More tricks to this pony

Across certain parts of Europe it has become mandatory in recent years to establish a green cover under maize to reduce watercourse pollution and limit topsoil erosion. And although not yet compulsory, the practice of under-sowing maize with a catch-crop is becoming increasingly popular in parts of the UK and Ireland.

The benefits are clear. Trials have shown that there is the potential for a well-established cover of grass to capture between 40-100kg/N/ha, not to mention the other nutrients any catch crop might grab hold of. On top of that there’s the major advantage of retaining topsoil, particularly on sloping ground. The benefits are much less easy to quantify but the root mass generated by any post-harvest growth will inevitably have a positive effect on soil structure.

And then there are the less obvious practical points. A decent mat of crop can provide a carpet for foragers, tractors and trailers to travel on, limiting their inclination to sink in damper conditions. And, when they pull out onto the road their tyres are clean and there’s not the need for a big clear up operation.

But it’s not