Cover Crops and Manure Use After Wheat Harvest

By Andi Anderson

The period following wheat harvest provides farmers with an ideal opportunity to apply manure and begin field preparations for the next crop cycle. Taking steps to capture and retain manure nutrients can improve both soil health and farm profitability.

One effective approach is to incorporate manure into the soil during or soon after application. This helps limit nitrogen loss, particularly in the warm soils of August and September when bacteria convert ammonium nitrogen into more leachable forms.

Without intervention, this nitrogen can be lost before it benefits the next crop.

Planting cover crops after manure application offers another practical solution. Cover crops such as cereal rye, wheat, and oats can quickly take up available nitrogen, storing it in plant tissue for later release when the crop is terminated. This reduces nutrient leaching, protects water quality, and improves soil structure.

Beyond nutrient management, cover crops provide additional benefits. They can suppress weeds, reduce erosion, and in some cases be harvested as forage. This makes them a versatile tool in crop rotation systems, particularly in fields that have been harvested early.

By combining manure application with the strategic use of cover crops, farmers can maximize nutrient efficiency, protect environmental resources, and improve the productivity of their fields. This integrated approach ensures more of the applied nitrogen stays in the system, supporting future yields and reducing input costs.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-mvburling