Many thanks to Nicolle Contracting and True Earth Organics for getting our winter cover crops incorporated today.
This winter saw a repeat of last year’s split planting of Caliente Mustard and Oats to compare effects on soil, disease and plant growth. Seed was provided by True Earth Organics.
To gain benefit from the fumigant properties of the Caliente, it must be soil incorporated as soon as possible. This is why we have the two tractors closely following, one mulching the crop, the other incorporating the residues.
![Mulching mustard - reasonable biomass, but some insect damage reducing leaf mass](http://www.landwise.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/MulchingMustard.jpg)
![mulchingoats](http://www.landwise.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/MulchingOats.jpg)
Onions are to be planted in this area for a third season in succession. Our onion crop will also include a new area that has never had onions planted before. As part of our collaboration with Onions New Zealand and Plant and Food Research, we will compare the performance of crops in the different areas.