Pollinator Cover Crops in Hazelnut Orchards

Hazelnuts are commonly grown in the Willamette Valley with bare ground underneath the orchard. Bare ground is traditionally maintained in hazelnut orchards to allow for machine harvest. Young orchards are particularly susceptible to soil erosion because of a lack of cover and tree roots to help hold the soil. Cover crops or other plantings between the rows of hazelnuts can prevent soil erosion in addition to providing benefits for soil health, water infiltration, and beneficial insect conservation. Cover crops also can reduce soil compaction and allow growers to access the orchard to make applications during moist weather.