How much does it cost to grow hairy vetch?
Although the inclusion of hairy vetch in a crop rotation could be advantageous to a farmer, the least expensive seed we could find was $110.00/50 lbs. Due to the high cost of seed we wanted to identify the optimal seeding rate to ensure that farmers would be maximizing on yield and the associated return of nitrogen.
How much vetch do you need to plant per acre?
Hairy vetch is planted in the fall wherever it is grown. It is normally seeded at 20 to 40 pounds per acre. Due to the vining, climbing habit of the plant, it is often sown in combination with rye so the rye may provide some support.
How much fertilizer will a killed hairy vetch cover release?
The equivalent of 160 lbs/A N fertilizer can be released to the following crop by a killed hairy vetch cover, although 100 lbs/A N is more realistic. Typically, hairy vetch contains 3.5 to 4 percent nitrogen (dry matter basis). Conservative estimates are that 50 percent of this will be available to the following crop.
How big does a vetch vine get?
Growth quickens in spring, when hairy vetch becomes a sprawling vine up to 12 feet long. Field height rarely exceeds 3 feet unless the vetch is supported by another crop. Its abundant, viney biomass can be a benefit and a challenge.
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How much is vetch per acre?
Due to the climbing habit of the plant, it is often sown in combination with rye with the rye providing support. In a mixture, 50 pounds of rye and 15 to 20 pounds of vetch per acre should be used. Most varieties of vetch are seeded at 20 to 40 pounds per acre. American vetch will self-reseed.
How many pounds is hairy vetch per acre?
20 to 25 pounds per acreHairy vetch is normally planted in late summer to early fall. Seed can be broadcast or drilled and should be inoculated prior to planting. The recommended planting rate is 20 to 25 pounds per acre with a seeding depth of 1inch.
When should hairy vetch be planted?
Irrigation will help germination, particularly if broadcast seeded. Plant vetch 30 to 45 days before killing frost for winter annual management; in early spring for summer growth; or in July if you want to kill or incorporate it in fall or for a winter-killed mulch.
Does hairy vetch make good hay?
As an annual leguminous vigorous herbaceous plant, vetch has high protein and relatively low fiber and reasonably high yields. It's vigorous growth and N fixing qualities is why it is so valuable as a cover crop, but it can also be grazed or fed as hay.
Does hairy vetch come back every year?
Hairy vetch, as a winter annual, will sprout in the fall, overwinter, regrow in spring, go to seed and die.
Is hairy vetch good for deer?
Hairy vetch is a widely adapted, winter hardy cool-season annual legume that supplies an abundant amount of palatable forage for deer and turkeys and other wildlife in late spring into early summer. It also produces an excellent seed crop that attracts quail and turkey.
How long does hairy vetch take to grow?
Germination: 10 - 14 days. Ideal temperature for germination is about 68 degrees F. If the soil temperature is too cold, the seed will not germinate. Plant vetch 30 to 45 days before killing frost for winter annual management.
Do bees like hairy vetch?
There are many different types of vetch, but hairy vetch and crown vetch are among the two most popular ones for bee-attracting cover crops. Their pink to purple blooms are also an added benefit, so this one really is a triple winner.
Can you mow hairy vetch?
On the first mowing cutting it to about 6-8 inches tall, taking it down from say a foot to two feet and that seems to give you a really good re-growth and encourages that vetch.
Will cattle eat hairy vetch?
Hairy vetch is a common cover crop that is not recommended as livestock forage. In cattle and horses, grazing hairy vetch sometimes causes a painful dermatitis across the entire body or neurological signs.
What animals can eat hairy vetch?
Horses thrive on common vetch even better than on clover or rye grass and cattle will fatten faster on vetch than most grasses. There is some danger, however, of colic or digestive issues if an animal eats too much, especially after the pods are formed.
Does hairy vetch survive winter?
Hairy vetch usually survives the winter in Pennsylvania as long as it is established in late summer/early fall. Hairy vetch does best on well-drained soils and is not recommended for poorly drained soils.
What is the difference between hairy vetch and common vetch?
Common vetch, Vicia sativa, does not produce as much seed as hairy vetch, posing less of a risk of becoming weedy. However, it is also less winter hardy than hairy vetch. Common vetch has the most vigorous spring growth, producing an abundance of biomass and nitrogen making it an outstanding cover crop.
When can you terminate hairy vetch?
To fix much nitrogen, the hairy vetch should not be terminated too early in the spring (Table 1). This means that hairy vetch should be terminated after May 1 in southern Pennsylvania, after May 10 in central Pennsylvania, and after May 20 in northern Pennsylvania and higher altitudes.
How much nitrogen does hairy vetch fix?
Hairy Vetch is a cool-season cover crop that is known for a large amount of nitrogen fixation that it is able to accomplish. Studies have shown that it is able to fix over 100 lbs of nitrogen per acre. That nitrogen is then transferred to soils when the cover crop is cut/mowed and incorporated into the soil.
How do you use hairy vetch as a cover crop?
To plant hairy vetch, plow the soil as you would for any regular crop. Broadcast the seed over the soil at the rate recommended on the seed package – usually 1 to 2 pounds of seed for every 1,000 square feet of garden space. Cover the seeds with about ½ inch of soil, then water well.
How much nitrogen is in hairy vetch?
Typically, hairy vetch contains 3.5 to 4 percent nitrogen (dry matter basis). Conservative estimates are that 50 percent of this will be available to the following crop.
What is hairy vetch?
Hairy vetch can fix large amounts of nitrogen that are released rapidly after it has been terminated. Decomposition and nitrogen release rates are faster if the vetch is incorporated, but total amount of nitrogen released over the entire growing season is similar to vetch left on the surface as a mulch. The equivalent of 160 lbs/A N fertilizer can be released to the following crop by a killed hairy vetch cover, although 100 lbs/A N is more realistic. Typically, hairy vetch contains 3.5 to 4 percent nitrogen (dry matter basis). Conservative estimates are that 50 percent of this will be available to the following crop.
How to kill hairy vetch?
A good herbicide program to terminate hairy vetch is a mix of glyphosate and 2,4-D or dicamba (Table 2). Glyphosate alone is not a recommended program to kill a legume such as hairy vetch since its performance is variable. Plant growth regulators such as 2,4-D and dicamba are effective but also require some delay (1-2 weeks) between application and corn planting to avoid corn herbicide injury. For faster dessication, use paraquat and 2,4-D or paraquat and atrazine. Several other herbicides may also help manage hairy vetch in corn without having to delay corn planting. Using a herbicide for termination of hairy vetch and no-till establishment of the following crop helps maintain more benefits such as superior soil protection and greater moisture conservation than if tillage is used. The hairy vetch should be allowed to dry down for about 10-14 days to facilitate ease of planting. The threat of hair pinning of residue in the seed slot is greatest when no-till planting into a vetch cover that is dying but not dry and crisp. Monitor seeding depth of corn and that hairy vetch vines do not wrap around row cleaners. If the latter occurs, lift row cleaners up.
When to start hairy vetch in Pennsylvania?
For success, hairy vetch needs to be established in late summer (before mid-August in northern Pennsylvania and higher altitudes; September 1 in central Pennsylvania; and before the middle of September in southern Pennsylvania). Later establishment will usually lead to a poor stand due to winterkill.
Can you use hairy vetch after corn silage?
It is possible to establish hairy vetch after early corn silage harvest in parts of Pennsylvania. However, attention needs to be paid to the herbicide program used; check the rotational restrictions on the label or in the Penn State Agronomy Guide . Although hairy vetch is not generally included as a rotational crop on the herbicide label, alfalfa and clover rotational restrictions should be similar to hairy vetch. Another option is to broadcast hairy vetch in standing soybeans, but this is uncommon because of the expense of the seed and the higher risk of failure with this method than if vetch is drilled. Seeding hairy vetch after corn grain or soybean harvest is not recommended because the vetch is then unlikely to survive the winter.
Can you seed hairy vetch with rye?
Research in Maryland has shown that hairy vetch mixed with rye fixes almost the same amount of nitrogen as if it were grown without a companion. If volunteer small grain cannot be counted on, then it is recommended to seed a hairy vetch/small grain mix instead of pure hairy vetch.
Does hairy vetch help with soil erosion?
Hairy vetch fixes large amounts of nitrogen (N) that help meet N needs of the following crop, protects soil from erosion, helps improve soil tilth, and provides weed control during its vigorous growth in the spring and when left as a dead mulch at the soil surface. Hairy vetch can also be grazed or harvested as forage.
What is hairy vetch?
Hairy vetch is a widely adapted, winter hardy cool-season annual legume that supplies an abundant amount of palatable forage for deer and turkeys and other wildlife in late spring into early summer. It also produces an excellent seed crop that attracts quail and turkey. As a legume, it fixes 75 lbs. per acre or more nitrogen providing ample quantities needed for its own growth while sharing some with companion forages (when used in mixes). Because of its sprawling, viney growth habit, hairy vetch can suppress late winter/early spring annual weeds. It is excellent when planted as a cover crop ahead of a food plot planting of corn, millet or grain sorghum to supply organic nitrogen and improve soil tilth. It is best used in mixtures with cool season annual grasses and clovers.
Why is hairy vetch good for weeds?
Because of its sprawling, viney growth habit, hairy vetch can suppress late winter/early spring annual weeds. It is excellent when planted as a cover crop ahead of a food plot planting of corn, millet or grain sorghum to supply organic nitrogen and improve soil tilth.
What strain of bacteria is used to inoculate hairy vetch?
Inoculant: Unless pre-inoculated, hairy vetch seed must be inoculated with selected Rhizobia strains (strain C) of bacteria just prior to planting for optimal root nodulation and nitrogen fixation.
How to prepare soil for forage?
2. Spend the extra time necessary to properly prepare the soil by plowing, smoothing and firming the ground. Planting on a weed free, smooth and firm seedbed that allows good seed-soil contact is essential for a thick, productive forage stand. 3.
Benefits
Adaption
- Hairy vetch usually survives the winter in Pennsylvania as long as it is established in late summer/early fall. Hairy vetch does best on well-drained soils and is not recommended for poorly drained soils. It prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 and is adapted to high soil fertility status (phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur). Some limited variety development has taken place in hairy …
Nitrogen Fixation
- Hairy vetch can fix large amounts of nitrogen that are released rapidly after it has been terminated. Decomposition and nitrogen release rates are faster if the vetch is incorporated, but total amount of nitrogen released over the entire growing season is similar to vetch left on the surface as a mulch. The equivalent of 160 lbs/A N fertilizer can be released to the following cro…
Establishment
- Drill 15-20 lbs/A hairy vetch seed 1-1.5 inches deep (use higher seeding rate when planning to terminate hairy vetch early in spring). It is possible to broadcast seed at 20-30 lbs/A and use a light disking or field cultivation to improve seed to soil contact. Use seed that has been inoculated with the appropriate rhizobium strain (hairy vetch/pea ...
Management
- Little management is usually required once hairy vetch is established. Fertilizer is usually not needed, and N fertilizer or manure applications can be detrimental because they stimulate grasses and small grains to be more competitive. Avoid traffic on hairy vetch as the wheels can destroy small seedlings as well as large plants.
Termination
- To fix much nitrogen, the hairy vetch should not be terminated too early in the spring (Table 1). This means that hairy vetch should be terminated after May 1 in southern Pennsylvania, after May 10 in central Pennsylvania, and after May 20 in northern Pennsylvania and higher altitudes. The vetch will still accumulate more nitrogen until early or mid-June, but the producer may wish to te…
Management Summary
- Seeding rate:15-30 lbs/A (lower rate if drilled; higher when tilled in) Seeding depth:1-1.5 inch Inoculation:use vetch/pea Rhizobium inoculant Biomass accumulation:mostly in the spring (April/May) Nitrogen fixation:mostly in the spring (April/May) Burndown herbicide:2,4-D, dicamba, clopyralid, or mixes Soil preparation and main crop planting:vetch vines can wrap around tillage …