Cover Crop Planting Guidelines

The following tables contain recommendations for planting common cover crop species. Please note that this information should be used as a starting point only. Be sure to consult your owner’s manual for specific seed rates and calibrate your machine prior to planting!

Annual Ryegrass
Type	Winter annual; cool-season annual grass
Roles	Prevents erosion Builds soil structure Improves drainage Adds organic matter Suppresses weeds Scavenges nutrients
Seeding Depth (in.)	0 – ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	10-20
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	20-30
Best Established	Early Spring, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	40°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam Adequate soil moisture required
Things to Note	Avoid seeding in hot, dry weather or in crusted soil. For winter seeding, plant at least 40 days before first kill frost. Does well on various soils. Offers a good choice for heavier ground. Germinates in cool soils.

Barley
Type	Winter annual; cool-season annual cereal grain
Roles	Prevents erosion Suppresses weeds Scavenges nutrients Adds organic matter
Seeding Depth (in.)	¾ - 2
Drill Rate (lb./A)	50-100
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	80-125
Best Established	Fall, Winter, Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	38°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Well-drained, fertile loams or light, clay soils in areas with cool, dry, mild winters Light, droughty soils Adequate soil moisture required
Things to Note	Establishes readily in prepared seedbeds Can be successfully no-tilled. Will not thrive in excessive moisture. Many adaptations can handle high altitudes and cold, short growing seasons.

Oats
Type	Cool-season annual cereal
Roles	Suppresses weeds Prevents erosion Scavenges excess nutrients Adds biomass
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	80-110
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	110-140
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	38°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Moderately fertile soil
Things to Note	Broadcast 40-60 days before first kill frost. Shallow drilling in moist soil leads to rapid emergence. Shallow drilling in moist soil reduces chance of root rot disease. Avoid compacted soils. Timing of seeding is very important to achieve desired biomass. Allow 6-10 weeks of cool-season growth.

Rye
Type	Cool-season annual cereal grain
Roles	Scavenges excess N Prevents erosion Adds organic matter Suppresses weeds
Seeding Depth (in.)	¾ - 2
Drill Rate (lb./A)	60-120
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	90-160
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	34°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Light loam or sandy soil
Things to Note	Can grow in heavy clays and in poorly-drained soils. Can tolerate waterlogging. Can establish in cool weather. More sensitive to seeding depth than other cereals. If broadcasting in late fall, consider increasing rate to ensure adequate stand.

Wheat
Type	Winter annual cereal grain; can be spring planted
Roles	Prevents erosion Suppresses weeds Scavenges excess nutrients Adds organic matter
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	60-120
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	60-150
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	38°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Medium texture, moderate fertility, well-drained soil
Things to Note	Can tolerate heavy soils. Can tolerate poorly-drained soils. Flooding can drown easily.

Buckwheat
Type	Summer or cool-season annual broadleaf grain
Roles	Provides quick soil cover Suppresses weeds Provides nectar for pollinators and beneficial insects Loosens topsoil Revitalizes low-fertility soil
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	48-70
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	50-90
Best Established	Spring to Late Summer
Minimum Germination Temperature	50°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Light to medium well-drained soils Sandy loams, silt loams
Things to Note	Doesn’t like heavy, wet soil, so avoid wet spots. Will not recover from flooding. Requires minimal fertilizer. Won’t break hardpan, so avoid hard soils. Not frost-tolerant. Prefers cool, moist conditions. Heavier drill rates can lead to quicker canopy. Drilling can lead to stronger stand.

Berseem Clover
Type	Summer annual legume
Roles	Suppresses weeds Prevents erosion Provides chopped forage and grazing opportunities
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	8-12
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	15-20
Best Established	Early Spring, Early Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	42°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Slightly alkaline loam and silty soils
Things to Note	Grows in all soil types except sand Excess soil phosphorus can limit growth

Sorghum-Sudangrass
Type	Summer annual grass
Roles	Builds soil Suppresses weeds Subsoil loosener
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	35
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	40-50
Best Established	Late Spring, Early Summer
Minimum Germination Temperature	65°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Good fertility, near-neutral pH Warm, moist soil
Things to Note	Not frost tolerant. Plant after soil warms in spring or summer. Plant at least 6 weeks before first frost. Tolerates low-fertility, moderate acidity, high alkalinity

Brassicas: Mustards, Radishes, Canola (Rapeseed)
Type	Cool-season or winter annual
Roles	Prevents erosion Suppresses weeds Alleviates soil compaction Scavenges nutrients
Seeding Depth (in.)	Mustards: ¼ - ¾ Radish: ¼ - ½ Canola (Rapeseed): ¼ - ¾
Drill Rate (lb./A)	Mustards: 5-12 Radish: 8-13 Canola (Rapeseed): 5-10
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	Mustards: 10-15 Radish: 10-20 Canola (Rapeseed): 8-14
Best Established	Mustards: Spring, Late Summer Radish: Spring, Late Summer, Early Fall Canola (Rapeseed): Fall, Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	Mustards: 40°F Radish: 45°F Canola (Rapeseed): 41°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Well-drained soils pH range of 5.5-8.5
Things to Note	Avoid poorly-drained soils. Establish winter cover crops as early as possible. Try to establish approximately 4 weeks before average 28°F freeze. Seeds are fairly small. Fall planting conditions are ideal for establishment. Avoid planting too late, or stand is likely to fail.

Cowpeas
Type	Summer annual legume
Roles	Suppresses weeds Provides N Builds soil Prevents erosion Forage
Seeding Depth (in.)	1 – 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	30-90
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	70-120
Best Established	Early Summer
Minimum Germination Temperature	58°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Hot, moist areas where corn flourishes; well-drained soil
Things to Note	Drilling or planting are more effective than broadcasting due to seed size. Tolerates drought and low soil fertility. Requires heat for optimum growth. Rots in cool, wet soil. Less adapted to alkaline soil. Won’t survive flooded conditions.

Crimson Clover
Type	Winter annual or summer annual legume
Roles	Provides N Builds soil Prevents erosion Forage
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	15-20
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	22-30
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Summer
Optimal Soil Conditions	Well-drained, sandy loams
Things to Note	Does poorly on heavy clay. Doesn’t do well on waterlogged soil. Avoid acidic or alkaline soils. Thrives in cool, moist conditions after establishment.

Field Peas
Type	Winter annual or summer annual legume
Roles	Provides N Suppresses weeds Forage
Seeding Depth (in.)	1½ - 3
Drill Rate (lb./A)	50-80
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	90-100
Best Established	Fall, Early Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	41°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Well-limed, well-drained clay or heavy loam soils Neutral or above pH Moderate fertility, moist soil
Things to Note	Incorporation with broadcasting can greatly improve stands. Avoid wet spots.

Hairy Vetch
Type	Winter annual or summer annual legume
Roles	Provides N Suppresses weeds Conditions topsoil Reduces erosion
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	15-20
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	25-40
Best Established	Early Fall, Early Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	60°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Well-drained soil with adequate moisture Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0
Things to Note	Dry conditions limit germination, while irrigation aids germination. Plant 30-45 days before kill frost in winter. Consider higher rate if seeding in spring or late fall. Consider higher rate if seeding into weeds or on slopes. Avoid compacted soils. Tolerates wide soil pH range.

Medics
Type	Winter annual or summer annual legume
Roles	Provides N Builds soil quality Suppresses weeds Controls erosion
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	8-22
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	12-26
Best Established	Early Fall, Early Spring, Early Summer
Minimum Germination Temperature	45°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Reasonably fertile soils
Things to Note	Excessive moisture early in season can reduce stands. Consider planting a medic mixture with various seed sizes and maturation dates to reduce economic risk.

Red Clover
Type	Short-lived perennial, biennial, or winter annual legume
Roles	Provides N Builds soil Suppresses weeds Forage
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	8-10
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	10-12
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Spring
Minimum Germination Temperature	41°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Cool weather conditions and climates
Things to Note	Check herbicide usage dates before establishing red clover. Successful with grass seed drill box. Tolerates shade well. Well-adapted to wide range of soil types and conditions. Tolerates wet conditions better than vetch.

Subterranean Clover
Type	Reseeding cool-season annual legume
Roles	Suppresses weeds Controls erosion Provides N Forage Living or dying mulch
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	10-20
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	20-30
Best Established	Late Summer, Early Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	38°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Low to moderate soil fertility.
Things to Note	Broadcast into a weed-free seedbed. Tolerates moderate acidity to slightly alkaline pH.

Sweetclovers
Type	Biennial, summer annual, or winter annual legume
Roles	Builds soil and fertility Aerates below surface Prevents erosion Suppresses weeds
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - 1
Drill Rate (lb./A)	6-10
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	10-20
Best Established	Spring, Summer
Minimum Germination Temperature	42°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Loam soils with near-neutral pH
Things to Note	Succeeds in same soil conditions as alfalfa. Will not thrive on poorly-drained soils.

White Clover
Type	Long-lived perennial or winter annual legume
Roles	Protects against erosion Attracts beneficial insects Living mulch
Seeding Depth (in.)	¼ - ½
Drill Rate (lb./A)	3-9
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	5-14
Best Established	Late Winter, Early to Late Spring, Early Fall
Minimum Germination Temperature	40°F
Optimal Soil Conditions	Clay and loam soils
Things to Note	Tolerates wet soils, even short flooding. Grows better in clay and loam soils than sandy soils. Tolerates short dry spells. Seed about 40 days before first kill frost. For summer establishment, humid, cool, shaded conditions work well.

Wollypod Vetch
Type	Cool-season annual legume
Roles	Provides N Suppresses weeds Prevents erosion Attracts bees Adds organic matter
Seeding Depth (in.)	½ - 1
Drill Rate (lb./A)	10-30
Broadcast Rate (lb./A)	30-60
Best Established	Fall
Optimal Soil Conditions	Thrives on various soil types
Things to Note	Tolerates even poor, sandy soils. Tolerates mildly acidic soils. Does well in recently tilled, nutrient-deficient fields.

Resource: Managing Cover Crops Profitably, Third Edition (2007)

Available for download or purchase at www.sare.org/WebStore.

Great Plains

Annual Ryegrass

Barley

Oats

Rye

Wheat

Buckwheat

Berseem Clover

Sorghum-Sudangrass

Brassicas: Mustards, Radishes, Canola (Rapeseed)

Cowpeas

Crimson Clover

Field Peas

Hairy Vetch

Medics

Red Clover

Subterranean Clover

Sweetclovers

White Clover

Wollypod Vetch

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