Plan Four-Field Rotation Sequence
2 hoursAlternate legumes, grasses, brassicas, and fallow/cash crop across fields each season.
Intermediate1 season
Cover Crop Rotation Guide
Complete guide for cover crop rotation — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
soil buildersmarket gardeners
Workflow
Select Cover Species for Season and Goal
1 hourChoose winter rye for erosion, clover for nitrogen, buckwheat for quick biomass, daikon for compaction.
Calculate and Apply Seed Rates
1 dayBroadcast or drill seed at recommended kg/ha rate; inoculate legumes with rhizobium.
Terminate and Incorporate Before Cash Crop
1 dayMow, crimp, or till cover 2–3 weeks before planting cash crop; allow decomposition.
Tools Used
- Cover Crop Seed RatePrimary
Calculate seed weight needed per field area for selected cover crop mix.
- Crop Rotation PlannerPrimary
Plan multi-year rotation sequence balancing soil fertility and pest break cycles.
- Nitrogen Fixing Crop EstimateSupporting
Estimate nitrogen credit from legume cover crop for next season fertilizer planning.
- Companion Planting SpacingReference
Determine compatible species mix ratios in multi-species cover crop blends.
Checklist
0 / 6 completedLoading your checklist…
Planning
Selection
Execution
Management
Tracking
Reference Materials
Cover Crop Seed RatesTable
Typical seeding rates for common covers.
| Cover Crop | Rate (kg/ha) | N Fixed (kg/ha) | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson clover | 20–25 | 80–120 | Fall |
| Winter rye | 90–110 | 0 | Fall |
| Buckwheat | 60–80 | 0 | Summer |
| Daikon radish | 10–15 | 0 | Late summer |
Nitrogen CreditFormula
Available N (kg/ha) ≈ legume biomass (t/ha) × 0.025 — credit applies following season.
Termination TimingStandard
Terminate cover at 50% bloom for maximum biomass; 2–3 weeks before cash crop planting date.
Mix Species
Three-species cover crop mixes outperform monocultures in biomass, weed suppression, and resilience.
No-Till Termination
Crimp rolling or mowing without tillage preserves soil structure and fungal networks.
Hard Seed Zones
Some cover crops (vetch, clover) become weed problems if allowed to set seed — terminate before seed formation.
Safety Notes
- Some cover crops (rye, sorghum-sudan) produce allelopathic compounds — allow decomposition before planting sensitive crops.
- Wear dust mask when broadcasting seed and handling inoculant powders.