Emater/RS-Ascar provides guidance on the management of soil cover plants

In the milky grain flowering stage, ground cover plants planted in areas of perennial crops (fruit growing) or annual crops (crops) require management during this period. In the Serra Gaúcha region, according to Emater/RS-Ascar rural extension agent João Villa, the use of species such as ryegrass, forage turnip, vetch and oats predominates in fruit growing areas, and oats, ryegrass and a mix (diversity) of species in grain crops.

According to Villa, management can be carried out in different ways. "In fruit growing, you can leave the plants to ripen naturally, finishing their cycle and simply do nothing, other than stepping on them when pruning, especially on the vine, or passing machines over the plants can also be sufficient. ", it says. In fruit growing, the use of herbicides (which cause damage to cultivated plants) is unnecessary, and desiccation is not necessary as long as the plant provides good soil cover, suppressing the emergence of invasive plants. "In crop areas, you have the option of rolling with a knife roller during the appropriate period, depending on the species. Grasses, in general, in the milky grain phase, forage turnip and vetch in flowering, and the mix , depending on the species most critical in relation to the possibility of regrowth. In general, in areas of grain crops, traditional management is desiccation with herbicide and then planting 30 to 40 days after desiccation", he highlights.

According to Villa, the use of cover crops continues to grow in the region, due to the benefits they bring. "One of them is soil conservation through the coverage and protection provided by plants and roots. But, mainly the increase in fertility due to the fact that some of the species put nitrogen in the soil, others recycle nutrients, mainly phosphorus, and most importantly Above all, they activate the biology of the soil, increase the life of the soil, causing beneficial microorganisms to provide better development of the plants grown in the straw", he highlights.