Intercropping: Canola-Cover Crop (Year 1)
PCDF
To evaluate intercropping potential for canola and cover crops.
The Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development (ARD) website states that producers may plant
cover crops to minimize wind and water erosion. Cover crops can play an important role after lowresidue crops, such as potatoes, or in spring as a new crop is establishing. Another import function is to
immobilize excess nutrients, especially nitrogen, and prevent losses. Additionally, cover crops can help
to trap snow, enhancing moisture conditions in spring.
Despite these benefits, the limited growing season before or after another crop can make establishing
cover crops a challenge. A common practice is to establish a cover crop in-season, with a cash crop.
However, producers do not commonly establish cover crops with canola. This trial examined the effect
of establishing four cover crops with canola.