Agronomy Support
Getting Started
Five Steps to Mighty Mustard® Success:
1. Determine your primary goal:
Do you want to suppress soilborne pathogens? Reduce nematodes? Suppress weeds?
2. Choose the Mighty Mustard® that targets your goal:
Picking the right primary glucosinolates makes all the difference. If suppression of nematodes and soilborne pathogens is your primary goal, choose Kodiak, Pacific Gold or Trifecta Power Blend. If weed suppression if your objective, choose White Gold.
| Trifecta Power Blend | Kodiak | White Gold | Pacific Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduces nematodes |  | |  | |
| Suppresses soilborne pathogens | | | | |
| Targets broadleaf weeds | | | | |
| Tests negative for black rot and blackleg | | | | |
| Scavenges nutrients | | | | |
| Produces high biomass | | | | |
| Recycles nutrients | | | | |
| Sequesters carbon | | | | |
| Builds soil organic matter | | | | |
| Reduces nutrient runoff | | | | |
| Improves soil aeration | | | | |
| Improves water penetration | | | | |
| Reduces wind & water erosion | | | | |
| Attracts pollinators | | | | |
| Grows quickly | | | | |
Fully Effective
Partially Effective
Not Effective
3. Plant:
Time the seeding to ensure maximum biomass production, preferably in early spring or late fall. Mustards are day-length sensitive and will winter-kill at sustained temperatures of 26 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.
4. Chop and incorporate:
Chop, incorporate and irrigate in one day to ensure speedy release of short-lived glucosinolates into soil.
5. Rest:
Wait three weeks before planting next crop.
Planting & Termination Guidelines
Nematode Suppression Protocol
How-to Video: Maximizing mustard cover crop biofumigation potential.
Video courtesy of Michigan State University
When done correctly, on-farm testing is a good way to evaluate green manures. However, a single side-by-side comparison, although easy to conduct, will not tell you if your observations were the result of the practices you were comparing or the result of other varying conditions.
For best results:
- Start with a small part of a larger field
- Leave areas that are managed as normal
- Use replication and randomization
- Call your local Extension office for help and resources to conduct on-farm tests