Solving the Soil Health Puzzle? We Have you Covered. Cover crops are an important piece to soil health and future profit. We know it takes work and is puzzling at times. Soil First® provides quality products plus tips, tools and solutions to help cover crops work for you. As challenges arise, we are ready with the pieces you need to succeed.
Sunn Hemp cover crop legume seed is a warm season legume, upright and quick in its growth habit. Sunn Hemp needs 60°F soil temps before it can planted and will kill at the first signs of frost. Higher seeding rates of Sunn hemp will help with weed suppression.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Non-Forage Benefits:
1 = Poor; 5 = Excellent
Compaction Alleviation: 2
Weed Suppression: 4
Biomass Production: 5
Erosion Control: 3
Disease/Pest Control: 3
Pollinator/Beneficials: 4
P & K Cycling: 3
Ease of Establishment: 3
Nitrogen Fixer/Scavenger: Fixer
Nutritional Value:
Values Vary Greatly Depending on Maturity
Crude Protein: 25
NEL¹ Mcal/lb.: Varies Greatly
ADF%²: Varies Greatly
NDF%³: Varies Greatly
TDN: Varies Greatly
DM Tons/Acre: 1-5
Days to First Harvest: 40-45
Days to Next Harvest: –
¹- Net Energy for Lactation = Energy available after subtracting digestive and metabolic losses
²- Acid Detergent Fiber = Low values mean more digestible
³- Neutral Detergent Fiber = Low values mean cows can eat more
Ranking (Good, Better, Best):
Graze: Better
Baleage: Good
Chop: Best
MANAGEMENT:
Considerations
• Produces significant amounts of nitrogen in 60 days depending on conditions
• Tolerant of dry conditions and low fertility
• Can add up to 5,000+ lbs. of biomass per acre in 7-8 weeks
• Research has shown levels of nematode suppression (root knot, borrowing)