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Helps alleviate compaction-
naturally:
Tillage radish
roots have been dug up to measure over 32” deep!
Click here for research
information on Radishes and Soil Compaction.
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Great for making a transition to
no-till:
Save fuel and
tillage costs by switching to no till. The tillage radishes will
speed up the transition process of a soil that is addicted to
tillage.
(click picture for a larger view)
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Increase water infiltration:
Rain
can more easily soak into the soil. The tillage radishes are like an
aerway tool- only better. The holes go much deeper!
Holes left where roots have decayed. Picture taken
in March
(click picture for a larger view)
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Adds tons of organic matter to
the soil : Up to 5 ton/acre
according to the University of Maryland
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Keeps
the soil covered in the winter: less
erosion and more biological activity!
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Nutrient Pump:
Radishes scavenge nutrients deep in the soil
profile and deposit them on or near the soil surface to be used by following
crop- particularly, nitrogen, phosphorous and calcium.
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Nutrient Recovery:
Radishes will take up left over N in the fall
and release it early spring, however in order to fully express their
rooting action, they need at least 60 lbs of N– accumulated either as residual
or applied.
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Manure Management:
Another significant environmental advantage in
using tillage radishes as a cover crop is there outstanding ability to soak up
nitrogen from manure. This is a real benefit for farmers who have manure to
apply in late summer. The tillage radishes will take up to over 100 lbs of
available N in the fall and then release most all of it for the early stages
of crop growth in the spring, unlike rye which doesn’t release accumulated N
until up to one year later. Manure must be applied before planting tillage
radishes
(click picture for a larger view) |
(click picture for a larger view) Other Benefits
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Can be grazed:
Farmers
have successfully grazed the tillage radishes when planted by themselves or
mixed with another grazing type species. The fast growth gives a quick forage
in the fall that is grazable until Christmas in most areas.
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Facilitates quicker emergence of corn planted in the spring
Frequently farmers observe
corn planted into tillage radishes emerges sooner. We believe it is because the
soil temperature is warmer due to the holes left by the radishes. Replicated
measurements of soil temperatures seems to indicate about a 2 degree higher soil
temperature at the 2cm depth. That would also suggest that biological activity
is “waking up” sooner as well. The other factor we believe is the available N
that is abundant from the decayed tillage radishes.
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