If you’ve been around for any length of time, you probably know by now I am a fan of cover crops. They just make sense to me; grown during a cooler time of year with less evaporation, they have established ground cover during the windiest part of the year and enhance the soil’s water-holding capacity. I also know that they are not for everyone and there can be some hesitation to growing them but if you do, how do you decide if you are going to irrigate your cover crop or not? This November was the second-wettest November on record at Lubbock with 4.85 inches according to the National Weather Service in Lubbock. Wheat and other winter crops, if planted in time to get good growth, are looking great. For example, my Hale County Irrigated Forage Trial was planted on Sept 22nd. Some of the tallest varieties are 10 inches in height! It has only received about 2 inches of irrigation, the rest is rainfed vs Lamb County Dryland Wheat Trial, planted November 14. This trial has seeing sporadic emergence with a little less than 2 inches of growth. Will this moisture stay in the profile for the critical stages of growth that need water? How do we decide to irrigate?
· Pumping Cost- This can vary. Put the pencil to the paper and be sure it makes sense.
· End Goals- Are your end goals biomass production or just soilholding capabilities from the wind? If plan on grazing, be sure to pull cattle off before the crop transitions to reproductive development and the growing point comes above ground.
· Fertility- have you applied any fertilizers yet? Be sure you have soil test results before application. Save the $$ if you don’t need it!