The best rest crops on drought-sensitive plots

On sand and loess plots, you must grow a rest crop by 2023 at the latest since 2026 if this has not already been done. A good rest crop choice is crucial for your balance. Also take the soil into account, for example in case of drought sensitivity.

In this article you will read which rest crops perform best under dry conditions and how to grow them successfully.

Barley: the first choice in drought conditions
On drought-sensitive plots, winter barley or spring barley is an excellent option as a rest crop. Winter barley develops an extensive root system before the winter and grows early in the spring. The grain filling and harvest occur early in the year, which means that the chance of drying out is small. In addition, barley has a relatively low moisture requirement.

For these reasons, barley is one of the most reliable rest crops on drier soils, as you can see in this video:

Tips for growing barley on drier plots:

• Sow early, as soon as soil conditions permit
• Use a slightly higher seeding density to encourage early ground cover
• Fertilize moderately to avoid luxury consumption
• Consider an early growth regulator when weather conditions are favorable for strong crop development

View the recommended winter barley varieties >

Mixed cropping for extra security
The advantages of these two crops can also be combined in a mixed crop. A mixed crop of barley and peas provides extra yield security and weed suppression on drought-sensitive soil and is also permitted as a rest crop.

Winter rapeseed: deep-rooted autumn sowing crop
Also winter rapeseed is suitable for drought-sensitive plots because it largely avoids the summer period. Rapeseed is sown from mid-August and develops a strong root system in the autumn. It thus benefits maximally from the soil moisture in the autumn.

Rapeseed has several properties that make it suitable for drought-sensitive soils:

• Develops a deep taproot system that can utilize moisture from deeper soil layers
• Reaches critical flowering and seed formation stage early in the season, often before summer drought sets in
• Ready for harvest in July, which means it avoids the most extreme periods of drought
• Leaves behind quite a lot of organic matter which improves the water retention capacity of the soil

Read more in our whitepaper rapeseed cultivation > of view recommended varieties >

Yellow peas: short cultivation with low water consumption
The papilionaceous yellow peas are also a suitable choice for drought-sensitive plots. With their very short growing season, they are usually finished flowering and fully grown before drought strikes. In addition, they have a relatively low water consumption compared to other protein crops.

"Yellow peas combine a short cultivation period with good drought tolerance," says cultivation specialist Ludwig Oevermans. "They are ready for harvest from mid-July, which means they often avoid the worst summer drought. In addition, they count as an eco-activity for the CAP, which increases the yield."

Temporary grassland with clovers
For livestock farmers, temporary grassland remains a logical choice. When sowing in the autumn, moisture is usually not a problem, so the chance of success is very high. For a good yield, the choice of species is crucial on drought-sensitive plots.

High-yielding grass mixtures with mainly English ryegrass perform less well in drought. Mixtures for temporary grassland contain Italian ryegrass, which stops growing in drought, but recovers very quickly. Clovers, especially red clover, are very drought-resistant. With its long taproot, red clover continues to grow for a long time in drought.

The new mixture LG Havera 8 consists of English ryegrass, Italian ryegrass, Alexandrian clover and red clover. View this temporary grassland mixture >

Practical considerations
When choosing the right rest crop for drought-sensitive plots, it is of course not only drought tolerance that is important. Also consider:

1. Market opportunities: can you use the harvest yourself or is there a market?
2. Crop plan: which crop fits best into the rotation?
3. CAP: which rest crops increase your hectare premium as an eco-activity?

Hold lgseeds.nl keep an eye out for more articles where we discuss these considerations, or ask your crop specialist for free, customized advice.

Information in this article is subject to changes at RVO, no rights can be derived from this information. For all rules and conditions, visit rvo.nl.

This business case is powered by: