Alyssa DeVincentis/UC Davis Winter soil covers offer numerous benefits, advisors say.
Suggested Event
Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
Good ideas often take time to germinate before blossoming and that may be the case for cover cropping in almond orchards.
The concept was used extensively in the first half of the 20th century until a lot of farmers transitioned away from cover crops in the 1950s with the development of selective pre- and post-emergent herbicides. However, renewed interest on reducing chemical inputs and improving soil quality has brought the subject full circle.
Writing as The Almond Doctor, David Doll, University of California Cooperative Extension nut crop farm advisor in Merced County, notes: “Although cover cropping is compatible with almond production and potential benefits have been recognized by growers this practice has not been widely implemented in California.”