Cover Crops: Sunflower & Compaction

The AgroExpo Team and MSU Extension have joined forces to deliver an educational series to help growers discover and evaluate cutting-edge ideas, techniques and strategies for cover crops. In this video, Paul Gross (MSUE Field Crop educator) highlights how to use cover crops to improve compaction.

[@johnhaug8792]

Once sunflowers remove heavy metals from the soil can the stalks, leaves and flowers be composted without adding the metals back into the soil?

[@daniellincoln1090]

Sunflowers attract tons of birds that eat their seeds and even leaves. The birds leave tons of droppings that fertilize the soil.

[@togo3624]

I would love to grow sunflowers. Unfortunately our deer population loves young sunflower shoots and will completely eradicate the crop as it emerges.

[@dadaplaylist]

when we cut the sunflower, do we keep the root system in the soil or should we remove it?

[@EstherCervantes-hk4pz]

yes, they help with compaction especially in gardens where automobiles are allowed to drive into and on. lol

[@alicelindborg5096]

How about adding alfalfa to the mix?

[@helenachase5627]

I wonder if the icicle radish planted beside that would have got through

[@DMSATL]

If sunflowers are grown in the Spring/Summer, as a cover crop, what would you plant in that location after terminating the crop? Would the sunflowers be given the entirety of the Autumn/Winter to die and decompose before planting simmering in that area the following Spring?

[@ronaldmcboggled9855]

Thanks Sun Leno! Lol jk

[@fluffybbpeachhun6768]

I am in the tropical almost by the equator In Asia Philippines

[@wackyrice1]

Super video. . . answered all my questions. Now I'll see if I can get the farmers I know to listen.

[@oldmanfigs]

Great video…thanks sir

[@bharatkhavatakoppa9414]

Sir U have any information how i can turn my saline to fertile soil...

[@charlescoker7752]

Which variety is best for a cover crop? There are some that grow 10 feet tall. And like these 5 feet tall?

[@DJ-uk5mm]

Thanks for sharing}

[@amandeepsingh7973]

Good job

[@bharatkhavatakoppa9414]

Sir I totally insane about your sun flower crop sir how can you get wider leaves in sunflower crop...

[@Beautydev23]

I am your new subscriber

[@fluffybbpeachhun6768]

I am super monster panic or my sun baby,first I replant my baby and lost so much roots it was more delicate than a sakura tree! I was too scared my since sun baby can eat and weakens too now I deal almost no roots I hope you have or a solution for this my baby is turning yellow but taller that before

[@amandeepsingh7973]

Next video please sir