MSU Extension Cover Crops

Oil Seed Radish (Raphanus sativus) 

Identifying Features

• Lobed, irregular leaves
• Rosette leaves all the way down stem
• Deep Taproot

Planting Tips 

• Seeding Dates: mid-July - mid-September
• Drilled Seeding Depth: 0.25 inches- 0.5 inches
• Drilled Seeding Rate: 4 lbs PLS/Ac (5-9 MCCC) 
• Broadcast Seeding Rate: 5 lbs PLS/Ac (6-10 MCCC) 
• Aerial Seeding Rate: 6 lbs PLS/Ac (6-11 MCCC)
  • Drilling is more reliable than broadcast style applications
• Seed Size: 34,000 seeds/lb
• Minimum Germination Temp: 45 Fahrenheit
• Preferred pH: 6-7.5 

Termination Tips

• Winter kill termination, winterkills at 20 Fahrenheit
• Mild winter or a good snow cover before the radish dies can allow it to overwinter
• Chemical termination
• Mechanical termination - tillage, crimping, mow, graze

Performance

• Dry Matter: 1,500-4,000 lbs/Ac
• Nitrogen Scavenger: Very Good
• Soil Builder: Very Good
• Erosion Fighter: Good
• Weed Fighter: Very Good
• Good Grazing: Very Good
• Quick Growth: Excellent
• Mechanical Forage Harvest: Fair
• Cash Crop Interseed: Very Good 

Additional Considerations

• Excellent for compaction
• Weeds: Fast emergence helps choke out weeds and produces glucosinolate, which reduces weed germination
• Nematodes: select varieties of oilseed radish can be used to trap sugarbeet cyst nematodes
• Potential issues: can outcompete other crops in mixes, must terminate timely or can become a weed, odor when decomposing 

This fact sheet is a collaborative effort of Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide information on cover crops. For more information consult www.midwestcovercrops.org/michigan/. USDA participants should follow the specifications in their conservation plan and the NRCS Cover Crop Termination Guidelines.