Options for undersowing maize and alternative cover cropping

The Bowyer family focus on maximising home-grown feed and forage to feed their flock of crossbred ewes and weanling cattle which are purchased to finish on farm. Their flexible arable rotation varies, including maize, wholecrop peas and barley, winter and spring barley and winter wheat with cover crops being sown in front of spring crops. The rest of the farm is in long-term grass, lucerne, and rotationally grazed red clover and herbal leys. The majority of the winter and spring cereals grown are fed to the beef and sheep enterprises with a mill and mix contractor used every 3-4 weeks to mill the grain with locally grown beans topping up protein as needed. A small amount of excess grain is sold locally most years.

With nearly a third of the farm sown into arable each year, the Bowyer family are keen to explore ways to protect and enhance soil health. The integration of cover crops following cereal harvests offers a strategic method for enhancing soil health and achieving long-term agricultural sustainability. We will therefore aim to trial different seed mixes for undersowing maize and also for cover cropping following cereals. Undersowing and cover cropping have known benefits in: 

• reducing soil erosion
• improving soil structure
• retaining nitrogen in the soil
• helping to manage weeds, pests and diseases 
• providing grazing and alternative forage for livestock 
• improving biodiversity.  

The project will monitor the establishment of each mix, their impact on soil structure through visual assessments (VESS), water infiltration rates and also the nitrogen residues in the soil. 

The project will also contribute to the Sustainable Land Management outcomes including:

• clean water
• maximise carbon storage
• Mitigate flood & drought risk
• resilient ecosystem
• resource efficiency