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The purpose of a catch crop is to increase annual dry matter production, to take up soil mineral and urine nitrogen and to reduce the risk of leaching or runoff.
The key attributes of catch crops when following autumn or winter grazed crops are that they: are cold tolerant, winter active and have fibrous deep root systems capable of removing nitrogen at depth.
Catch crop benefits vary depending on weather conditions, particularly during establishment, with direct-drilling or light pre-drilling cultivation being recommended methods where possible to minimise nitrogen mineralisation.
The gross margins (revenue minus costs) and cents/kgDM of catch crops can be used to compare different crops.
The numbers will vary depending on the yield and how the crop fits into an individual farm system, which is influenced by catch crop sowing date, the timing of feed requirements and the sowing date of the following crop or pasture.
The Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL) research trials gross margin and c/kg DM varied from $173/ha to $1263/ha and 8.1 c/kg DM to 15.3 c/kg DM respectively.
FRNL ran trials of different crops comparing crop nitrogen uptake and residual soil nitrogen as indicators of the risk of nitrate leaching.
A variety of species or combinations can be used as catch crops. Consider the below when selecting species or combinations thereof:
Establishment opportunities of the catch crop; what is the usual soil temperature at the time of planting and can heavy machinery normally access the paddock at that time of year?
Main crop/regrassing planting date; consider effect on potential yield of the following crop or pasture.
Ability to fit into the farm system, e.g. planned crop rotation, harvesting or grazing dates, end use of land planted (permanent pasture or crop), use of catch crop:
Examples of Catch Crops
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