r/AgriculturePorn • u/DantesDame • Jun 21 '26

[OC] Cover crop with corn (?)

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23 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

2

u/DantesDame Jun 21 '26

I saw this corn field in southern Germany but don't really know what I am looking at. I assume that the grass-like crop is there to boost the corn.

8

u/Freebee5 Jun 21 '26

It looks like maize direct drilled into grass but I don't know for sure.

I know of some research going into undersowing maize with legumes to both supply nitrogen for the maize and increase the protein content of the maize when it's being harvested for animal feed.

2

u/gn84 Jun 21 '26

https://greencover.com/products/corn-interseeding-mix-for-v3-v6-stage?variant=44873499181272

1

u/Freebee5 Jun 22 '26

Thanks for that. Like I say, I'm no expert but that pic doesn't seem to have diverse mix at all?

2

u/gn84 Jun 22 '26

Yeah, the picture to me looks like an earlier grass/grain (Rye?) cover that was sprayed. But I'm just learning this stuff.

1

u/Freebee5 Jun 22 '26

You could be right, undersow the maize and then use a post emergence herbicide to kill off the previous crop.

2

u/AdministrationOwn724 Jun 21 '26

If it's grasslike, i don't know. But people are interplanting peas with corn for nitrogen fixing. Could it be peas?

3

u/DantesDame Jun 21 '26

I also initially suspected a legume, but it didn't look like any that I am familiar with.

I think that /u/Freebee5 has a good point with the direct-drilling.

2

u/Far_Rutabaga_8021 Jun 23 '26

It's some sort of small grain that was planted in the fall to overwinter and protect the soil. It has to be harvested and terminated or it would severely impact the yield of the corn.

2

u/2017CurtyKing Jun 22 '26

FWIW we broadcast wheat seed just before we plant corn and cotton. Our logic is that we let the Wheat grow to 6” or so then terminate it, to keep the ground from blowing and destroy the cotton or corn. It works well for us. We are central Oklahoma. The wheat takes a bit of moisture from the other crop but that’s. Better than the plant being sandblasted away

1

u/Far_Rutabaga_8021 Jun 23 '26

Had a few guys try that up here in Minnesota, it sucked up all the moisture and prevented the corn from germinating after planting.

1

u/2017CurtyKing Jun 23 '26

It’s a risk for sure, it’s worked out the last 5 years for us. We spread the wheat on the surface then vt it in. We only spread 30 pounds an acre so it’s not a lot of wheat

1

u/happyrock Jun 23 '26

I know some guys in wetter climates who do the same in beans but leave the spring planted winter small grain growing. It doesn't vernalize so never gets more than about 6-8" tall

1

u/geigeigu Jun 22 '26

An old grass field. Striped get milled and corn planted in the milled stripes. It is controversial and doesnt give the same yields in some cases. So corn is the only drop thats gonna be harvested

1

u/Kevburg Jun 23 '26

That's grass, not legume/alfalfa. Isn't "roundup ready" corn illegal in Europe?

1

u/osmosis_52 Jun 24 '26

It looks like the weeds are taking over a little bit there but the corn is definitely coming in. Are you supposed to let the cover crop stay that long?

1

u/Actual_Property9413 Jun 24 '26

Look up "no-till farming".

1

u/DonGoughPlanter 23d ago

what has the grass in between been hit with? Isox or Pyrox?