Roller Crimping Cover Crops: Best Varieties & Timing Tips
Roller crimping is gaining popularity because it is extremely soil-health-friendly.
This termination method involves rolling a heavy drum with metal blades over mature cover crops to crimp stems and flatten biomass. It disturbs no soil, requires no herbicide, and typically uses less diesel than tillage.
A thick mulch mat is created that protects soil from sun exposure, suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and prevents erosion.
While the concept is golden, it is easier said than done.
The cover crop must reach maturity in order to be totally killed with a roller crimper. Think of how a cereal rye plant in it's vegetative state is flexible and bounces back after being stepped on. That same plant in anthesis (once it is shedding pollen and about to set seed) will bend and snap under pressure.
Selecting the Best Varieties for Roller Crimping
Having success with roller crimping is all about timing and the cover crop varieties you plant.
Elbon rye is popular for roller crimping because it matures about 10 days earlier than other northern cereal rye varieties. This early maturity date helps to mitigate any unpredictable weather variables that might delay the maturity of other varieties.
For hairy vetch, you want to roller crimp it when it is in the early pod-set stage, when it is blooming and pods are just starting to form. You will want to watch hairy vetch closely and terminate it before it sets viable seed.
Other species that terminate well via roller crimping include winter peas, faba beans, most cereal grains, and standard brassicas.
As you can imagine, creating a mix where all species reach maturity at the same time for successful roller crimping is quite the art. If it is your goal to roller crimp a multi-species mix, we encourage you to start with two or three species and please consult a trusted cover crop advisor when selecting those species. You are always welcome to call into our team who will ask detailed questions to give you the best advice possible 402-469-6784.
Or you can reach out to get in contact via email.
