Tillage radishes as a cover crop:A myriad of significant benefits being realized by horticulture crop growers in Ontario

摘要

Like many of his American counter-parts - and an increasing numberof Ontario farmers - Larry Richards is sold on tillage radishes as a cover crop."I would recommend them to anyone for improving the soil," says the president of the Chatham-Kent Organic Epicentre in Dresden, Ont., where he grows field crops and garlic. "I grew them two and three years ago and again this year, and they are an excellent cover crop."Some of the benefits of tillage radishes are shared with many other cover crops, but some are distinctly their own. They are usually planted in August, growing to a potential depth of three feet and several inches across at the top until it's -10 C for three or four days in a row. Tillage radishes are effective at controlling winter annualweeds and capturing nitrogen. When they decompose quickly in the spring, the radishes release many nutrients (especially nitrogen) into the upper portion of the soil, which is then available to the next crop. The holes left by the decomposed radishes provide water infiltration and soil aeration benefits. The decomposition also obviously increases soil organic matter, boosting yield to the following crop over the short term - and in the long-term with repeated use. They can grow knee-high or more beforethey perish, holding the snow so it's a more gradual melt in the late winter.