Smart Radish
Grown as a cover crop, Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) will quickly grow a closed canopy a full month before oat and rye cover crops, effectively blocking the sun from aiding in weed suppression during the winter weed season. Weed suppression in the winter means fewer weeds in the spring. Radish produces more root mass than mustard crops or oil seed radish and has two to four times the number of roots as cereal or grasses. This enables it to effectively “mine” nitrogen and other nutrients, that might otherwise leach down and out of the soil and back to the surface where your spring crops will receive the most benefit, reducing or eliminating the need for supplemental nitrogen.
Beside the benefits mentioned, the size and depth of the root system on radish effectively aerates the soil, alleviating soil compaction, as well as promoting better water filtration, a definite plus when it comes to your spring and summer crop. Incorporation of Lunch Radish into the soil should be done when the crop is approaching flowering. This will ensure maximum yield and negate the potential for volunteer crops.
Benefits of Smart Radish:
- High “pull-down” bulb development
- Very strong, straight and dense taproot
- Increased fiberus lateral roots
- Greater biomass production
- Late flowering variety
- High plant glucosinolate level
- Greatly increased plant tillering
- Massive increase in forage drymatter
- Smooth leaf
Planting instructions
Radish may be drilled, broadcast or aerially seeded. Drilling is recommended for the best results. Plant seed 6mm to 12 millimetres deep with average soil conditions. If the soil is dry, it is recommended to plant a depth of 20 millimetres. Seed will germinate in three to four days.
What are cover crops
Crops grown to prevent soil erosion, improve soils physical and biological properties, supply nutrients, suppress weeds, improve the availability of soil water and break pest cycles along with various other benefits—are cover crops. The species selected, and how it’s managed, determine the benefits and returns.
| Min Rainfall (mm) | 350 |
| Seeding Rate | Kg/Ha |
| Dryland | 8 – 10 |
