Farmers planting cover crops this year are advised to select seed mixes to optimise the compatibility within the rotation and avoid diseases such as clubroot and take-all.

Cover crops are recommended by agronomists to build soil fertility, improve soil structure, aid with weed suppression and prevent soil erosion.

See also: Why straw removal requires rethink for future nutrient plans

However, growers should be aware of the possible implications that could arise with certain cover crop seed mixes within a rotation.

Simon Montgomery, Procam technical lead for field options performance seeds, explains that cover crop choice is about assessing multiple factors.

“Know what you want to achieve from them, but also understand your site and any limitations.

“One to watch out is the potential for disease transmission.”

For instance, if oilseed rape or another brassica is present in a rotation, to reduce the risk of clubroot carryover, brassica species such as mustard or radish should be avoided within the cover crop mix.

To reduce take-all risks, Simon recommends avoiding cover crops containing wheat and barley when the following crop is within the rotation as they can act as a disease host.

Seed size

Seed size should also be considered when selecting species for a cover crop mix, especially if a large drill is being used to plant a large area.

“Seed separation and settling out of the mix in the hopper can lead to certain species being planted as straights.”

To reduce the risk of this happening, Simon advises planting a mix containing species of similar-sized seeds.

Finally, be aware of the impact that any volunteer cover crop species may have on the following crop in your rotation – for example, wild oats could compromise a milling sample.