Chicory

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a deep‑taprooted perennial forb used increasingly in mixes as a cool‑season cover crop and forage. Growers choose chicory for its ability to penetrate compacted layers, scavenge nutrients from depth, tolerate drought, and contribute biomass and living cover when combined with grasses and legumes. Its thick taproot can help loosen soil and improve infiltration, while stands provide living cover to reduce erosion and suppress weeds. [NRCS Plant Materials Technical Note 67] (intermountain west) documents chicory’s soil and water benefits and practical agronomics (rate, depth, timing). (NRCS PM‑TN 67)

Benefits of Chicory as a Cover Crop

• Erosion Control: Cover crops with high ground cover routinely cut soil loss; syntheses report 31–100% reductions in soil loss compared to no cover, with average sediment reductions of 20.8 tons/acre on conventionally tilled fields. Keeping living cover (including chicory in mixes) over winter and early spring is especially protective. (SARE “Cover Crops at Work: Covering the Soil to Prevent Erosion”)
• Weed Suppression: Residue from robust cover crops can reduce weed emergence by 75–90% when adequate biomass is achieved; suppression scales with biomass and ground cover, so pairing chicory with vigorous cereals or annual ryegrass enhances mulch effect. (UConn IPM: Contribution of Cover Crop Mulches to Weed Management; Penn State Weed Ecology—Cover Crops for Weed Suppression; recent field research also shows that good agronomic management of cover crops improves competitive suppression of weeds. (Weed Science 2025))
• Soil Structure Improvement: Chicory’s thick, deep taproot penetrates compacted layers; NRCS notes it can “help break soil hardpans and improve soil water infiltration,” improving tilth and root channels for following crops. (NRCS PM‑TN 67)
• Water Management: Cover crops increase infiltration and reduce runoff; a global meta‑analysis found cover‑cropped soils had a mean 34.8% higher infiltration rate than controls, while surface residues reduce evaporation during dry spells. (Meta‑analysis, Agricultural Water Management/PMC; SARE Smart Water Use). In humid regions, no‑till with cover crops has reduced surface runoff by about 25% while increasing stored soil water for the cash crop. (USDA‑ARS 2024)
• Disease/Pest Break: Rotating to non‑host broadleaf covers like chicory between small‑grain crops helps disrupt the disease cycle of take‑all root rot in wheat/barley; extension guidance recommends at least one (preferably two) years out of wheat in non‑host crops to reduce inoculum. (University of Kentucky IPM—Take‑All in Wheat; OSU Extension—Take‑all affects cereals; UC IPM Small Grains—Take‑All)
• Nitrogen Management (non‑legume scavenging): Non‑legume covers routinely capture 30–50 lb N/acre, and where post‑harvest nitrate is high, can scavenge up to ~150 lb N/acre, reducing leaching potential; chicory’s deep rooting supports recovery from deeper layers. (SARE—Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations). Recent research on chicory‑based pastures also examines N mineralization patterns of residues that can support early‑season N supply to following crops. (ScienceDirect 2024)
• Biomass Production: In cover‑crop/forage settings, chicory commonly produces 1–3 tons dry matter (DM)/acre in the Intermountain West under proper management, and 3–5 tons DM/acre in longer warm seasons of the Southeast as a forage component. (NRCS PM‑TN 67; Mississippi State Univ. Extension—Chicory)

Planting and Management Advice

• Seeding Rate (drill and broadcast):
• Monoculture (drilled): 3–5 lb/acre is adequate on a firm seedbed. (UKY AGR‑190; “Chicory: An Alternative Livestock Forage”; Auburn/ACES Quick Facts)
• In mixes (drilled): 2–3 lb/acre chicory with reduced rates of companion species. (Auburn/ACES Quick Facts; Mississippi State—Chicory)
• Broadcast: increase the drilled rate by about 20–50% to compensate for lower seed–soil contact; for wildlife/forage plantings in the Southeast, extension lists 10 lb/acre broadcast versus 5 lb/acre drilled. (NC State Forage Planting Guide—Broadcast vs Drill; MSU “Deer Food Plot Planting Guide” M1591)
• Seeding Depth: 0.25–0.5 inch into a firm, fine seedbed; shallow placement is critical for the small seed. (UKY AGR‑190; NRCS PM‑TN 67)
• Soil Type and pH: Performs best on moderately to well‑drained soils; tolerant of a wide pH range. Target pH ~5.8–8.0 (tolerant 5.0–8.2). (NRCS PM‑TN 67; Auburn/ACES Quick Facts)
• Planting Time (seasonal windows by region):
• Upper Midwest/Northeast: Spring planting as soon as fields are fit and soil warms (generally mid‑April to mid‑May); late‑summer seeding needs ~6 weeks before first hard frost. (Penn State—How Late Can Cool‑Season Perennials Be Planted?; timing rule from NRCS PM‑TN 67)
• Mid‑Atlantic/Upper South: Spring (March 15–May 15) or early fall (Aug 15–Sept 15). (UKY AGR‑190)
• Southeast: Fall establishment Sept 1–Oct 15 (earlier in the northern SE). (MSU Forage Planting Dates; MSU M1591)
• Intermountain/Arid West: Spring when soil temperatures reach ~50°F, or by early August to allow establishment ≥6 weeks before frost. (NRCS PM‑TN 67)
• Termination (methods and timing):
• Mechanical: Chicory will regrow after mowing but not after sufficiently deep tillage that severs the crown/taproot; do not rely on mowing alone. (University of Maryland Extension—Chicory)
• Chemical: 2022–2023 University of Idaho trials found “none of the herbicides evaluated provided good control of chicory” in a single pass; multiple applications and careful selection are required, and plant‑back restrictions to following crops vary (e.g., dicamba 4 months to several sensitive crops). Plan termination well before planting and verify label plant‑back intervals. (Univ. of Idaho BUL‑1070, 2024; supplemental guidance: Purdue WS‑50‑W, 2025)
• General NRCS note: terminate in time to prevent excessive soil moisture drawdown before planting the cash crop. (NRCS CEAP E340A guidance)
• Rotational Considerations:
• As a broadleaf, chicory provides a non‑host break for small‑grain root diseases like take‑all; allow ≥1 year (preferably 2) out of wheat/barley. Control grassy weeds between cereal crops. (UKY IPM—Take‑All; UC IPM—Take‑All)
• Avoid letting chicory set seed to prevent volunteer issues in subsequent crops. (SARE—Building Soils, Ch. 10)
• If using synthetic herbicides to terminate, check plant‑back intervals for broadleaf cash crops (e.g., sugar beet, potato, dry bean) and schedule termination accordingly. (Univ. of Idaho BUL‑1070)
• Water Requirements and Drought Tolerance:
• Chicory is notably drought tolerant compared to many cool‑season legumes and grasses because its deep taproot accesses subsoil moisture; it can persist and produce during summer lulls when paired with grasses. (USU Extension—Range Plants: Chicory). Infiltration gains from cover crops and surface residue also help retain water and buffer drought. (PMC meta‑analysis; SARE Smart Water Use)

Notes to optimize performance:

• Establishment: Firm, fine seedbed; precision depth 0.25–0.5 inch; rolling/cultipacking improves stand, especially for broadcast seed. (UKY AGR‑190; NC State—Broadcast vs Drill)
• Use in Mixes: Chicory pairs well with cool‑season grasses/legumes; modest chicory rates (2–3 lb/acre drilled) improve rooting diversity without overwhelming the stand. (Auburn/ACES Quick Facts; MSU Chicory)

This guidance draws on university extension, NRCS/USDA, SARE, and recent peer‑reviewed work for practical, number‑driven decisions on establishing and managing chicory as a cover crop.