What can I grow to knock back soil-borne diseases and nematodes before my next crop without using chemicals?
We recommend Black Mustard as a natural biofumigant. When the crop is cut and worked into the soil, it helps reduce soil-borne pests and diseases. It also builds soil organic carbon and improves soil structure. It suits areas with 400mm+ rainfall and sandy to heavy soils, and it reaches maturity in about 12 to 14 weeks.
How do biofumigant crops actually work, do you just plough them in?
Yes, the benefit comes from cutting the crop and mixing it into the soil straight away. With our Black Mustard, compounds released from the chopped plant material act as a natural biofumigant against soil-borne pests and diseases. Incorporate it while the plant is green and lush, not after it has dried off. Working it in promptly also adds organic matter that helps the soil hold nutrients and moisture.
Our vegie and potato ground in the South West has disease problems building up, is there a break crop that helps?
A biofumigant break crop like our Black Mustard is a good option for intensive ground where soil-borne disease has built up. Grown and then incorporated, it helps reduce pests and diseases while suppressing weeds and improving soil structure. It needs 400mm+ rainfall or irrigation and suits sandy through to heavy soils. Allow about 12 to 14 weeks from sowing to maturity.
What sowing rate do you use for Black Mustard?
We recommend sowing Black Mustard at 6 to 10 kg/ha. Sow the small seed shallow into a fine, firm seedbed with good moisture so it establishes evenly, because a dense, even stand gives you the most biomass to incorporate. It suits sandy to heavy soils in areas with 400mm+ rainfall, and it reaches maturity in roughly 12 to 14 weeks.
Can I graze a mustard crop or is it just for green manure?
We sell Black Mustard as a biofumigant and green manure crop, not as a grazing crop. Mustards contain compounds that can upset livestock if eaten in quantity, and the seed in particular is not stock feed. For grazing, we suggest a forage brassica such as our Winfred or Tillage Forage Radish, then keep the mustard for soil health and disease suppression.
What cover crop will smother weeds and build organic carbon on tired sandy ground?
We recommend Black Mustard where you also want to suppress soil-borne disease. It grows quickly, suppresses weeds and, once incorporated, builds soil organic carbon and improves structure. That helps sandy soils hold more nutrients and moisture. It suits sandy to heavy soils with 400mm+ rainfall and reaches maturity in around 12 to 14 weeks. For deep compaction, pair it with our Tillage Forage Radish.
Black Mustard vs Tillage Radish as a cover crop, which should I use?
Choose Black Mustard when soil-borne pests and diseases are the main problem, because it is grown to be cut and incorporated as a biofumigant. Choose our Tillage Forage Radish when compaction is the main issue or you also want grazing, because its large taproot breaks hardpans and it gives palatable feed for sheep and cattle. Both are annual brassicas that help suppress weeds.
When is the best time to work a biofumigant crop into the soil?
We suggest incorporating Black Mustard when it has built up plenty of green biomass, around flowering, which is roughly 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. Chop it finely and work it in straight away while the soil is moist. Moist soil helps the biofumigant effect and the breakdown of organic matter. Leave a gap before sowing the following crop so the residue can break down.
Is there a cover crop I can use in a 400mm rainfall area to improve soil structure between cash crops?
Yes, our Black Mustard suits areas with 400mm+ rainfall and grows in sandy through to heavy soils. As a green manure, it improves soil structure, builds organic carbon and boosts the soil's ability to hold nutrients and moisture. It also helps suppress weeds and soil-borne disease. Sow at 6 to 10 kg/ha, and it reaches maturity in about 12 to 14 weeks.
Does Black Mustard come back the next year or do I need to resow it?
Black Mustard is an annual, so we recommend resowing it each time you want a biofumigant break. It is normally cut and incorporated before it sets seed, so it does not regenerate like a pasture. Letting it seed can create a volunteer weed problem in later crops. Plan it as a single rotation break of about 12 to 14 weeks.
