Other Cover Crops

Lupin is a highly efficient nitrogen fixer with a very aggressive taproot which grows deep into the soil and retrieves nutrients usually unavailable to other species. 

• Deep taproot breaks soil compaction and retrieves nutrients 
• Well adapted for acid soils but grows in soils up to pH 8
• Highly efficient at fixing nitrogen and extracting phosphorus from the soil 
• Can be cut for hay and high quality silage
• Sowing rate: 25kg/ha

Borage is a nectar rich, annual flower which produces abundant amounts of easily broken down material that can be incorporated into the soil.

• Nectar rich helping to boost pollinator numbers to benefit future crops
• Rapid breakdown once incorporated into the soil, releasing accessible nutrients 
• Deep taproots break apart soil compaction helping improve drainage and aeration 
• Wide fibrous root network protects soil from erosion 
• Sowing rate: 12.5kg / ha

A high yielding, shorter stem variety - a popular option for spring sowings to help control black grass and broad leaved weeds.

• Very quick and early to mature, generating excellent yields
• Strong reputation for producing high yields in following wheat crops
• Performs well on thin soils. Not frost hardy
• Provides interest well into the winter, particularly sown with other species
• Sowing Rate: 50kg / ha

Phacelia is a prolific seed producer, very fast to establish and an excellent source of pollen and nectar. This makes it attractive to both insects and wild birds.

• A popular green manure crop which is an excellent weed suppressor
• Establishes fast and matures within 10-12 weeks
• Produces a large root mass making the plant an excellent soil improver
• Will produce a multitude of flowers - loved by bees and other insects
• Sowing rate: 5-8kg / ha

Sunflowers are another great option when it comes to cover crops, whether used straight or in a mixture to produce combined benefits.

• Standard tall variety.
• Excellent nectar rich flowers provide food for pollinators.
• Dead flower heads provide an ideal overwintering habitat for pollinators. 
• Frequently sown as part of a game cover mixture or with Kale.
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre.

Lucerne is a longer term perennial clover which fixes large amounts of nitrogen from the air to enrich the soil.

• A longer term perennial clover which fixes large quantities of nitrogen
• Widely used for green manure
• Large tap root which is ideally suited to light and chalky soils as well as dry climates.
• Seed is supplied inoculated with rhizobium bacteria
• Sowing rate: 25kg / ha

Buckwheat is a fast-growing annual crop, with a dense canopy for excellent weed suppression. Buckwheat scavenges phosphates, helping to reduce leaching. Use as a short-term, fast growing cover crop, or as a companion crop to oilseed rape and other species.

• Rapid establishment and growth make it an ideal short-season crop
• A dense canopy works efficiently as an excellent weed suppressant
• Nectar-rich, helping boost pollinators and other beneficial insects
• Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
• Sowing rate: 50kg / ha

LIFAGO buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a different species to conventional buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) - particularly suited to grow as a companion crop with oilseed rape.

• Suitable for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI): CIPM3 IPM3 
• Rapid establishment and high vigour
• Creates a dense canopy to protect the oilseed rape plants
• Smaller seeded and easier to drill with oilseed rape than standard buckwheat
• Scavenges phosphates from the soil for future crops
• Sowing rate: c.10kg/ha as a companion crop