Brassicas
Forage Brassicas
Description
While not always thought of as a cover crop, turnips often double as a forage and cover crop, usually being mixed with small grains like oats and triticale. Some varieties, like Winfred, are very flexible, working well both as a summer annual during the hot, droughty summer months and as a fall-planted cover crop that can withstand frosty winter conditions. Spring-planted Winfred shows very good regrowth after being cut or grazed. In extreme drought, Winfred will usually go dormant like a forage sorghum, waiting for moisture. Planted in the early fall, turnips provide a massive amount of dry matter that helps suppress weeds and control erosion, and can be stockpiled for winter forage. Brassicas have a deep root system that allows them to stay green longer than most summer cover crops. These taproots pull up and recycle nutrients that are too deep for crop roots, loosening the soil and providing channels for air, water, and crop roots. This family of forage can be grazed but not easily mechanically harvested.
Establishment
Plant 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep. Rate is 4-6 lbs./A straight or 2-4 lbs./A in mixes.
Rating scale: Poor I Fair I Good I Very Good I Excellent
- T-raptor has quick growth (6-8 weeks to first grazing) with vigorous regrowth for multiple grazings.
- It is very leafy with no bulb and cold tolerant to 18ºF.
- Winfred has slower upright growth (8-12 weeks) with no bulb; plant in spring or early fall.
- It stays green after frost and is winter hardy to -5ºF.
- This turnip with vigorous top growth and high bulb yield is cold tolerant to 20ºF.
- An 8-10 week growth can yield up to 4-6 tons of dry matter.