Intercropping: Oat-Cover Crop (Year 1)
PCDF
To evaluate intercropping potential for oat and cover crops.
Cover crop biomass was not collected, but qualitative assessments of the cover crops after harvest
suggest that the treatments all established well. The oats were cut about 18-20” above the ground, and
the loose straw was removed from the field so that the undamaged cover crop could continue to grow
for the remainder of the season. Additionally, the longer stubble will trap more snow during the winter,
providing better protection for the crop. Year 2 of the study will look at the winter survival and spring
growth of the cover crop.
No herbicides were applied to the crop. Limited herbicide options are available for oat-cover crop
intercrops, and the close proximity of the plots (and danger of spray drift) made it more feasible to
hand-weed the plots. On a field-scale, careful field selection and pre-emergence herbicide application
would be crucial to the establishment of a successful intercrop. Consult a herbicide guide or dealer to
determine the best herbicide option for each intercrop.
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 low-residue 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. This
trial examined the effect of establishing four cover crops with oats.