Plan Four-Field Rotation Sequence
2 hoursAlternate legumes, grasses, brassicas, and fallow/cash crop across fields each season.
Field context
This workflow is part of 4 niche fields
Complete guide for cover crop rotation — step-by-step workflow, tools, checklist, and expert tips to get started.
Alternate legumes, grasses, brassicas, and fallow/cash crop across fields each season.
Choose winter rye for erosion, clover for nitrogen, buckwheat for quick biomass, daikon for compaction.
Broadcast or drill seed at recommended kg/ha rate; inoculate legumes with rhizobium.
Mow, crimp, or till cover 2–3 weeks before planting cash crop; allow decomposition.
Calculate seed weight needed per field area for selected cover crop mix.
Plan multi-year rotation sequence balancing soil fertility and pest break cycles.
Estimate nitrogen credit from legume cover crop for next season fertilizer planning.
Determine compatible species mix ratios in multi-species cover crop blends.
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 |
Three-species cover crop mixes outperform monocultures in biomass, weed suppression, and resilience.
Crimp rolling or mowing without tillage preserves soil structure and fungal networks.
Some cover crops (vetch, clover) become weed problems if allowed to set seed — terminate before seed formation.