Cover Crops

Why Dods of Haddington Cover Crops

Cover Crops – ‘Off the shelf’ mixes are no good. A mix must reflect your rotation, soil fertility aims, local climate and much more.

Just another cost to the business? Far from it!!
The fastest way to divert carbon back into the soil
Nutrient retention and scavenging
Reduce nutrient leaching
Reduce rainfall velocity to reduce capping
Feeding the soil microbes and growing the right biology
Proliferate natural predators and biodiversity
We use a very specific ratios of species tailored to your rotation, soil parameters and soil type. What suits you may not suit your neighbour.
Synergies within mixtures are harnessed to benefit the following crop and soil biota
Cover cropping is so much more than just a subsidy option
Correct species inclusion, ratio and management can have a 5 year legacy. A bunch of brassicas to will not do this.
Beware that a poorly designed cover crop will introduce a new weed problem

We will tailor the correct mix for your soil type, rotation and your aims.

The correct balance of species within a cover crop will help feed your soil

Nutrient Balancing

In the limited window of seasonal cover cropping, a greater advantage from plant and microbe association can be achieved if the nutrients scavenged from the soil nutrient larder are not limited. This may be as simple as topping up a few trace elements, pH correction or adjustments of certain nutrient ratios to allow the microbes to faster achieve your goal.

By far the best soil analysis is an Albrecht test. This test enlightens the grower to all the restrictions to plant growth and the ratios of nutrients to make proteins we have so long forgotten.

A consultation with us will let you know your accurate starting point and cheapest way to achieve soil function.

Left: A biologically inoculated wheat crop. Right: Albrecht tests are easily interpreted.

Seed Inoculation

There may be instances where seed inoculation with certain microbes that are lacking can accelerate the biological process. Certain inoculants with allow straw to recycle more quickly, some can attract earthworms into the equation, while others can be used to combat certain soil diseases.

There may be situations where inoculation of natural combatants of known diseases benefits the system. Often this a subsequent stage to the above categories

How do you multiply your worm numbers up to 7x in just 3 months?

Did you know there were bacteria that could eliminate your phosphorus bill?

Dung Inoculation

Other inoculants will stop the smell of your dung midden by feeding off volatile gaseous nutrient loss. That means; more dung, less fertiliser and more worm activity. Ask about BAM (Beneficial Anaerobic Microbes). Worm employment is vital for all agricultural systems. We can show you how to best bring them back into play

Can you think of an agricultural implement that can:

Incorporate material above ground evenly through the soil profile?
Oxygenate soil at the rate to maximize decomposition but not over-oxidise (e.g. ploughing) whereby the soil burns organic matter?
Uses that residue to at least double the nutrition available to the plant? Alleviating, not creating compaction, thus improving drainage?
All for free!

Reducing Fertiliser Applications

The natural reaction is the assumption that your crop will be left deficient and lose yield. How do the trees manage to grow without fertiliser application? Free living nitrogen fixing bacteria such as Azotobacter colonies will recover as salt inclusion is reduced. This works in the same way as nitrogen fixing Rhizobia species on legume roots will fix nitrogen to pasture leys.

There is 74 000 tons of Nitrogen gas above every global farming hectare; that is no accident. It is this resource that the trees tap into. As little as 20-40% of applied N is used within your crops. The rest becomes a greenhouse gas and desiccates microbes. The greater story on nitrogen can become a little involved and needs tailored to your farm.

You can reduce your Nitrogen applications by progressive annual rate reductions so long as they are accompanied by a humate or other carbon source. This allows the afore mentioned N fixers to recover their population. If interested, call the office for a consultation.

Addition of Humates to Nitrogen and Phosphorus fertilizer

Humate is a derivative of brown coal, that is the latter stages of decomposition, around 70 million years before it is combustible. The humic properties of humate mean that it is a fantastic organic chelator (grabs hold of); it can hold onto certain nutrients, so they do not become permanently tied up in the soil. Phosphorus is a classic example of this. It is common knowledge that within 6 weeks of application, little soluble phosphorus fertiliser is readily available to the plant and as little as 20% of the application has been used.

Applying a humate with the P means it is held in a loose organic complex, which roots can access for around twice the usual period before it is tied up in the soil.

The estimated fate of nitrogen from a bag is as little as 20-40% used within the crop. The remainder is volatilized to the atmosphere and leached but little is retained in the soil. By adding a humate to the N fertiliser and determining the type used (nitrate, ammonium, amine), crop use efficiency increases to around 60%.

This means the fertiliser volume can be significantly reduced, with many farmers maintaining yield with 50 % application reductions within 2 years. Less fertiliser (salt), the more microbes can flourish and harvest the additional nutrients needed for crop growth. This is a topic that will require some specific dialogue, so phone the office for a consultation. We stock one of the best humates on the global market.

A biologically inoculated wheat crop

Independent Partners

UK Agriculture Post Brexit

Global industry, including agriculture, will have to shoulder the effects of climate change; drought in Australia, waterlogging in Europe. More biological practices can help mitigate the effects of climate change, whilst making the farm more sustainable and profitable. In fact, agriculture holds most of the keys to reversing climate change by adopting this cheaper farming system and advancing beyond the current model.

We will soon be competing for local and international market share for our farm produce where we previously were not required to. If our farm produce is more nutrient dense through biological farming, it will have sweeter taste, brighter colour, longer shelf life and increased health benefits. Consumers benefits are obvious and we can strengthen our international brand reputation.

Independent Partners

Dods of Haddington are currently working with The James Hutton Institute in Dundee on cover crop development, soil management on their own farms and acting as secondary moderators with some of their PhD students. More exciting news to follow.

The lists of what we can do to change your system is extensive. If you phone, we can discuss your options and progress you forward in true sustainable farming.