Regenerative Pasture Management At Winona

7/24/2017Cover CroppingColin SeisWinonaMyself and son Nick Granite soil, Ph 5.5-6.02000 acres (840 Ha) 600 mm annual Rainfall300 km NW of Sydney Central Tablelands NSW1

7/24/2017Winona Enterprises 2016Cattle trading500 acres of CropsWheat, oats, rye. (pasture crop)WorkingKelpie Dogs4000 Merino Sheep wool & meatproduction.Merino Studram salesNative Grass SeedWhat is Cover Cropping?Sowing an annual crop between periods of regularcrop production with the main purpose being to createthick mulch,into which the following cash crop is planted usingzero till planting methods.But it is more than that!!!!!2

7/24/2017Cover Cropping can be either:Annual Cover CroppingorPerennial Cover Cropping‘Pasture Cropping’ isperennial cover cropping3

7/24/2017 Cover Cropping uses an annual crop to createmulch, control weeds and improve soil health. ‘Pasture Cropping’ uses perennial grass to createmulch, control weeds and improve soil health.Single species cover crops onlyaddress some of the problems.Multispecies cover crops addressmany problems It is important to include:Cereals, Brassica and Legumes in the mix.4

7/24/2017Why grow a multi species Cover Crop? Prevent soil erosion. Improve soil structure( better water holding capacity) Nutrient scavenging.(less fertiliser) Weed control(less herbicides) Control pest and disease(less pesticides) Increase Nitrogen(Legume addition) Increase Carbon (Increased nutrients & water) Prepare soil/paddock for following crop Quality stock feed ( healthy stock faster weight gains) More profit.Soil ErosionAround the world,10 ton of soil is lostfor every ton ofgrain produced5

7/24/2017Multi Species Cover CroppingSoil Structure Plants like radish, turnip,swede, are excellent‘biological sub-soilers’,breaking plough pans andaerating poor structuredsoil. Improved waterinfiltrationMulti Species Cover CroppingWeed ControlIncluding plants like foragebrassica, radish & cereal rye. Some plants produce chemicalexudates that can inhibitweed growth. (Allelopathy.) Weeds can be controlled.by shading and competition. Creating ground cover with plantsand litter will control weeds6

7/24/2017Multi Species Cover CroppingNutrientsSoil nutrients can be made available:Deep rooted plants like radish, turnips, can scavengenutrients from depth and make them available toplants.Legumes in the mix will produce NitrogenHaving a C:N ratio of 24:1 will produce NitrogenNutrients Use high C:N ratio crops of 30:1 or greaterto increase Soil Organic MatterContributes directly to nutrient cycling, nutrientavailability, nutrient holding capacity, and waterholding capacity. Plays a significant role in the formation of waterstable aggregates which affects infiltration, aeration,drainage and bulk density. Provides carbon and energy for soil organisms thatare essential for maintaining a healthy soil.7

7/24/2017Multi Species cover croppingNutrients Ideal microbial diet 24:1 Carbon to Nitrogen ratio. Cereal Rye straw Oat Straw Having a multi species crop with the correct C:N ratio can supply N and othernutrients and /or maintain ground cover Annual vetchForage BrassicaAnnual RyegrassCloverDaikon ing of nutrients by Oilseed radishDavid Brandt Iowa ium230Sulfur60Calcium150Magnesium208

7/24/2017Multi Species Cover CroppingSoil Health - Soil CarbonA mix of species helps form water stable aggregates which affectsinfiltration, aeration, drainage and soil bulk density.Provides root exudates and energy for soil organisms that areessential for maintaining a healthy soil and increasing soil carbon.Insect ControlReduce cropinsect damagewith beneficialinsects,by includingflowering plants9

7/24/2017Multi Species Cover CroppingInsect ControlDisease controlIn balanced soil ecosystems disease is controlled bytheir natural enemiesA diversity of soil microbes willinterrupt and control many fungaland bacterial crop diseases.Suppress nematode populations.10

7/24/2017Increasing plant diversityTotal fungi increaseTotal bacteria increaseTotal protozoa increaseTotal nematode increase862%350%640%over 1000%Having healthy soil with large numbers and largediversity of soil microbes will control plantdisease.Multi Species Cover CroppingImproved Grazing /Better diet Healthy animals Faster fattening Faster growth rates More feed11

7/24/2017Selecting Multi Species CropsDifferent combinations of plants can be used for: Forage.Prepare soil for a following crop.Increase in soil organic matter. (C:N ratio)Increase nitrogen. (C:N ratio)Nitrogen fixation – legumes.Capture, recycle, redistribute nutrientsWeed suppression.Reduce soil compaction.Attract beneficial insects.Disease control.Selecting Multi Species CropsWinter Multi Species CropsCereals Oats Wheat Barley Triticale Cereal ryeLegumesBrassicaField peaForage eOtherRyegrass12

7/24/2017Multi Species CropsCereal Crops Winter: Multi Species Crops Oats, Wheat, Barley, Triticale, Cereal Rye can formthe basis of a winter multi species mix.Multi Species CropsWinter Legumes Annual vetch Is excellent stock feed. Can fix large amounts of N Makes soil phosphorus moreavailable.Provides excellent habitat forbeneficial insects.13

7/24/2017Multi Species CropsWinter LegumesField Peas are excellent stock feedand capable of fixing largeamounts of Nitrogen.Multi species cropsForage Brassica Winter: Multi Species Crops Forage brassica are high protein, andhighly digestible feed. Swede, turnip and newer varieties.e.g. Winfred is a cross betweenturnip and kale. Varieties like daiken radish andturnip can be used as "biologicalsub-soilers".14

7/24/2017How do costs compare withsingle species crop? The overall cost of seed ismore expensive but theseed rates are usually sownat 25% - 50% ofrecommended rates forsingle species crops.Winter Multi species mixKg per Ha Price per Kg Price per HaOats50.50 25Forage brassica1-210 10-20Tillage radish1-210 10-20Annual vetch5-102 10-20Field pea5-102 10-20Turnip0.5 - 15 2.5-5Total 70 - 10015

7/24/2017Summer multi-species cover cropSummer Multi Species CropsMilletSummer: Multi Species Crops. Millet is an ideal base for a multispecies summer crop. Heat and drought tolerance. Low cost seed.16

7/24/2017Summer Multi Species CropsForage sorghum:Productive and fast growing.Heat and drought tolerant. Good weed control.Summer Multi Species CropsCow PeaCowpea: Excellent stock feed. Legume that fixes lots of N Provides food and habitat forbeneficial insects. Rapidly shades out weeds. Tolerant of hot, dry conditions.17

7/24/2017Summer Multi Species CropsLablab Lablab is a viny, summergrowing annual legume. Excellent stock feed. Good supplier of soil N.Summer Multi species cropsSunflower Good stock feed. Sunflowers are deep rootedsummer growing broad leaf annualplants. Very good at ‘mining’ mobilenutrients deep in the soil profile andmaking them available other plants.18

7/24/2017Selecting Summer Multi species cropsCropLegumeBroadleafOtherJapanese MilletCow PeaSunflowerBrassicaLablab BeanBuckwheat Pearl millet Shiroie Millet Forage Sorghum Maize Soy beanSunnhempSowing Multi Species Crops19

7/24/2017Seed drills for(Zero till or direct drill)Sowing: Multi Species Seed MixA mix of seeds can be more difficult to sow Larger seeds like oats, cow peas, field peas can besown with the normal seed box, as a mix. Smaller seeds like forage brassica, turnip, millet etccan be sown with a pasture box.(small seed box) Seeds can be mixed together with disc seedersbecause they usually do not place the seed deep.20

7/24/2017Weed ControlPre Sowing///If weeds are not going to effect the growth of thecover crop, they may not require controlling, and canbecome part of the cover crop mix.Weed control with herbicide may benecessary if weeds are going to effectcrop establishment and growthMulti Species Cover CroppingIn crop weed control Herbicide use with Multi Species crop is normallynot possible without killing crop species. Some weed control is possible with fastgrowing canopy closure providinga weed smothering effect andallelopathic properties from plants.21

7/24/2017Multispecies Pasture Cropping Perennial Cover Cropping Perennial grass is the cover. Zero till into dormant Summer grass.22

7/24/2017Multi- Species‘Pasture Cropping’(April 2014)Oats, foragebrassica, vetch,clover andfield pea.Sown into nativegrasslandEmerging Multi Species Crop OatsForage BrassicaVetchDaikon RadishCloverField peaTurnip23

7/24/2017Oats, vetch, radish, pea, turnip, clover, forage brassica sown intograssland. ( September 2015)24

7/24/2017Harvest multi species crop for grain.November 2015Grain from Multi species Harvest25

7/24/2017Before first grazing6 weeks after sowing6 weeks after sowing26

7/24/2017The difference in land managementtechniquesAdjoining Paddocks March 2010Conventional grazingand croppingPasture Cropped andplan GrazedConventional grazingand croppingGrazing Multispecies crops First graze should not start until all plant species arewell established. Better quality feed and less dietary problems. First graze should not start until all plant species arewell established. Allow plants time to recover from the initial grazebefore re- grazing. (3-4 grazings are possible)27

7/24/2017Terminating the cover crop Grazing Crimp rolling HerbicidePhil LynGlen Innes NSW Winona’s soil now has over200% more organic carbon. Has sequestered 59.3 t /Ha ofcarbon(213 ton/Ha of carbon dioxide) Holds over 200% more water.All of the soil nutrients includingtrace elements have increased byan average of 172%e.g. Calcium increase of 8166 kg/haor 277% Ph has changed from5.2 - 6.01102.7 t carbon/Ha43.4 t carbon/Ha28

7/24/2017Soil NutrientsAvail eNaAl87%45%28%130%88%140%Soil Carbon and soil water storage An increase in soil organiccarbon level of 1% to a depthof 30 cm (1 ft) can increasethe water holding capacity ofsoil by an extra 168,000liters/Ha. On every rainfallevent.The Two previous paddocks: Winona (Pasture Cropped)360,000 lt/Ha Adjoining (conventional)188,000 lt/Ha Difference 172,000 lt/Ha ofextra water holding capacityon every rainfall event360,000 lt/HA188,000 lt/Ha29

7/24/2017Don Murray.Orange. NSW.30

Weed control with herbicide may be necessary if weeds are going to effect crop establishment and growth Multi Species Cover Cropping In crop weed control Herbicide use with Multi Species crop is normally not possible without killing crop species. Some weed control is possible with fast growing canopy closure providing a weed smothering .