| Cover Crop Chart |
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The Cover Crop Chart (v. 4.0) is a decision aid to help select and manage cover crops. The chart, patterned after the periodic table of elements, includes information for 70 crop species that may be planted individually or in mixtures. Information on growth cycle, relative water use, plant architecture, seeding depth, forage quality, pollination characteristics, and nutrient cycling are included for most crops.
The Cover Crop Chart is easy to use, requiring only Adobe Reader software. Using the chart as a guide, users can select individual crop species by clicking on the name which will direct them to additional information about the selected crop. Icons within each crop page return the user to the chart, thereby allowing comparisons of different crops. Version 4.0 includes features to improve accessibility following Section 508 compliance guidelines. Accessibility features function best using Adobe software.
The Cover Crop Chart represents a compendium of information from multiple sources and is not solely based on research conducted at the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (NGPRL). Primary sources of information included the Midwest Cover Crops Council, USDA-SARE, USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database, relevant peer-reviewed journal articles, and the 3rd edition of Managing Cover Crops Profitably.
Information on specific crops is occasionally generalized and/or approximate and may not reflect performance in on-farm conditions. Accordingly, USDA-ARS makes no guarantee regarding the performance of specific crops based on information provided in the Cover Crop Chart.
The Cover Crop Chart is produced and distributed by staff of the USDA-ARS NGPRL, Mandan, ND. Mark Liebig and Holly Johnson contributed to the design and content of the chart with input from NGPRL staff, producers and technicians from the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts of North Dakota, NRCS staff at the Bismarck and Dickinson field/area offices, ARS staff conducting cover crop research, and personnel at the NRCS Bismarck Plant Materials Center.
For further information please contact:
Cover Crop Chart
USDA-ARS NGPRL
P.O. Box 459
Mandan, ND 58554-0459
O: 701 667-3079
F: 701 667-3054
E: mark.liebig@usda.gov
For further information please contact:
Cover Crop Chart
USDA-ARS NGPRL
P.O. Box 459
Mandan, ND 58554-0459
O: 701 667-3079
F: 701 667-3054
E: mark.liebig@usda.gov
