Young orchards, or orchards under development are a good time to start cover cropping to improve soil health and maximise pollination and natural pest control services provided by beneficial arthropods. In fact, the earlier you can start the better. Cover crops can be selected specifically to improve or change the structure and chemical composition of the soil, and this will be individually tailored to your farm and will change over time. Improving your soils before the crop becomes economic is advantageous because cover crops can be selected specifically at this time to improve the soil and once the crop then becomes economic the soil is in top condition and cover crop species can be selected to specifically enhance above ground pollination and natural pest control services.
Cover cropping can increase multiple ecosystem services, including: soil organic matter, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, conservation of invertebrate biodiversity and conservation biological control of arthropod pests, weed suppression, pollination, and crop productivity.
BioResEd have been assisting growers of new and young orchards with all the technical and logistical aspects of beginning a system of inter-row cover cropping. Please contact us if you would like to discuss the implementation of cover cropping in your new or future orchard.
