Cover Crops and Conservation Tillage for Soil Erosion Control on Cropland

Table of Contents

See specific product label to determine correct rate for the soil type and weed species found in individual fields.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• Graze or harvest birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, and weeds down to the ground, or
• Suppress the cover crops with Roundup, Touchdown or Gramoxone if you cannot graze or harvest.
• Plant legume or grass with any no-till drill that will place the seed at a ¼-inch depth, no later than August 15 when following small grains in central Pennsylvania. (First frost is approximately September 20.)
• Further suppress crownvetch and control broadleaved weed seedlings with Pursuit or Buctril if necessary after new legume seedlings reach the second trifoliate leaf stage.

Table 8. Herbicides for no-till legume or grass seeding into birdsfoot trefoil and/or crownvetch after corn or small grain harvest.

Herbicide	No.	Product/A	lb ai/A	Remarks	Weeds Controlled
Roundup 4S (glyphosate) or	27	1 pt or	0.5 lb or	Read the label. Use flat-fan nozzle. Annual weeds may be any size. Established weeds should have 6 to 8 inches of leafy growth. Apply at least four days before seeding in 5 to 10 gal water.	Top and root kill of most established biennial and perennial weeds.
Touchdown IQ (sulfosate) plus		1 pt plus	0.5 lb plus label rate
nonionic surfactant if needed		2 qt/100 gal
Gramoxone Max 3S (paraquat) plus	28	1 to 2 pt plus	0.375 to 0.75 plus	Read the label.. Apply at planting time in 20 gal or more carrier. Use flat-fan nozzle with 20 to 30 psi pressure for best results. Weak on established biennial and perennial weeds.	Annual grasses and broadleaved weeds plus top kill of biennials, perennials, and crownvetch.
nonionic surfactant		1 pt/100 gal	label rate
Butyrac 200 (2,4-DB amine)	29	1 qt	0.5 lb	Read the label. For pure alfalfa seedings only. Apply after alfalfa has 2 trifoliate leaves. Works best on emerged weed seedlings 1 to 2 inches in height.	Annual grasses and broadleaves; shattercane and yellow nutsedge suppression; weak on common ragweed and lambsquarters