Companion Crop Forage Establishment: Producer Practices and Perceptions

Abstract

There is much interest in fostering cropping practices that reduce pesticide use and enhance soil conservation. A long‐standing practice that addresses these objectives is companion crop establishment of small‐seeded forage legumes. Little information is available regarding current producer practices in companion cropping. A survey was conducted in 1990 of a select sample of Minnesota forage producers to evaluate how they use companion crops, to assess their perceptions of current constraints in companion cropping, and to assess their receptiveness to use of dwarf stature small grains as companion crops. Of 351 survey respondents, 298 (85%) reported that they used companion crops. Oat (Avena sativa L.) was the companion crop of choice for 87% of those respondents, whereas spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were selected by 22% and 8%, respectively. Soil protection ranked as the most important reason for using a companion crop. Production of grain, straw, or additional herbage was important for some, but less important for many others. Use of companion crops to suppress weeds was assigned intermediate importance by most respondents. The oat cultivar ‘Starter’ was most frequently selected for companion cropping and is distinctive for its short stature and early maturity. The overall average oat companion crop seeding rate reported was 71 lb/acre, but was somewhat higher if the end‐use goal was production of grain or straw. Average seeding rate for barley was 82 lb/acre. Lodging was identified as a particularly important constraint in current companion crop systems and respondents identified shorter stature and earlier maturity as characters needed in future companion crop cultivars. Half of the respondents reacted favorably to the prospect of using a dwarf small grain as a companion crop in order to reduce lodging potential as well as lessen competition with the forage legume. Future research should be directed at evaluating dwarf genotypes for use in companion crop systems.

Alfalfa Yield and Quality as Influenced by Establishment Method

“…Clear‐seeding is a planting method that provides an alternative to using a companion crop. This method provides decreased competition from companion crops and increases in harvested alfalfa yields in the establishment year (Simmons et al, 1992). Herbicides are necessary for weed control and are advantageous for first‐year yields of clear‐seeded alfalfa (Sheaffer et al, 1988).…”

Effect of an oat companion crop on irrigated alfalfa yield and economic returns in southwestern Saskatchewan

“…yield in the year of forage establishment. In a survey of Minnesota forage producers, the most frequent reason selected for using companion crops was soil protection (Simmons et al 1992 The forage yield of dryland alfalfa established with an oat (Avena sativaL.) companion crop in Minnesota was reduced in the first production year compared to direct-seeded alfalfa (Nielsen et al 1981).…”

Response of Oat and Broadleaf Weeds to Postemergence Herbicides

“…In fact, greater economic returns have been demonstrated when oat was used as a cover or nurse crop with alfalfa compared to direct seeded alfalfa (17). In a Minnesota survey, 87% of respondents indicated that oat was the companion crop of choice for alfalfa establishment (18).…”