer. > We > > > > > had hoped to only try to keep the 18" around each vine clear, but > that > > > > > is turning out to be impractical and next season we are going for an > > > > > 18" to 24" wide strip. The aisles will continue to have cover crop > in > > > > > them providing habitat. Our biggest concern this year is getting in > to > > > > > the vineyard at the right points in time over the winer to use the > > > > > vinegar and the number of passes we'll have to make each season > since > > > > > vinegar has not effect on the roots. Peter > > > > > > > > > > > >
