Cover Crop Chart

Growth Cycle

A

=

Annual

B

=

Biennial

P

=

Perennial

Plant Architecture

=

Upright

=

Upright-Spreading

=

Prostrate

Relative Water Use

=

Low

=

Medium

=

High

---

COOL

---

---

WARM

---

GRASS

---

BROADLEAF

---

GRASS

• Annual fescue

• Browntop Millet

• Barley

---

LEGUME

---

• Amaranth

• Foxtail Millet

• Oat

• Camelina

• Mustard

• Balansa Clover

• Chickpea

• Medic

• Cowpea

• Cluster bean

• Buckwheat

• Pearl Millet

• Wheat

• Phacelia

• Canola

• Berseem Clover

• Pea

• Lupin

• Lablab

• Jack bean

• Quinoa

• Proso Millet

• Annual Ryegrass

• Flax

• Radish

• Crimson Clover

• Lentil

• Faba Bean

• Fenugreek

• Velvet bean

• Chicory

• Grain Sorghum

• Cereal rye

• Kale

• Turnip

• Red Clover

• Lespedeza

• Sweet Clover

• Pigeonpea

• Mung bean

• Cucurbita

• Sudan Grass

• Triticale

• Spinach

• Beet

• White Clover

• Birdsfoot trefoil

• Alfalfa

• Partridge Pea

• Soybean

• Safflower

• Teff

• Saline Tolerant

• Chard

• Carrot

• Kura Clover

• Vetch

• Sainfoin

• Sunnhemp

• Peanut

• Sunflower

• Corn

Additional Information

The Cover Crop Chart is produced and distributed by the staff of the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, Mandan, ND

The Cover Crop Chart represents a compendium of information from multiple sources. Primary sources of information included the Midwest Cover Crops Council, USDA-SARE, USDA-NRCS PLANTS database, and relevant peer-reviewed journal articles. Designation of warm/cool season crops is based on prevalent growth habits and not photosynthetic pathway. Ranges for seeding depth take into consideration moisture conditions at planting and variation in soil texture. Values for crude protein and C:N ratio assume homogenous samples of aboveground plant material unless stated otherwise. Information on specific crops is occasionally generalized, approximate, and/or incomplete and may not reflect performance in on-farm conditions. USDA-ARS makes no guarantee to the performance of specific crops based on information provided herein. Content and data for crops were assembled by Holly Johnson and Mark Liebig with input from Dave Archer, V.C. Baligar, Heather Dose, Wayne Duckwitz, Marvin Hatzenbuhler, Jay Halvorson, John Hendrickson, Naeem Kalwar, Robert Kolberg, Nancy Jensen, Steve Merrill, Kristine Nichols, Delmer Schlenker, Marty Schmer, Eric Scholljegerdes, Don Tanaka, Cal Thorson, and Dawn Wetch. Chart design by Mark Liebig, Holly Johnson, and Jill Gunderson. The Cover Crop Chart was originally generated with input from producers and technicians in the Area IV Soil Conservation Districts of North Dakota and NRCS staff at the Bismarck and Dickinson Field/Area Offices.

• Useful cover crop resources:

– Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Ed. Andy Clark (Ed.). Handbook Series Book 9, Sustainable Agriculture Network,

Beltsville, MD.

– Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, University of California-Davis, www.sarep.ucdavis.edu

– USDA-NRCS, Plant Materials Technical Documents Search, www.nrcs.usda.gov/plant-materials/publications/search

– Midwest Cover Crops Council, www.mccc.msu.edu

– USDA-NRCS, PLANTS Database, www.plants.usda.gov

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202-720-6382(TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Mention of trade or manufacturer names is provided for information only and does not constitute endorsement by USDA-ARS.