WinterKing
Hairy Vetch
Winter hardy. Later maturity. Abundant nitrogen.
A PVP protected variety which began with selection work by Steve Groff in E. PA, WinterKing demonstrates improved winter hardiness, delayed flowering and the capacity to produce large amounts of high-nitrogen biomass.
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Improved Winter Hardiness
Better winter hardiness equates to more biomass. More biomass provides increased forage for livestock, more biomass for cover croppers, and increased weed suppression for all. Those desiring high nitrogen-fixing legumes for green manure, forage grazing, wildlife and pollinator attractants should find WinterKing an improved option over other legumes that lack cold tolerance.
Delayed Flowering
As an annual legume, hairy vetch may need to be terminated either mechanically or chemically when followed by a row crop. Some producers may find the late maturity of WinterKing reduces the potential for undesired seed propagation found in earlier maturing cover crop varieties. For livestock producers, WinterKing’s late maturity means more vegetative high value feed longer into the spring season.
Nitrogen-Fixing
WinterKing has shown potential to produce 150-200#N/acre, especially when allowed to reach maturity later in the season. This is beneficial for green manure as well as providing an extended high-protein source for grazing livestock throughout the full spring season.
Forage Quality
Louisiana State University
Hairy Vetch Evaluation Trial (Forage Quality)
Winnsboro, LA – 2017–2018
| Entry | NDF | ADF | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU Merit | 0.52 | 0.38 | 24.31 |
| WinterKing | 0.49 | 0.36 | 22.93 |
| Oregon VNS | 0.50 | 0.37 | 22.47 |
| Villana | 0.53 | 0.39 | 20.8 |
| * results not evaluated for statistical difference | |||
Yield Data
Louisiana State University
Hairy Vetch Evaluation Trial (DM/AC)
Winnsboro, LA – 2017–2018
| Variety | Harvest Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Mar. 27 | 11-May | Total |
| WinterKing | 1141 | 1983 | 3124 |
| Oregon Origin | 931 | 1907 | 2838 |
| Villana | 958 | 1678 | 2636 |
| Villata | 1067 | 502 | 1569 |
| Common Vetch | 1068 | 322 | 1391 |
| Naomi Wooly Pod | 1108 | ------ | 1108 |
| LSD | 221 | 488 | 597 |
Penn State University
Hairy Vetch Evaluation Trial (Flowering date and DM/ac)
State College, PA – 2007–2008
| Entry | % flowering | June 5th Harvest Dm/Ac |
|---|---|---|
| Groff Vetch 1 | 50.0 | 616 |
| AU Early Cover | 75.0 | 508 |
| Purple Prosperity | 50.0 | 359 |
| Purple Bounty | 53.3 | 192 |
| 1WinterKing is a further cycling of “Groff Vetch” | ||
| Seeded Sept 7, 2007 | ||
Planting
WinterKing hairy vetch can be seeded at a rate of 10-40 lbs/acre depending on the mix or purpose. For best results, plant 3-6 weeks prior to the average first killing frost. Ideal seeding depth: ½–1½".
| Planting Method | Drill, broadcast with light disking |
|---|---|
| Seeding Rate - Drilled | 15–20 lbs/ac, 10–15 lbs/ac (in mix) |
| Seeding Rate - Broadcast | 25–40 lbs/ac, 15–20 lbs/ac (in mix) |
| Planting Dates | 3-6 weeks prior to the average first killing frost |
| Planting Zones (map) | green |
| Planting Depth | ½–1½" |
| Termination | Roll kill, selective or non-selective herbicide allows for no-till seeding into terminated stand. |
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