Our research project is examining whether a cover crop mix planted in fall can increase dryland perennial pasture establishment success (i.e, emergence and persistence) by controlling weeds and conserving soil moisture, two primary barriers. We selected a standard cover crop mix of 3 distinct species that, in theory, would have complementary soil health benefits: daikon radish (large taproot to reduce compaction and improve infiltration), wooly vetch (nitrogen fixing), and cereal rye (fast growing to increase cover and reduce runoff).
Goals and Objectives
The goal of this project is to develop more successful dryland perennial pasture establishment strategies, thereby creating a resilient, and economically profitable forage base for beef cattle operations in Siskiyou County. Precedent-setting irrigation water curtailments coupled with drought and precipitation uncertainty make perennial pasture establishment particularly challenging. To adapt, many ranchers seek dryland perennial grass varieties and novel dryland management strategies. The utility of cover crops has been extensively researched in other production systems and regions of California. However, ranchers in the intermountain region have little to no information about the utility of cover crops within their production system.
Objectives
- Evaluate the effect of a cover crop mix on the subsequent establishment of perennial grasses, including cover crop impacts on weed suppression and soil moisture.
- Calculate the economic impact of management strategies and associated grass establishment.
- Initiate the development of best management practices for cover crops in perennial grass pasture systems of the intermountain region of California.
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