A typical cover crop can use 1.5 inches of water per week in late May. If not replaced by timely rains or irrigation, it can be a rough start for the season.
MSU
Whether it’s field crops or vegetable transplants, irrigation helps plants get off to a good start.
Aggressive cover crop growth, and the lack of timely spring rain, may leave fields lacking moisture for optimum planting, seed germination and early crop establishment. Achieving the maximum uniform germination and emergence can often be improved through proper early-season water management. Irrigating fields prior to or just after planting can keep the planter moving and still meet the “plant into moisture†requirement if rainfall is lacking in the area.
For most farms, conservation is only one of several farm goals, which in addition to conservation may include risk reduction, profitability, f…
A typical cover crop can use 1.5 inches of water per week in late May. If not replaced by timely rains or irrigation, it can be a rough start for the season.
