I planted some oats once ...about now. It winter killed and might be easier to plant in than rye come spring.

I prefer my soil to have a leaf mulch coating so that it can be planted in corn starting in April.

I will be covering the garden, or as much as I can, with chipped up leaves this winter. But I know that corn is a HEAVEY feeder, so what I am looking for is some idea of what to plant, over winter and then rototill in the spring, that will feed the corn enough.

I have heard of clover or maybe peanuts. Any good? What else?

As long as you're going to plow it under before planting so it won't resprout and compete with the corn, I'd suggest a mix of winter vetch for a nitrogen producer and winter rye for bulk. This is a pretty standard mix.

But, just FYI, you still will need to supplement with fertilizer on most soils, since corn is such a heavy feeder.

Oh, I will be adding fertilizer this fall as well as the spring time befor planting. Horse manure, even though it seems to carry alot more weed seeds than cow.

I never thought of manure as being very high in nitrogen. Am I wrong?

Most of the legumes will be good to enrich soil with Nitrogen.

As Denninmi said, rye and hairy vetch are a good combo. If you get a good start with the vetch (plentiful growth) it can help smother the rye when mowed in spring. If you incorporate, remember to delay planting lest rye's alleopathy stunts the corn.

"I never thought of manure as being very high in nitrogen. Am I wrong?"

No. At least regarding horses.

Manure is a fabulous soil amendment providing nutrients, micronutrients, and organic components. It improves soil texture and water retention. However, it does not supply enough nitrogen by itself, especially in the first couple of years when it is being broken down by microorganisms.

According to the University of Minnesota Extension: "When applied to soil, manure, compost, and other organic amendments undergo microbial transformations that release plant-available N over time."

Even after it is broken down, composted manure "may not be able to supply adequate available nutrients, particularly N, during rapid growth phases of crops with high nutrient demands."

Fresh manure is higher in nitrogen, but for safety reasons, you must wait 4 months after application to harvest anything.

See the link below for a very thorough discussion of manures as fertilizer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nutrient Composition of Manure and Compost

A good and useful site, thanks potterhead2.

I wonder, after viewing that site provide by potterhead2, if it would be a good idea to plant my corn next year, in the chicken run? I have the area split up already, but have not changed them over. I could just til it up and plant in there. Any thoughts?

I prefer winter wheat over rye grass.

Mike

I was going to suggest cattle favas, Banner variety, from Territorial Seeds, since, like Dennis suggestion, they are a vetch, and you can eat the foliage. But if you have a chicken run available, that beats everything else. Or you can plant them in the former chicken run, you and the chickens eat your fill, and then there will be still more than enough N to grow corn.

Though let me mention that corn, large brassica and celery benefit from weekly applications from a magic jug I have in my garage, which fills with 5% urea solution every few days.

5% urea solution? Can you explain, please?

But if you have a chicken run available, that beats everything else. Or you can plant them in the former chicken run, you and the chickens eat your fill, and then there will be still more than enough N to grow corn.
__________________________________________________________________

When I built our chicken run, the plan was to alternate between the two. But just havent done it yet.

So your saying that it would be a good idea?
Thanks so much for the help.