Cocktail crops have traditionally been used to help hold the soil when transitioning between different types of cash crops, and are often plowed down before planting the next crop to add organic material and fertility to the soil. Farmers with livestock often select cover crops that can be grazed, adding an additional benefit as feed and the advantage of additional nutrients from animal manure.
WCFA has conducted several cocktail/cover crop trials to evaluate the performance of a number of these crops in the west-central region of Alberta in an effort to provide valuable local information to cattle producers intending to incorporate cocktail/cover crops into their operations.
10 different annual cocktail/cover crops and six 'alternative' crops were evaluated in 2018 at the Brazeau County and Yellowhead County Research sites.
| Annual Crops | 'Alternative' Crops |
| Union Forage Ultimate Blend | Phacelia |
| Union Forage Relay Blend | Chicory |
| Union Forage All Brassica Blend | Radish |
| Italian Annual Ryegrass | Plaintain |
| Vivant | Red Siberian Millet |
| Gorilla | Sorghum Sudangrass |
| NS Double Cover Crop Blend | |
| Performa Concentrate Blend | |
| Frosty Berseem Clover | |
| Fixation Balansa Clover |
Seeding was conducted on June 7, 2018 at the Yellowhead County site and on June 8, 2018 at the Brazeau County site.
The plots faced an excessive amount of precipitation, at the Yellowhead County site in particular, during the month of July which prevented us from collecting significant samples from each repetition. Yield and quality samples were collected from the Brazeau County site only for the annual crops. Samples were sent to A&L Canada Labs for quality analysis.
To view the full reports please download the PDF below:
2018 Annual Cover Crops Variety Trial Report
2018 Alternative Cover Crops Variety Trial Report
Evaluating Broadcast Seeding for Cocktail/Cover Crops
Eleven cocktail/cover crops were evaluated for yield and quality differences resulting from different seeding methods at both the Yellowhead County and Brazeau County Research sites in 2017. Crops were either broadcast on or seeded with a disc drill.
| Crops |
| Winfred Brassica + Hairy Vetch |
| Goliath |
| Ultimate Annual Mix |
| Annual Forage Pro |
| Sorghum Sudangrass |
| Northstar Blend |
| Frosty Berseem Clover |
| Impact Forage Brassica |
| Fixation Balansa Clover |
| Permiere Forage Kale |
| Performa Annual Forage Mixture |
Seed was either placed directly using a disc drill or were 'broadcast' on by undoing and allowing the seeds to fall on the ground. Seeding was conducted on June 5, 2017. The plots faced significant moisture and weed pressure during the growing season. Yield data was collected on September 27 & 28, 2017 at the Yellowhead County site only. Samples were sent to A&L Canada Labs for quality analysis.
To view the full report please download the PDF below:
