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1
Hmielowski, Tracy. "Cover Crop Mixtures." Crops & Soils 50, no. 3 (May 2017): 58–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/cs2017.50.0318.
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Skroch, Walter A. "ORCHARD GROUND COVER MANAGEMENT AFFECTS TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION." HortScience 28, no. 5 (May 1993): 496a—496. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.28.5.496a.
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Studies indicate that growth of apple and peach trees and yield of apple fruit is affected by ground cover management. Living ground covers compete with trees for water and nutrients, but bare ground (clean culture) results in soil compaction, increased runoff and erosion, and poor maneuverability of equipment. Competition between orchard trees and living ground covers is a factor in tree growth, timing of the first crop year, and fruit yield and quality. Certain grasses tend to be more competitive than broadleaf ground covers. Cool-season grasses (bluegrass, orchardgrass, tall fescue) under Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples were shown to reduce soil moisture levels, reduce fruit yield and size, and delay fruit maturity. Various vegetative ground cover systems (strip cover, cover crop, herbicide no-till) and ground cover types can be utilized to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil structure, while at the same time reduce competition with trees and optimize crop yield and quality.
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Weston, Leslie A. "Cover Crop and Herbicide Influence on Row Crop Seedling Establishment in No-Tillage Culture." Weed Science 38, no. 2 (March 1990): 166–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0043174500056320.
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The establishment and management of nine cover crops in Kentucky production systems were evaluated in field experiments over a 2-yr period. ‘Wheeler’ rye, ‘Barsoy’ barley, and ‘Tyler’ wheat cereal grains produced greater biomass (180 to 260 g/m2) than the pasture species tall fescue, creeping red fescue, and white clover (55 to 110 g/m2). ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue, creeping red fescue, and white clover proved most difficult to control, and significant regrowth occurred regardless of herbicide or rate applied. HOE-39866 (1.7 kg ai/ha) was effective in rapidly controlling all cover crops except tall fescue by 30 days after application. Sethoxydim and fluazifop (0.4 and 0.3 kg ai/ha, respectively) effectively controlled the cereals and two ryegrass species. Glyphosate applied at 1.1 and 2.2 kg ai/ha was also effective, while 0.6 kg ai/ha controlled only cereal grain growth adequately. After chemical control, pasture grass plots contained fewest weeds/m2with some reductions likely due to density and regrowth of the sods. Cover crops were effective in suppressing weed growth at 45 days after chemical control. However, significant weed growth existed in all cover crop plots by 60 days after kill. Row crop establishment increased linearly with increasing glyphosate rate. Cereal grain covers provided the most compatible planting situations for greatest seedling establishment, with rye and wheat providing greatest weed suppression. Generally, increased weed suppression provided by a cover crop was accompanied by reduced row crop establishment, with greatest reductions observed in pasture grass plots. Cucumber was most easily established while snap pea was most difficult.
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London, Howard, David J. Saville, Charles N. Merfield, Oluwashola Olaniyan, and Stephen D. Wratten. "The ability of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) to penetrate mesh crop covers used to protect potato crops against tomato potato psyllid (Bactericera cockerelli)." PeerJ 8 (August 7, 2020): e9317. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9317.
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In Central and North America, Australia and New Zealand, potato (Solanum tuberosum) crops are attacked by Bactericera cockerelli, the tomato potato psyllid (TPP). ‘Mesh crop covers’ which are used in Europe and Israel to protect crops from insect pests, have been used experimentally in New Zealand for TPP control. While the covers have been effective for TPP management, the green peach aphid (GPA, Myzus persicae) has been found in large numbers under the mesh crop covers. This study investigated the ability of the GPA to penetrate different mesh hole sizes. Experiments using four sizes (0.15 × 0.15, 0.15 × 0.35, 0.3 × 0.3 and 0.6 × 0.6 mm) were carried out under laboratory conditions to investigate: (i) which mesh hole size provided the most effective barrier to GPA; (ii) which morph of adult aphids (apterous or alate) and/or their progeny could breach the mesh crop cover; (iii) would leaves touching the underside of the cover, as opposed to having a gap between leaf and the mesh, increase the number of aphids breaching the mesh; and (iv) could adults feed on leaves touching the cover by putting only their heads and/or stylets through it? No adult aphids, either alate or apterous, penetrated the mesh crop cover; only nymphs did this, the majority being the progeny of alate adults. Nymphs of the smaller alatae aphids penetrated the three coarsest mesh sizes; nymphs of the larger apterae penetrated the two coarsest sizes, but no nymphs penetrated the smallest mesh size. There was no statistical difference in the number of aphids breaching the mesh crop cover when the leaflets touched its underside compared to when there was a gap between leaf and mesh crop cover. Adults did not feed through the mesh crop cover, though they may have been able to sense the potato leaflet using visual and/or olfactory cues and produce nymphs as a result. As these covers are highly effective for managing TPP on field potatoes, modifications of this protocol are required to make it effective against aphids as well as TPP.
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Johnson, Gregg A., Michael S. Defelice, and Zane R. Helsel. "Cover Crop Management and Weed Control in Corn (Zea mays)." Weed Technology 7, no. 2 (June 1993): 425–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0890037x00027834.
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Field experiments were conducted in central Missouri in 1989 and 1990 to evaluate weed control practices in conjunction with cover crops and cover management systems in reduced tillage corn. There was no difference in weed control among soybean stubble, hairy vetch, and rye soil cover when averaged over cover management systems and herbicide treatments. However, mowed hairy vetch and rye covers provided greater weed control in the no-till plots than soybean stubble when no herbicide was used. Differences in weed control among cover management systems were reduced or eliminated when a PRE herbicide was applied. corn population and height were reduced by hairy vetch and rye soil cover. Corn grain yield was reduced in rye plots both years. There was no difference in grain yield between tilled and no-till plots.
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Smith, Richard G., Nicholas D. Warren, and Stéphane Cordeau. "Are cover crop mixtures better at suppressing weeds than cover crop monocultures?" Weed Science 68, no. 2 (January 28, 2020): 186–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/wsc.2020.12.
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AbstractCover crops are increasingly being used for weed management, and planting them as diverse mixtures has become an increasingly popular strategy for their implementation. While ecological theory suggests that cover crop mixtures should be more weed suppressive than cover crop monocultures, few experiments have explicitly tested this for more than a single temporal niche. We assessed the effects of cover crop mixtures (5- or 6-species and 14-species mixtures) and monocultures on weed abundance (weed biomass) and weed suppression at the time of cover crop termination. Separate experiments were conducted in Madbury, NH, from 2014 to 2017 for each of three temporal cover-cropping niches: summer (spring planting–summer termination), fall (summer planting–fall termination), and spring (fall planting–subsequent spring termination). Regardless of temporal niche, mixtures were never more weed suppressive than the most weed-suppressive cover crop grown as a monoculture, and the more diverse mixture (14 species) never outperformed the less diverse mixture. Mean weed-suppression levels of the best-performing monocultures in each temporal niche ranged from 97% to 98% for buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in the summer niche and forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. niger J. Kern.) in the fall niche, and 83% to 100% for triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus [Secale × Triticum]) in the winter–spring niche. In comparison, weed-suppression levels for the mixtures ranged from 66% to 97%, 70% to 90%, and 67% to 99% in the summer, fall, and spring niches, respectively. Stability of weed suppression, measured as the coefficient of variation, was two to six times greater in the best-performing monoculture compared with the most stable mixture, depending on the temporal niche. Results of this study suggest that when weed suppression is the sole objective, farmers are more likely to achieve better results planting the most weed-suppressive cover crop as a monoculture than a mixture.
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Hmielowski, Tracy. "Diversifying Cover Crop Mixtures." CSA News 62, no. 5 (May 2017): 10–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.2134/csa2017.62.0518.
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Lin, Erika Y., Daniel Rosa, Mehdi Sharifi, Michael J. Noonan, and Miranda Hart. "The Relationship Between Cover Crop Species and Soil Fungal Communities in Irrigated Vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Canada." Agronomy 14, no. 12 (November 28, 2024): 2835. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122835.
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Many techniques adopted by annual crop growers, addressing challenges such as disease, are not viable for perennial systems. Groundcover vegetation can be employed as a natural method for increasing soil health and perennial plant performance; however, cover crop species may differ in the plant–soil feedback effects that modulate the rhizosphere. To investigate the relationship between cover crop identity and soil microbial composition and to determine potential impacts of cover crop species on pathogen occurrence in perennial systems, we characterized the fungal communities in soil sampled from nine cover crop species used for under-vine groundcover at three separate Okanagan vineyards. Soil characteristics, particularly available phosphorus levels, varied significantly among sites, with SuRDC at 39.9 ppm, Covert at 140.1 ppm, and Kalala at 276.2 ppm. Of 1876 fungal species, SuRDC showed lower richness and diversity. A random forest model classified samples by site with 98.4% accuracy (p < 0.001), but cover crop classification was minimal (2.4% accuracy). Phacelia had significantly lower variance in Shannon’s (p = 2.35×10−7) and Simpson’s diversity (p = 3.59×10−12). Crescendo ladino clover had simpler fungal networks than buckwheat, with a negative correlation between fungal species count and co-occurrence affinity across cover crops (p < 0.001). We found that within sites, soil fungal communities did not vary greatly in composition and measures of community structure, regardless of cover crop identity. Nectriaceae were abundant across all samples, suggesting that cover crops may recruit certain fungal pathogens. Soil fungal communities were distinct across sites, indicating that site-specific conditions may play a larger role in shaping soil fungal communities in BC vineyards than cover crop–microbe interactions and that cover crops do not have consistent short-term (<1 year) effects on soil fungi across sites. Altogether, this research encourages careful consideration of both groundcover species and site-specific conditions when using cover crops in perennial agriculture.
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Stamps, Robert H. "Cold Protection of Leatherleaf Fern in Shadehouses Using Water and Crop Covers." HortScience 30, no. 4 (July 1995): 808A—808. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.30.4.808a.
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Six shadehouses were used in tests of irrigation rates and crop covers for cold-protecting leatherleaf fern [Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst) Ching]. Each shadehouse was equipped with two irrigation systems—one over-the-crop to supply heat and one over-the-shadehouse to supply water for sealing the openings in the shade fabric with ice. The over-the-crop irrigation system consisted of frost protection wedge-drive impact sprinklers providing water application rates of 0.30, 0.56, and 0.76 cm/h. Six-m × 9-m spunbonded polypropylene crop covers weighing 20 and 51 g·m–2 were tested. During radiation freezes, all water application rates protected immature fronds from damage. Damage during advective freezes decreased with increasing water application rate, but, even when crop covers were used in conjunction with irrigation, some damage still occurred. Temperatures under the lighter-weight cover were higher than under the heavier-weight one, probably because more water passed through the lighter cover to the crop. Water application rates had no effect on frond yield.
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Price, Duzy, McElroy, and Li. "Evaluation of Organic Spring Cover Crop Termination Practices to Enhance Rolling/Crimping." Agronomy 9, no. 9 (September 6, 2019): 519. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9090519.
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With organic farming hectarage and cover crop interest increasing throughout the United States, effectively timed cover crop termination practices are needed that can be utilized in organic conservation tillage production systems. Four commercially available termination treatments approved by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) were evaluated, immediately following mechanical termination with a cover crop roller/crimper and compared to a synthetic herbicide termination to access termination rates. Treatments included rolling/crimping followed by (1) 20% vinegar solution (28 L a.i. ha−1 acetic acid), (2) 2.5 L a.i. ha−1 45% cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum L.) oil (cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, eugenol acetate)/45% clove oil (eugenol, acetyl eugenol, caryophyllene) mixture, (3) 0.15 mm clear polyethylene sheeting applied with edges manually tucked into the soil for 28 days over the entire plot area (clear plastic), (4) broadcast flame emitting 1100 °C applied at 1.2 k/h (flame), (5) glyphosate applied at 1.12 kg a.i. ha−1 (this non-OMRI-approved, non-organic conservation tillage cover crop termination standard practice was included to help ascertain desiccation, regrowth, and economics), and (6) a non-treated control. Five cover crop species were evaluated: (1) hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), (2) crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), (3) cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), (4) Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.), and (5) rape (Brassica napus L.). Three termination timings occurred at four-week intervals beginning mid-March each year. In April or May, organic producers are most likely to be successful using a roller crimper as either a broadcast flamer for terminating all winter covers evaluated, or utilizing clear plastic for hairy vetch, winter peas, and cereal rye. Ineffectiveness and regrowth concerns following cover crop termination in March are substantial. Commercially available vinegar and cinnamon/clove oil solutions provided little predictable termination, and producers attempting to use these OMRI-approved products will likely resort to cover crop incorporation, or mowing, to terminate covers if no other practice is readily available.
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Foote, William, Keith Edmisten, Randy Wells, and David Jordan. "Defoliant Effects on Cover Crop Germination, Cover Crop Growth, and subsequent Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) Development." Journal of Cotton Science 19, no. 2 (July 2015): 258–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.56454/pgwo8320.
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The price of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has increased to the point where it may be cost effective to grow winter legume cover crops as a sole source of nitrogen for a subsequent cotton crop in North Carolina. Establishing these cover crops is critical to the success of this strategy. In order to optimize legume cover crop establishment, cotton producers may have to overseed legumes into cotton that has or will be sprayed with cotton harvest aids, which may interfere with legume germination and growth. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the effects of commonly used cotton harvest aids on legume germination and growth. This was followed by a field study to determine the optimum time to overseed legume cover crops in cotton, to determine the effects of cotton defoliants on legume establishment in the field, and to determine the effects of cover crop species and overseeding timing on cotton growth and yield in a field in which N was not depleted. Cotton defoliants containing thidiazuron plus diuron reduced greenhouse legume germination and growth more than any other cotton harvest aid tested; however, field studies indicate that cover crop germination and cover crop dry weight are not affected by thidiazuron plus diuron. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.) positively affected cotton yield equally. However, timing of cover crop overseeding played an important role in cover crop germination, accumulated biomass, and lint yield. We observed that overseeding legumes 14 days prior to defoliation resulted in the highest cover crop dry weight and cotton yield.
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Christoph, Kunz, Sturm Dominic J, Sökefeld Markus, and Gerhards Roland. "Weed suppression and early sugar beet development under different cover crop mulches." Plant Protection Science 53, No. 3 (June 25, 2017): 187–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/109/2016-pps.
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Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 to investigate the weed suppressive ability of cover crop mulches in sugar beets. Three cover crops and two cover crop mixtures were tested in all four experiments. Weed densities ranged from 2 up to 210 plants/m<sup>2</sup> in Chenopodium album L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill. as predominant species. Sinapis alba grew significantly faster than Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus var. niger, and both cover crop mixtures. Sinapis alba, Vicia sativa, Raphanus sativus var. niger reduced weed density by 57, 22, and 15% across all locations, respectively. A mixture of seven different cover crops reduced weed emergence by 64% compared to the control plot without cover crop mulch. Early sugar beet growth was enhanced by all mulch treatments in 2015 and decelerated in 2016.
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Giancotti, Paulo Roberto Fidelis, Mariluce Pascoína Nepomuceno, Juliana de Souza Rodrigues, Micheli Yamauti, José Valcir Fidelis Martins, and Pedro Luís da Costa Aguiar Alves. "Residues of sweet sorghum promotes suppression of weeds in sugarcane rotation." April 2020, no. 14(04):2020 (April 20, 2020): 565–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.21475/ajcs.20.14.04.p1903.
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Sorghum is an important crop to plant in rotation with sugarcane. This is mainly because both are inputs for the ethanol industry. Crop residues of sweet sorghum promote suppression of weed re-infestation, avoiding weed interference to the sugarcane crop due to the strong allelopathic potential of sorghum. In order to determine the suppressive effects of sorghum crop residues on weeds, a field experiment was carried out. Seven vegetation covers were used as options for crop rotation with sugarcane. The treatments were sweet sorghum, velvet bean, sunflower, soybean, sugar cane, fallow, and an area without cover. The experiment was randomized blocks with four replications of 27 m2 plots. The weed community of each plot was evaluated by phytosociological indexes at 60 and 120 days after the formation of vegetation cover. The composition of soil seed bank was also evaluated. The weeds with the highest indexes of relative importance during the evaluations were Cyperus rotundus, Raphanus raphanistrum and Parthenium hysterophorus. The diversity of the weed community, estimated by relative importance indexes, was lower in the area with velvet bean as soil cover. Sorghum, velvet bean and sunn hemp covers reduced the soil seed bank compared to the fallow treatment and the treatment without vegetation cover. Crop residues of sweet sorghum and velvet bean provide a decrease in weed infestation in field, and the weed suppression period can last up to 120 days during the dry season.
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Stamps, Robert H. "Cold Protection of Leatherleaf Fern Using Crop Covers and Overhead Irrigation in Shadehouses." HortScience 26, no. 7 (July 1991): 862–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.26.7.862.
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Four spunbonded crop covers were evaluated for use with and without irrigation for cold protection of leatherleaf fern [Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst.) Ching]. Heavier and less porous covers provided the most protection when used without over-the-crop irrigation. However, differences in cover weight and porosity did not affect temperatures under covers when over-the-crop irrigation was applied. Damage to immature fronds was decreased by 75% to 99% when the covers were used alone and by 98% to 99% when the covers were used with over-the-crop irrigation. Covers had no effect on frond vase life.
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Marcillo, Guillermo S., Steven Mirsky, Aurelie Poncet, Chris Reberg‐Horton, Dennis Timlin, Harry Schomberg, and Paula Ramos. "Using statistical learning algorithms to predict cover crop biomass and cover crop nitrogen content." Agronomy Journal 112, no. 6 (October 25, 2020): 4898–913. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20429.
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Carabajal-Capitán, Sara, Andrew R. Kniss, and Randa Jabbour. "Seed Predation of Interseeded Cover Crops and Resulting Impacts on Ground Beetles." Environmental Entomology 50, no. 4 (April 12, 2021): 832–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvab026.
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Abstract Interseeding cover crops into standing grains can promote both agronomic and environmental benefits within agroecosystems. Producers must decide which cover crops are the best fit for their goals, and whether diverse cover crop mixtures provide benefits that are worth the increased seed cost. Broadcast seeding is an accessible strategy to try interseeding but can lead to patchy establishment; it is unknown how much seed loss is due to seed predators. In a two-year study, six cover crop species—planted as either single species or mixtures—were interseeded into standing corn. We evaluated seed predation at the time of seeding, agronomic impact through cover crop, and weedy biomass at the end of the season, and conservation impact through activity-density of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Cover crop seeds were vulnerable to seed predation, primarily by vertebrate seed predators, and seed loss varied across cover crop species. Cover crop biomass did not differ according to cover crop diversity and weedy biomass was not affected by cover crop presence or species. Cover crop diversity effects on carabid activity-density were inconsistent: carabids were higher in diverse mixtures in 1 year of the study, but only predicted by vegetative cover, not by cover crop, in the second year. Interseeding cover crops into corn has potential benefits for ground beetles, although the value of mixtures must be further explored.
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Wayman, Sandra, Craig Cogger, Chris Benedict, Ian Burke, Doug Collins, and Andy Bary. "The influence of cover crop variety, termination timing and termination method on mulch, weed cover and soil nitrate in reduced-tillage organic systems." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 30, no. 5 (July 8, 2014): 450–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170514000246.
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AbstractOverwintered cover crops mechanically terminated into mulch can be a weed management tool for reduced-tillage organic agriculture. However, the impacts of management options for cover cropping are not well understood, including cover crop variety, termination timing and termination method. In a field experiment, conducted in 2012 and 2013 in Western Washington, we examined three grains, four vetches and one barley–vetch mix terminated with two mechanical methods and at two different times. We determined the influence of cover crop variety and termination time on cover crop biomass production and tissue nitrogen (N), effectiveness of cover crop termination, soil nitrate–N and percent weed cover. We also determined the influence of termination method on percent weed cover. Cover crop biomass ranged between 3 and 9 Mg ha−1and was not influenced by termination time; the greatest production was from three varieties of grain. Rye varieties were more effectively terminated with a roller–crimper than barley. Mean soil nitrate–N levels ranged from 1.9 to 18 mg kg−1and were the greatest with vetches. Post-termination weed cover was greater in 2013 than in 2012 and the cover crop variety influenced weed cover at the Late termination time only. Neither plant N concentration in the cover crop mulch nor soil nitrate influenced weed cover. The results of this study indicate that cover crop biomass and termination timing are important factors influencing weed cover and termination effectiveness in cover crop mulch.
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Arias-Giraldo, Luis F., Gema Guzmán, Miguel Montes-Borrego, David Gramaje, José A. Gómez, and Blanca B. Landa. "Going Beyond Soil Conservation with the Use of Cover Crops in Mediterranean Sloping Olive Orchards." Agronomy 11, no. 7 (July 9, 2021): 1387. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071387.
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Among the agricultural practices promoted by the Common Agricultural Policy to increase soil functions, the use of cover crops is a recommended tool to improve the sustainability of Mediterranean woody crops such as olive orchards. However, there is a broad range of cover crop typologies in relation to its implementation, control and species composition. In that sense, the influence of different plant species on soil quality indicators in olive orchards remains unknown yet. This study describes the effects of four treatments based on the implementation of different ground covers (CC-GRA: sown cover crop with gramineous, CC-MIX: sown cover crop with a mixture of species and CC-NAT: cover crop with spontaneous vegetation) and conventional tillage (TILL) on soil erosion, soil physicochemical and biological properties after 8 years of cover crop establishment. Our results demonstrated that the presence of a temporary cover crop (CC), compared to a soil under tillage (TILL), can reduce soil losses and maintain good soil physicochemical properties and modify greatly the structure and diversity of soil bacterial communities and its functioning. The presence of a homogeneous CC of gramineous (Lolium rigidum or Lolilum multiflorum) (CC-GR) for 8 years increased the functional properties of the soil as compared to TILL; although the most relevant change was a modification on the bacterial community composition that was clearly different from the rest of treatments. On the other hand, the use of a mixture of plant species (CC-MIX) as a CC for only two years although did not modify greatly the structure and diversity of soil bacterial communities compared to the TILL soil, induced significant changes on the functional properties of the soil and reverted those properties to a level similar to that of an undisturbed soil that had maintained a natural cover of spontaneous vegetation for decades (CC-NAT).
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Acharya, Jyotsna, Thomas B. Moorman, Thomas C. Kaspar, Andrew W. Lenssen, and Alison E. Robertson. "Cover Crop Rotation Effects on Growth and Development, Seedling Disease, and Yield of Corn and Soybean." Plant Disease 104, no. 3 (March 2020): 677–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/pdis-09-19-1904-re.
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The effects of winter cover crops on root disease and growth of corn and soybeans are poorly understood. A 3-year field experiment investigated the effect of winter cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and winter camelina (Camelina sativa [L.] Crantz), used either in all three years or in rotation with each other, on corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max. [L.] Merr.) growth, root disease, and yield. Corn following a cover crop of camelina had reduced root disease, a lower Pythium population in seedling roots, and greater growth and yields compared with corn following a rye cover crop. Camelina and rye cover crops before soybean had either a positive or no effect on soybean growth and development, root disease, and yield. Moreover, Pythium clade B populations were greater in corn seedlings after a rye cover crop compared with those following a camelina cover crop, whereas clade F populations were greater on soybean seedlings following a camelina cover crop compared with seedlings following a rye cover crop. A winter camelina cover crop grown before corn had less-negative effects on corn seedling growth, root disease, and final yield than a winter rye cover crop before corn. Neither cover crop had negative effects on soybean, and the cover crop in the preceding spring had no measurable effects on either corn or soybean.
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Baxter, Lisa L., Charles P. West, C. Philip Brown, and Paul E. Green. "Cover Crop Management on the Southern High Plains: Impacts on Crop Productivity and Soil Water Depletion." Animals 11, no. 1 (January 16, 2021): 212. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11010212.
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The imminent depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer demands innovative cropping alternatives. Even though the benefits of cover crops are well recognized, adoption has been slow in the Southern High Plains (SHP) of the United States because of concerns that cover crops withdraw soil water to the detriment of the summer crops. This small plot experiment tested the interacting effects—production, soil water depletion of the cover crops, and subsequent teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] summer hay crops—of irrigation and tillage management with five cover crop types to identify low-risk cover crop practices in the drought-prone SHP. Dryland rye (Secale cereale L.) produced modest forage biomass (>1000 kg ha−1), even in a dry year, but it was found that light irrigation should be used to ensure adequate forage supply (>1200 kg ha−1) if winter grazing is desired. No-till management and timely termination of the winter cover crops were crucial to reducing the negative impact of winter crops on summer teff production. The results indicated no detriment to soil water content that was attributable to planting no-till cover crops compared with the conventional practice of winter fallow. Therefore, producers could take advantage of the soil-conserving attributes of high-quality winter forage cover crops without experiencing significant soil water depletion.
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Acharya, Ram N., Rajan Ghimire, Apar GC, and Don Blayney. "Effect of Cover Crop on Farm Profitability and Risk in the Southern High Plains." Sustainability 11, no. 24 (December 12, 2019): 7119. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su11247119.
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Cover cropping has been promoted for improving soil health and environmental quality in the southern High Plains (SHP) region of the United States. The SHP is one of the more productive areas of the country and covers a large landmass, including parts of Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. This region faces challenges in sustainable crop production due to declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, the primary source of water for irrigated crop production. This study examines the impact of integrating cover crops in the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L)-based rotations on farm profitability and risk in the SHP. The study combines experimental yield data with other secondary information, including market prices, to conduct simulation analysis and evaluate the risk involved in introducing cover crops in a wheat-fallow cropping system. The results show that, due to the additional monetary costs involved, none of the cover crop options is economically viable. However, when secondary benefits (erosion control and green nitrogen) or government subsidies are included in the analysis, one of the cover crop options (peas) dominates the fallow alternative. Moreover, when the secondary benefits and a government subsidy are combined, two cover crop alternatives (peas and oats) emerge as more profitable options than leaving land fallow. These results highlight the importance of agricultural research and extension programs that are making a concerted effort to develop more productive farming techniques and increase public awareness about the long-term benefits of adopting soil health management systems such as cover cropping in the SHP region.
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Davis, Adam S. "Cover-Crop Roller–Crimper Contributes to Weed Management in No-Till Soybean." Weed Science 58, no. 3 (September 2010): 300–309. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/ws-d-09-00040.1.
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Termination of cover crops prior to no-till planting of soybean is typically accomplished with burndown herbicides. Recent advances in cover-crop roller–crimper design offer the possibility of reliable physical termination of cover crops without tillage. A field study within a no-till soybean production system was conducted in Urbana, IL, from 2004 through 2007 to quantify the effects of cover crop (cereal rye, hairy vetch, or bare soil control), termination method (chemical burndown or roller–crimper), and postemergence glyphosate application rate (0, 1.1, or 2.2 kg ae ha−1) on soybean yield components, weed–crop interference, and soil environmental variables. Biomass of weeds surviving management within a soybean crop following either a vetch or rye cover crop was reduced by 26 and 56%, respectively, in the rolled system compared to the burndown system. Soybean yield loss due to weed interference was unaffected by cover-crop termination method in soybean following a rye cover crop, but was higher in the rolled than burndown treatment in both hairy vetch and bare soil treatments. In soybean following a rye cover crop, regardless of termination method, yield loss to weed interference was unaffected by glyphosate rate, whereas in soybean following a vetch cover crop or bare soil, yield loss decreased with glyphosate rate. Variation in soybean yield among cover crops and cover-crop termination treatments was due largely to differences in soybean establishment, rather than differences in the soil environment. Use of a roller–crimper to terminate a cover crop preceding no-till soybean has the potential to achieve similar yields to those obtained in a chemically terminated cover crop while reducing residual weed biomass.
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Kruse, Raymond, and Ajay Nair. "Summer Cover Crops and Lettuce Planting Time Influence Weed Population, Soil Nitrogen Concentration, and Lettuce Yields." HortTechnology 26, no. 4 (August 2016): 409–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/horttech.26.4.409.
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Cover crops can be used as a sustainable weed management tool in crop production systems. Cover crops have the ability to suppress weeds, reduce soil erosion, increase soil organic matter, and improve soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. In the north-central region of the United States, including Iowa, much cover crop research has been conducted in row crop systems, mainly with corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) where cover crops are planted at the end of the growing season in September or October. There is little information available on the use of cover crops in vegetable cropping systems, particularly on the use of summer cover crops for fall vegetable production. The choice of the cover crop will significantly impact the entire fall vegetable production enterprise. Vegetable growers need information to identify the right cover crop for a particular slot in the cropping system and to understand how cover crops would affect weed suppression, soil properties, and successive vegetable crop yield. The time interval between cover crop termination and vegetable planting critically affects the growth and successive yield of the vegetable crop. This study investigated how short-duration summer cover crops impact weed suppression, soil properties, and ‘Adriana’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa) yield. The study also examined appropriate planting times of lettuce transplants after soil incorporation of cover crops. The experimental design was a randomized complete block split-plot design with four replications. Whole plots consisted of cover crop treatments: ‘Mancan’ buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), ‘Iron & Clay’ cowpea/southernpea (Vigna unguiculata), black oats (Avena strigosa), ‘Grazex II’ sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor ssp. drummondii), and a control (no-cover crop) where weeds were left to grow unchecked. The subplot treatment consisted of two lettuce transplanting times: planted immediately or 8 days after cover crop soil incorporation. Fall-planted butterhead lettuce was used. Data were collected on cover crop biomass, weed biomass, soil nutrient concentration, lettuce growth, and yield. All cover crops significantly reduced weed biomass during the fallow period as compared with the control treatment. Highest degree of weed suppression (90% as compared with the no-cover crop control treatment) was provided by buckwheat. Southernpea, a legume, increased soil nitrogen (N) concentration and contributed to higher lettuce yield and improved quality. Southernpea also enhanced lettuce growth and led to an earlier harvest than other treatments. Sorghum-sudangrass showed evidence of detrimental effects to the marketable lettuce crop. This was not due to N immobilization but presumably due to alleopathic properties. There is no clear pattern within any cover crop treatment that lettuce planting time following cover crop termination affects plant growth; however, planting early or soon after cover crop incorporation ensures more growing degree days and daylight, thus leading to timely harvest of a higher quality product. This study demonstrates that cover crops can successfully be integrated into vegetable cropping systems; however, cover crop selection is critical.
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SaadatGhaleh joogh, Seyedeh Azaam, Ahmad Tobeh, Abdolghayoum Golipori, and Mehran Ochi. "Management of cover crops of cold cereal, on total fresh weight, total dry weight weed, yield and yield components peppermint." Journal of Research in Science, Engineering and Technology 4, no. 01 (September 13, 2019): 31–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jrset.vol4iss01pp31-36.
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To study the effect of cover crop and how manage cover crop an experiment was conducted in Agricultural Research Center of University of Mohaghegh Ardabili , the experiment was factorial based on complete randomized block design with three replications. winter cover crops and spring cover crops as the main factor with six levels( winter wheat, spring wheat, winter barley , spring barley, winter rye, winter rye+ winter barley) and how manage cover crop with three levels (living mulch, heading mulch, mulch with herbicide) as a second factor. For comparison, two controls (without cover crop with weeding weeds and without cover crop without weeding weeds) was aside experiments. The results showed that main effect of type cover crop on the number of branches, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight of peppermint and also the total dry weight of weeds and at the first stage of sampling, Had a significant impact. The main effect of management was significant for all traits measured. However, the interaction of cover crop in how management cover crop were not significant. Winter wheat highest number of branches, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight of peppermint, relative to other levels of cover crops. In the first stage sampling is obtained by winter rye, the lowest total weed weight relative to other levels. Spring barley, winter rye the lowest total weed dry matter to create than other cover crop. All three methods to manage of cover crops the most affected by weeds dry weight compared to control. (no weeding and no cover crop weed)
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Haruna, Samuel I., and Nsalambi V. Nkongolo. "Influence of Cover Crop, Tillage, and Crop Rotation Management on Soil Nutrients." Agriculture 10, no. 6 (June 11, 2020): 225. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10060225.
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Cover cropping, tillage and crop rotation management can influence soil nutrient availability and crop yield through changes in soil physical, chemical and biological processes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three years of cover crop, tillage, and crop rotation on selected soil nutrients. Twenty-four plots each of corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) were established on a 4.05 ha field and arranged in a three-factor factorial design. The three factors (treatments) were two methods of tillage (no-tillage (NT) vs. moldboard plow [conventional] tillage (CT)), two types of cover crop (no cover crop (NC) vs. cover crop (CC)) and four typess of rotation (continuous corn, continuous soybean, corn/soybean and soybean/corn). Soil samples were taken each year at four different depths in each plot; 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm, and analyzed for soil nutrients: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (NO3 and NH4), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu). The results in the first year showed that CT increased NO3-N availability by 40% compared with NT. In the second year, NH4-N was 8% lower under CC compared with NC management. In the third year, P was 12% greater under CC management compared with NC management. Thus, CC can enhance crop production systems by increasing P availability and scavenging excess NH4-N from the soil, but longer-term studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects.
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Gaskin, Julia W., Miguel L. Cabrera, David E. Kissel, and Richard Hitchcock. "Using the cover crop N calculator for adaptive nitrogen fertilizer management: a proof of concept." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 35, no. 5 (May 8, 2019): 550–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170519000152.
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AbstractLegume cover crops can supply a significant amount of nitrogen (N) for cash crops, which is particularly important for organic farmers. Because N mineralization from cover crop residue depends on the amount of biomass, cover crop quality, as well as environmental conditions such as soil moisture and temperature, predicting the amount of N mineralized and the timing of release has been difficult. We have developed a Cover Crop Nitrogen Calculator based on the N subroutine of the CERES crop model and evaluated the use of the predicted N credits on yields of fall broccoli [Brassica oleracea L. (Italica group)] at a research farm and two working farms. Research farm trials consisted of a cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) cover crop and no cover crop treatments, each at four N rates (0N, 0.5N, 1N and 1.5N, with 1N the target N rate of 112 kg N ha−1 in 2013 and 168 kg N ha−1 in 2014 and 2015) in a randomized complete block design. On-farm trials consisted of a cowpea or sunn hemp (Crotolaria juncea L.) cover crop at four N rates (0N, 0.5N, 1N and 1.5N) and no cover crop treatment at the 1N rate in a completely randomized design. Cover crop biomass and quality (N%, carbohydrates%, cellulose% and lignin%) were measured and used with a 5-yr average soil moisture and soil temperature from a local weather station to predict an N credit. In the cover crop treatments, the N rate was modified by the predicted credit, while the no cover crop treatment received the full N fertilizer rate either as feathermeal (certified organic fields) or as urea (conventional field). At the research farm, broccoli yield increased up to the 0.5N rate, and there was no difference in yield between the no cover 0.5N rate and the cover crop 0.5N rate in 2013, 2014 and 2105. On-farm, we saw an N response in two site-years. In these site-years, there was no difference between the no cover 1N rate and the cover crop 1N rate. At the third site-year, no N response was seen. Overall, our results showed using the cover crop credit predicted by the Calculator did not reduce yields. The use of a decision support tool such as the Calculator may help farmers better manage N fertilizer when cover crops are used, and increase cover crop adoption.
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Majchrzak, Leszek, Tomasz Piechota, and Tomasz Piskier. "Energy Input on Cover Crop Cultivation." Agricultural Engineering 21, no. 4 (December 1, 2017): 65–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/agriceng-2017-0037.
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AbstractThe research was carried out in 2015-2016 at the Research Station Brody belonging to Poznan University of Life Sciences. The experiment was assumed with blocks randomized in four replications. The aim of the study was to determine the size and structure of energy inputs incurred on cover crops cultivation in different soil tillage systems. The cumulative energy consumption methodology was used to analyse the energy expenditure on field pea and white mustard seed. Based on the research, it was found that sowing field pea as a cover crop as compared to white mustard increased the cumulative energy input by 63.2%. Applied sowing technologies, regardless of cover crop species, reduced cumulative energy use by 22.5% (strip tillage) and direct sowing by 40.7% as compared to traditional tillage. The structure of energy input depended on the type of used cover crop species, which was based on the energy value of the seed used. The value of the energy efficiency index for growing both cover crop species increased with the simplification of the tillage.
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Klopp, Hans W. "Effects of Interseeding Cover Crops into Corn and Soybean on Biomass Production, Grain Yields and Ecosystem Services: A Review." Agronomy 14, no. 6 (June 6, 2024): 1229. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061229.
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Planting cover crops can improve soil health and help to sustain agricultural crop yields. In northern climates where corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) are grown, cover crop biomass production can be low. This has led to people investigating the potential of interseeding cover crops into the growing main crop. This paper sought to determine biomass production and the benefit to grain yields, weed control and soil properties from interseeding cover crops into corn and soybean. This review included 70 studies published prior to 15 March 2024. Interseeded cover crops that were winter-hardy such as cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) produced more biomass in the spring (1.04 Mg ha−1 average biomass production) than any of the interseeded cover crops did in fall (0.35 Mg ha−1 average biomass production), primarily at crop row spacings of 76 cm. Factors that affected cover crop biomass production were crop stage, planting method, tillage practice, irrigation and row spacing. There was not a consistent widely planted cover crop species that produced the most biomass. Interseeded cover crops reduced weed biomass by 46% compared to weed control and generally did not affect crop grain yields when planted after V4 crop stage. Interseeded cover crops reduced soil nitrate concentration but generally did not affect other soil properties including soil water content. However, most of these studies planted cover crops at the same site for less than three years. Early interseeded cover crops generally did not perform better than interseeded winter-hardy cover crops planted around crop physiological maturity.
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Sugai, Jun, Naoya Takashima, Koki Muto, Takatoki Kaku, Honoka Nakayama, Naomi Asagi, and Masakazu Komatsuzaki. "Effects of Cover Crops on Soil Inorganic Nitrogen and Organic Carbon Dynamics in Paddy Fields." Agriculture 14, no. 12 (December 23, 2024): 2365. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122365.
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Rice is a staple food in Asia, and its impact on the environment is considerable, such as chemical input concerns. Organic rice farming represents an alternative approach to reducing environmental concerns throughout rice production. However, the precise nutrient management to optimize organic rice production while recovering soil residual nitrogen (N) for the subsequent crops remains unclear. This study aims to: (1) assess nutrient recovery in soil cultivated with cover crops, including Italian ryegrass and hairy vetch, and (2) investigate the optimization of nutrient management in organic rice farming using cover crops. An experiment was conducted in a paddy field adopting cover crop plots and fallow (FA) plots in four replicates each from 2021 to 2023. In addition, incubation studies were conducted in 2021 and 2022. The incubation study included various treatments: (1) soil from cover crop or FA plots, (2) with or without cover crop residues, (3) with or without weed input (2021). In 2022, fertilizer input replaced weed input. The field study indicated cover crop biomass was larger than that of weeds. Furthermore, it can determine cover crops have more recyclable plant N compared to weeds when incorporated into the soil. In contrast, there was no noticeable difference in soil inorganic N and soil total organic carbon (C) contents between cover crop and FA plots at the 0–90 cm depth. In the incubation study, we found the soil of cover crop plots and cover crop input show less inorganic N than the soil of FA plots and cover crop input during the incubation period. However, the soil of the cover crop plots and cover crop input showed a high inorganic N content after setting the flooded condition. It indicates the soil of cover crop plots, and cover crop input provides N to the soil for a longer period. Overall, our results show that winter cover crop application in paddy fields contributes to N recovery and helps maintain soil fertility. Specifically, the occasional cultivation of a combination of Italian ryegrass and hairy vetch as winter cover crops can contribute to reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. This practice also promotes sustainable rice farming in paddy fields.
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Locke, Martin A., Robert M. Zablotowicz, Philip J. Bauer, R. Wade Steinriede, and Lewis A. Gaston. "Conservation cotton production in the southern United States: herbicide dissipation in soil and cover crops." Weed Science 53, no. 5 (October 2005): 717–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/ws-04-174r1.1.
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Soil and surface residues from cotton field studies in Stoneville, MS (1994 through 1996) and Florence, SC (1995 through 1996) were sampled to evaluate effects of cover crop and tillage on herbicide dissipation. Mississippi treatments included tillage (conventional [CT]; none [NT]) and cover crop (ryegrass; none [NC]). South Carolina treatments included tillage (CT; reduced tillage [RT]) and cover crop (rye; NC). Fluometuron was applied preemergence (PRE) in both Mississippi and South Carolina, and norflurazon was applied PRE in Mississippi. Soils were sampled various times during the growing season (depths: 0 to 2 cm, 2 to 10 cm). Cover crop residues were sampled from RT or NT cover crop areas. Soil and cover crop sample extracts were analyzed for herbicides. Soil organic carbon tended to increase with tillage reduction and presence of cover crop and was positively correlated with herbicide sorption, especially in the surface. Across locations, herbicide half-lives ranged from 7 to 15 d in the soil surface. Tillage had mixed effects on herbicide persistence in surface soil, with higher herbicide concentrations in CT at early samplings, but differences were insignificant later on. The most consistent effects were observed in RT/NT with cover crops, where cover crop residues intercepted applied herbicide, impeding subsequent movement into soil. Herbicide dissipation in cover crop residues was often more rapid than in soil, with half-lives from 3 to 11 d. Herbicide retention in cover crop residues and rapid dissipation were attributed to strong herbicide affinity to cover crop residues (e.g., fluometuron Kd= 7.1 [in rye]; Kd= 1.65 [in Mississippi Dundee soil CT, NC]) and herbicide co-metabolism as cover crop residues decomposed. A fluometuron metabolite, desmethyl-fluometuron, was observed in most soil and cover crop samples after 1 wk. Only minimal herbicide or metabolite moved into the subsurface, and little treatment effect could be ascribed to herbicide or metabolite movement below 2 cm.
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Vincent-Caboud, Laura, Léa Vereecke, Erin Silva, and Joséphine Peigné. "Cover Crop Effectiveness Varies in Cover Crop-Based Rotational Tillage Organic Soybean Systems Depending on Species and Environment." Agronomy 9, no. 6 (June 18, 2019): 319. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9060319.
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Organic farming relies heavily on tillage for weed management, however, intensive soil disturbance can have detrimental impacts on soil quality. Cover crop-based rotational tillage (CCBRT), a practice that reduces the need for tillage and cultivation through the creation of cover crop mulches, has emerged as an alternative weed management practice in organic cropping systems. In this study, CCBRT systems using cereal rye and triticale grain species are evaluated with organic soybean directly seeded into a rolled cover crop. Cover crop biomass, weed biomass, and soybean yields were evaluated to assess the effects of cereal rye and winter triticale cover crops on weed suppression and yields. From 2016 to 2018, trials were conducted at six locations in Wisconsin, USA, and Southern France. While cover crop biomass did not differ among the cereal grain species tested, the use of cereal rye as the cover crop resulted in higher soybean yields (2.7 t ha−1 vs. 2.2 t ha−1) and greater weed suppression, both at soybean emergence (231 vs. 577 kg ha−1 of weed biomass) and just prior to soybean harvest (1178 vs. 1545 kg ha−1). On four out of six sites, cover crop biomass was lower than the reported optimal (<8000 kg ha−1) needed to suppress weeds throughout soybean season. Environmental conditions, in tandem with agronomic decisions (e.g., seeding dates, cultivar, planters, etc.), influenced the ability of the cover crop to suppress weeds regardless of the species used. In a changing climate, future research should focus on establishing flexible decision support tools based on multi-tactic cover crop management to ensure more consistent results with respect to cover crop growth, weed suppression, and crop yields.
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Dominic J, Sturm, Kunz Christoph, Peteinatos Gerassimos, and Gerhards Roland. "Do cover crop sowing date and fertilization affect field weed suppression?" Plant, Soil and Environment 63, No. 2 (March 7, 2017): 82–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/1/2017-pse.
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The weed suppressive ability of oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus var. oleiformis Pers.) cover crop is attributed to high competitiveness for resources and biochemical effects on weeds. The oilseed radish cover crop was sown in five treatments plus an untreated control over a period of five weeks before and three weeks after winter wheat harvest. Additionally, fertilization effects on oilseed radish biomass and weed suppression were measured. The highest biomass of the cover crop was observed 12 weeks after harvest (WAH) when the oilseed radish was sown one week after harvest (1 WAH) (2015) and five weeks before harvest (5 WBH) (2016). No differences of fertilization were observed concerning oilseed radish and weed biomass in 2015, whereby increased biomass was found after fertilization in 2016. The highest weed control efficacy of up to 83% and 90% was achieved in treatments 1 WAH (2015) and 5 WBH (2016) at 12 WAH. The early sowing of oilseed radish in winter wheat resulted in low germination and biomass yield within the field, due to low precipitation in 2015. Nevertheless, there is a high potential of early sown oilseed radish for higher weed control efficacy, which was demonstrated in 2016.
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Kandel, Hans J., Dulan P. Samarappuli, Kory L. Johnson, and Marisol T. Berti. "Soybean Relative Maturity, Not Row Spacing, Affected Interseeded Cover Crops Biomass." Agriculture 11, no. 5 (May 13, 2021): 441. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11050441.
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Adoption of cover crop interseeding in the northwestern Corn Belt in the USA is limited due to inadequate fall moisture for establishment, short growing season, additional costs, and need for adapted winter-hardy species. This study evaluated three cover crop treatments—no cover crop, winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and winter camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz)—which were interseeded at the R6 soybean growth stage, using two different soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) maturity groups (0.5 vs. 0.9) and two row spacings (30.5 vs. 61 cm). The objective was to evaluate these treatments on cover crop biomass, soil cover, plant density, and soybean yield. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield was also measured the following year. The early-maturing soybean cultivar (0.5 maturity) resulted in increased cover crop biomass and soil cover, with winter rye outperforming winter camelina. However, the early-maturing soybean yielded 2308 kg·ha−1, significantly less compared with the later maturing cultivar (2445 kg·ha−1). Narrow row spacing had higher soybean yield, but row spacing did not affect cover crop growth. Spring wheat should not follow winter rye if rye is terminated right before seeding the wheat. However, wheat planted after winter camelina was no different than when no cover crop was interseeded in soybean. Interseeding cover crops into established soybean is possible, however, cover crop biomass accumulation and soil cover are limited.
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Christianson, Reid, Jordan Fox, Neely Law, and Carol Wong. "Effectiveness of Cover Crops for Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Areas." Transactions of the ASABE 64, no. 3 (2021): 1007–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.13031/trans.14028.
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HighlightsNitrogen loss reduction due to a cover crop tends to improve with increased cover crop biomass production.Mixed phosphorus loss reduction results in cold climates where freeze-thaw cycles occur and can increase dissolved phosphorus losses.Cereal rye was the primary cover crop studied and tended to provide the most water quality benefits.Abstract. Mitigating nutrient losses from agricultural fields retains these nutrients for subsequent crop production and reduces the risk to downstream water quality. This study evaluated the impact of cover crops, as part of an annual cropping system, on reducing nutrient losses and enhancing water quality. Cover crop literature focusing on water quality was reviewed to determine important factors regarding cover crop performance and cost. Results show that a grass-based cover crop and mixes with grasses tend to increase nitrate loss reduction (40%) compared to legumes (negligible). Biomass growth was also important, with early seeding or growth of a cover crop in areas with increased growing degree days enhancing performance. For phosphorus loss, benefits did not necessarily increase with increasing biomass. Further, dissolved phosphorus concentrations may increase due to freeze-thaw cycles (23%), although overall dissolved phosphorus losses tend to decrease due to less runoff (34%). Cover crop implementation costs ranged from a savings of $25 to $44 ha-1 year-1 before soybeans and corn, respectively, when implementing a cover crop for five straight years to a cost of $193 ha-1 year-1. Including a cover crop in annual crop rotations with adequate time in the fall for germination and growth can reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses from production agriculture to help meet water quality goals across the U.S. Keywords: Catch crop, Nitrogen, NRCS, Phosphorus, Practice Code 340, USDA, Water quality.
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Cai, Zhen, Ranjith P. Udawatta, Clark J. Gantzer, Shibu Jose, Larry Godsey, and Lauren Cartwright. "Economic Impacts of Cover Crops for a Missouri Wheat–Corn–Soybean Rotation." Agriculture 9, no. 4 (April 24, 2019): 83. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9040083.
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In the United States, agricultural production using row-crop farming has reduced crop diversity. Repeated growing of the same crop in a field reduces soil productivity and increases pests, disease infestations, and weed growth. These negative effects can be mitigated by rotating cash crops with cover crops. Cover crops can improve soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, provide ground cover, and sequester soil carbon. This study examines the economic profitability for a four-year wheat–corn–soybean study with cover crops by conducting a field experiment involving a control (without cover crops) at the Soil Health Farm in Chariton County, MO, USA. Our findings suggested that economic profitability of the cash crop is negatively affected by the cover crop during the first two years but were positive in the fourth year. The rotation with cover crops obtained the same profit as in the control group if revenue from the cash crop increased by 35% or the cost of the cover crop decreased by 26% in the first year, depending on the cost of seeding the cover crop and terminating it. This study provides insights for policymakers on ways to improve the economic efficiency of cost-share conservation programs.
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Oliveira, Maxwel C., Liberty Butts, and Rodrigo Werle. "Assessment of Cover Crop Management Strategies in Nebraska, US." Agriculture 9, no. 6 (June 14, 2019): 124. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture9060124.
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Adoption of cover crops has the potential to increase agricultural sustainability in the US and beyond. In 2017, a survey was conducted with Nebraska stakeholders in an attempt to evaluate current cover crop management strategies adopted in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), field corn (Zea mays L.), and seed corn production. Eighty-two Nebraska stakeholders answered the survey, of which 80% identified themselves as growers. Eighty-seven percent of respondents manage cover crops, and the average cover crop ha planted on a per farm basis is 32%. The primary method of establishing cover crops following soybeans and field corn is drilling. In seed corn, interseeding is the main seeding strategy for cover crop establishment. Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) appeared as the most adopted cover crop species (either alone or in mixtures with radish [Raphanus sativus L.] or hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth]). Over 95% of respondents utilize herbicides for cover crop termination in the spring before crop planting. Glyphosate is used by 100% of survey respondents that use herbicides for cover crop termination. The major observed impacts of incorporating cover crops into a production system according to survey respondents are reduced soil erosion and weed suppression. According to 93% of respondents, cover crops improve weed control by suppressing winter and/or summer annual weed species. The biggest challenge reported by cover crop adopters is planting and establishing a decent stand before winter. According to the results of this survey, there are different management strategies, positive outcomes, and challenges that accompany cover crop adoption in Nebraska. These results will help growers, agronomists, and researchers better guide cover crop adoption, management, and future research and education needs in Nebraska and beyond.
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FRANCIS, G. S., K. M. BARTLEY, and F. J. TABLEY. "The effect of winter cover crop management on nitrate leaching losses and crop growth." Journal of Agricultural Science 131, no. 3 (November 1998): 299–308. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859698005899.
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Two field experiments in Canterbury, New Zealand, were conducted during 1993–95 following the ploughing of temporary pasture leys. These experiments investigated the effects of cover crop management on the accumulation of soil mineral N and nitrate leaching during winter, and the growth and N uptake of the following spring cereal crop. The cover crops used were ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.), mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum).Ploughing of temporary pasture in autumn (March) resulted in extensive net N mineralization of organic N by the start of winter (June). In fallow soil, mineral N in the profile in June ranged from 98 kg N/ha in 1993 to 128 kg N/ha in 1994. When cover crops were established early in the autumn (March) in 1993, both the above-ground dry matter production (1440–3108 kg DM/ha) and its N content (50–71 kg N/ha) were substantial by the start of winter. In 1994, establishment of cover crops one month later (April) resulted in very little dry matter production and N uptake by June. In both years, compared with fallow soil, winter wheat planted in May had little effect on soil mineral N content by the start of winter.Compared with fallow, cover crops had little effect on soil drainage over winter. Cumulative nitrate leaching losses from fallow soil were much smaller in 1993 (23 kg N/ha) than in 1994 (49 kg N/ha), mainly due to differences in rainfall distribution. Cover crops reduced cumulative nitrate leaching losses in 1993 to 1–5 kg N/ha and in 1994 to 22–30 kg N/ha. When cover crops were grazed, soil mineral N contents were increased due to the return of ingested plant N to urine patch areas of soil. Elevated soil mineral N contents under grazing persisted throughout the winter. Grazing had little effect on cumulative nitrate leaching losses, mainly because of the small amount of drainage that occurred after grazing in either year.Compared with fallow, incorporation of large amounts of non-leguminous above ground dry matter depressed the yield and N uptake of the following spring-sown cereal crop. Where cover crops were grazed, yields of the following cereal crops were similar to those for soil fallow over the winter.
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Sorensen, Ronald B., Timothy B. Brenneman, and Marshall C. Lamb. "Peanut Yield Response to Conservation Tillage, Winter Cover Crop, Peanut Cultivar, and Fungicide Applications1." Peanut Science 37, no. 1 (January 1, 2010): 44–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.3146/ps08-004.1.
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Abstract Strip tillage with various crop covers in peanut (Arachis hypogaea, L.) production has not shown a clear yield advantage over conventional tillage, but has been found to reduce yield losses from some diseases. This study was conducted to determine pod yield and disease incidence between two tillage practices, five winter cover crops, three peanut cultivars, and three fungicide programs. Conventional and strip tillage treatments were implemented on a Greenville sandy loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudults) near Shellman, GA. Five winter cereal grain cover crops (strip tillage) and a no-cover crop treatment were sprayed at recommended (1R), half recommended (0.5R) or untreated (0R) fungicide programs. Within peanut cultivars, leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) intensity decreased as the number of fungicide applications increased; however, stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) incidence was the same for the 1R and 0.5R fungicide programs but increased 0R program. Conventional tilled peanuts developed more leaf spot compared with strip tillage. There was no difference in leaf spot ratings among winter crop covers. There was no difference in stem rot incidence with tillage or winter cover crop. There was no yield difference with peanut cultivar. Pod yield was the same for the 1R and 0.5R fungicide program (3867 kg/ha) but decreased at the 0R fungicide program (2740 kg/ha). Pod yield was greater with conventional tillage and strip tillage with black oats (Avena sativa L.) (3706 kg/ha) compared with strip tillage of other winter crop cover treatments (3358 kg/ha). Conventional tillage had more leaf spot, equal incidence of stem rot, and higher yield compared with strip tillage. The 0.5R fungicide program had the same yield compared with the 1R fungicide program implying a possible 50% savings on fungicide applications on well rotated fields with lower disease risk.
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Schaefer, Michael V., Nathaniel A. Bogie, Daniel Rath, Alison R. Marklein, Abdi Garniwan, Thomas Haensel, Ying Lin, et al. "Effect of Cover Crop on Carbon Distribution in Size and Density Separated Soil Aggregates." Soil Systems 4, no. 1 (January 15, 2020): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems4010006.
Full textAbstract:
Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in agricultural soils can contribute to stabilizing or even lowering atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. Cover crop rotation has been shown to increase SOC and provide productivity benefits for agriculture. Here we used a split field design to evaluate the short-term effect of cover crop on SOC distribution and chemistry using a combination of bulk, isotopic, and spectroscopic analyses of size-and density-separated soil aggregates. Macroaggregates (>250 µm) incorporated additional plant material with cover crop as evidenced by more negative δ13C values (−25.4‰ with cover crop compared to −25.1‰ without cover crop) and increased phenolic (plant-like) resonance in carbon NEXAFS spectra. Iron EXAFS data showed that the Fe pool was composed of 17–21% Fe oxide with the remainder a mix of primary and secondary minerals. Comparison of oxalate and dithionite extractions suggests that cover crop may also increase Fe oxide crystallinity, especially in the dense (>2.4 g cm−3) soil fraction. Cover crop δ13C values were more negative across density fractions of bulk soil, indicating the presence of less processed organic carbon. Although no significant difference was observed in bulk SOC on a mass per mass basis between cover and no cover crop fields after one season, isotopic and spectroscopic data reveal enhanced carbon movement between aggregates in cover crop soil.
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Duncan, Hence, Jacob Eicher, Weston M. Bracey, Virginia R. Sykes, Christopher N. Boyer, Frank Yin, Gary E. Bates, David M. Butler, and Alison R. Willette. "Is Harvesting Cover Crops for Hay Profitable When Planting Corn and Soybean in Tennessee?" Agronomy 12, no. 6 (June 1, 2022): 1353. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061353.
Full textAbstract:
Winter cover crops can improve the soil’s moisture-holding capacity, reduce soil water evaporation, and mitigate water-induced soil erosion; however, economic studies show mixed results on cover crop impacts on profits. One way to potentially increase the profits from planting cover crops is to harvest the cover crop for hay. The objective of this study was to determine the profitability of planting and harvesting cover crops when planting corn (Zea mays) or soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as a cash crop. We determined the difference in net returns among 15 cover crop species when planted before corn and soybeans. We then calculated the breakeven hay price if the cover crop was harvested. Data were collected from an experiment in Tennessee, from 2017 to 2019, at two locations. There was no difference in net returns across cover crop treatments for both corn and soybeans, thus indicating that planting a cover crop does not reduce profits. The breakeven prices for harvesting cover crops suggest that this system would not likely be profitable for corn but might be profitable if planting soybeans, depending on labor availability and local demand for hay.
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Nordblom, Thomas, Saliya Gurusinghe, Andrew Erbacher, and Leslie A. Weston. "Opportunities and Challenges for Cover Cropping in Sustainable Agriculture Systems in Southern Australia." Agriculture 13, no. 3 (March 15, 2023): 688. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030688.
Full textAbstract:
Southern Australian farming systems operate predominantly under Mediterranean climatic conditions, which limit the choice of cover crops suitable for enhancement of ground cover and soil moisture retention, erosion control, atmospheric soil nitrogen (N) fixation, and weed suppression between cash crop rotations. Given that the successful establishment of cover crops is climate-driven and also influenced by edaphic factors such as soil pH and salinity, there has been increased interest by southern Australian producers in identifying potential cover crop species well adapted to specific Australian farming systems, which provide vital ecosystem services and sustainable economic benefits through the improvement of soil properties. This review summarises recent findings on cover crop inclusion in diverse farming systems in southern Australia, including continuous and mixed broadacre cropping as well as viticulture and horticulture systems, to identify opportunities and limitations related to their use. Cover crop inclusion in viticulture and pasture systems with lower moisture stress was observed to benefit the subsequent cash crop through enhanced production potential. Long-term, multi-site field experimentation incorporating summer cover crops in winter crop rotations showed that cover crops enhanced ground cover and soil water infiltration in some locations across southern Australia while sometimes increasing winter crop yield, suggesting that soil type and regional climatic conditions greatly influenced the delivery of multiple cover crop benefits. Collectively, these studies have suggested a need for longer-term field evaluations using multiple cover crop species and investigations of termination options under varying environmental and soil conditions to better quantify the legacy effects of cover crops.
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Zhou, Yangxue, Lindsey Roosendaal, and Laura L. Van Eerd. "Increased nitrogen retention by cover crops: implications of planting date on soil and plant nitrogen dynamics." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 35, no. 6 (November 14, 2019): 720–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170519000383.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractCover crops are frequently adopted to immobilize residual nitrogen post-harvest, thereby reducing potential N losses. However, the effectiveness of a cover crop depends on the species planting date, and other management practices. Limited information on N dynamics in cover crop systems is available specially in short-season vegetable rotations under temperate climate. From 2008 to 2010, a split-plot field experiment was carried out in a humid, temperate climate with cover crop treatment as the main plot factor [no cover crop control (NoCC), cereal rye, hairy vetch, oat, forage pea, oilseed radish (OSR) and a control with fertilizer N to the cucumber crop (NoCC + N)], and cover crop planting date as the split factor (early and late) to evaluate their impacts on cover crop biomass and N dynamics over the fall and following cucumber crop. All cover crop treatments significantly lowered soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) by 39–87% compared to the NoCC control, which was concomitant with cover crop growth and N accumulation. In the fall, SMN (0–90 cm depth) was less under the early-planted cover crops (avg. 78 kg N ha−1) compared to the late-planted (avg. 100 kg N ha−1). In April, greater plant available nitrogen (PAN, sum of SMN to 60 cm depth and plant N) with cover crops than without demonstrated N conservation over the winter and into the cucumber crop. Crop yield was equal to or better with a cover crop compared with the NoCC in both years; moreover, compared to the NoCC + N control yields were equivalent with OSR and pea. Oat, vetch and pea cover crops benefited the most by having an earlier planting date, while OSR and rye are recommended if the planting date is delayed. Although an early August planting date significantly increased plant N accumulation and SMN by November, this species-dependent interaction did not persist into the following season in yield and N accounted for in the system.
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Fernando, Margaret, and Anil Shrestha. "The Potential of Cover Crops for Weed Management: A Sole Tool or Component of an Integrated Weed Management System?" Plants 12, no. 4 (February 8, 2023): 752. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants12040752.
Full textAbstract:
Cover crops are an important component of integrated weed management programs in annual and perennial cropping systems because of their weed suppressive abilities. They influence weed populations using different mechanisms of plant interaction which can be facilitative or suppressive. However, the question often arises if cover crops can be solely relied upon for weed management or not. In this review we have tried to provide examples to answer this question. The most common methods of weed suppression by an actively growing cover crop include competition for limited plant growth resources that result in reduced weed biomass, seed production, and hence reductions in the addition of seeds to the soil seedbank. Cover crop mulches suppress weeds by reducing weed seedling emergence through allelopathic effects or physical effects of shading. However, there is a great degree of variability in the success or failure of cover crops in suppressing weeds that are influenced by the cover crop species, time of planting, cover crop densities and biomass, time of cover crop termination, the cash crop following in the rotation, and the season associated with several climatic variables. Several studies demonstrated that planting date was important to achieve maximum cover crop biomass, and a mixture of cover crop species was better than single cover crop species to achieve good weed suppression. Most of the studies that have demonstrated success in weed suppression have only shown partial success and not total success in weed suppression. Therefore, cover crops as a sole tool may not be sufficient to reduce weeds and need to be supplemented with other weed management tools. Nevertheless, cover crops are an important component of the toolbox for integrated weed management.
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Smith, Richard G., Lesley W. Atwood, Fredric W. Pollnac, and Nicholas D. Warren. "Cover-Crop Species as Distinct Biotic Filters in Weed Community Assembly." Weed Science 63, no. 1 (March 2015): 282–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/ws-d-14-00071.1.
Full textAbstract:
Cover crops represent a potentially important biological filter during weed community assembly in agroecosystems. This filtering could be considered directional if different cover-crop species result in weed communities with predictably different species composition. We examined the following four questions related to the potential filtering effects of cover crops in a field experiment involving five cover crops grown in monoculture and mixture: (1) Do cover crops differ in their effect on weed community composition? (2) Is competition more intense between cover crops and weeds that are in the same family or functional group? (3) Is competition more intense across weed functional types in a cover-crop mixture compared with cover crops grown in monocultures? (4) Within a cover-crop mixture, is a higher seeding rate associated with more effective biotic filtering of the weed community? We found some evidence that cover crops differentially filtered weed communities and that at least some of these filtering effects were due to differential biomass production across cover-crop species. Monocultures of buckwheat and sorghum–sudangrass reduced the number of weed species relative to the no-cover-crop control by an average of 36 and 59% (buckwheat) and 25 and 40% (sorghum–sudangrass) in 2011 and 2012, respectively. We found little evidence that competition intensity was dependent upon the family or functional classification of the cover crop or weeds, or that cover-crop mixtures were stronger assembly filters than the most effective monocultures. Although our results do not suggest that annual cover crops exert strong directional filtering during weed community assembly, our methodological framework for detecting such effects could be applied to similar future studies that incorporate a greater number of cover-crop species and are conducted under a greater range of cover-cropping conditions.
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Rothrock, C. S., and W. L. Hargrove. "Influence of legume cover crops and conservation tillage on soil populations of selected fungal genera." Canadian Journal of Microbiology 34, no. 3 (March 1, 1988): 201–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/m88-038.
Full textAbstract:
The influence of winter legume cover crops and of tillage on soil populations of fungal genera containing plant pathogenic species in the subsequent summer sorghum crop were examined in field studies. Legume cover crops significantly increased populations of Pythium spp. throughout the sorghum crop compared with a rye cover crop or no cover crop. This stimulation of the populations of Pythium spp. was not solely due to colonization of cover-crop residue, as populations were significantly greater at the time the legume cover crop was desiccated. Removal of aboveground residue generally decreased populations of Pythium spp. in soil. Incorporation of residue by tillage increased populations of Pythium spp. at some sampling dates. Legumes differed in the magnitude of stimulation, with hairy vetch stimulating Pythium spp. more than crimson clover. Cover crop treatments did not consistently influence soil populations of Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia-like binucleate fungi, or Macrophomina phaseolina. Macrophomina phaseolina populations were significantly greater under no tillage.
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Creamer, Nancy G., Mark A. Bennett, and Benjamin R. Stinner. "COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION." HortScience 27, no. 6 (June 1992): 664c—664. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.27.6.664c.
Full textAbstract:
Polyculture mixtures of several species of cover crops may be the best way to optimize some of the benefits associated with cover crop use. In the first year of a three year study, 16 polyculture mixtures of cover crops (4 species/mixture) were screened at seven sites throughout the state. Five of the mixtures were seeded at two planting dates. Fall evaluation of the cover crop mixtures included ease of establishment, vigor, percent groundcover, plant height, and relative biomass. The two mixtures with the highest percent groundcover were (1): sudex, rye, mammoth red clover, and subterranean clover (62% and 80% groundcover, one and two months after planting respectively), and, (2), annual alfalfa, hairy vetch, ryegrass, and rye (56% and 84% groundcover one and two months after planting respectively). The six mixtures with the highest percent groundcover did consistently well, relative to other mixtures, at all locations. Mixture (1) above also had the highest relative biomass throughout the state. Yellow and white sweet clovers, hairy vetch, winter oats, subterranean clover, red clover, rye and barley established well and maintained high vigor ratings throughout the fall. Ladino clover, timothy, and big flower vetch consistently had poor vigor ratings.
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Azevedo, Demóstenes Marcos Pedrosa de, Juan Landivar, Robson Macedo Vieira, and Daryl Moseley. "The effect of cover crop and crop rotation on soil water storage and on sorghum yield." Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira 34, no. 3 (March 1999): 391–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0100-204x1999000300010.
Full textAbstract:
Crop rotation and cover crop can be important means for enhancing crop yield in rainfed areas such as the lower Coastal Bend Region of Texas, USA. A trial was conducted in 1995 as part of a long-term cropping experiment (7 years) to investigate the effect of oat (Avena sativa L.) cover and rotation on soil water storage and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). The trial design was a RCB in a split-plot arrangement with four replicates. Rotation sequences were the main plots and oat cover crop the subplots. Cover crop reduced sorghum grain yield. This effect was attributed to a reduced concentration of available soil N and less soil water storage under this treatment. By delaying cover termination, the residue with a high C/N acted as an N sink through competition and/or immobilization instead of an N source to sorghum plants. Crop rotation had a significantly positive effect on sorghum yield and this effect was attributed to a significantly larger amount of N concentration under these rotation sequences.
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Schenck, Lara A., Matthew G. Bakker, Thomas B. Moorman, and Thomas C. Kaspar. "Effects of cover crop presence, cover crop species selection and fungicide seed treatment on corn seedling growth." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 34, no. 2 (July 11, 2017): 93–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170517000345.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractCover crops can offer erosion protection as well as soil and environmental quality benefits. Cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.) is the most commonly used winter cover crop in corn–soybean rotations in the upper Midwest of the USA because of its superior winter hardiness and growth at cool temperatures. Cereal rye cover crops, however, can occasionally have negative impacts on the yield of a following corn crop, which discourages broader adoption and introduces substantial risk for corn farmers employing cover crops. We hypothesized that because cereal rye shares some pathogens with corn, it may be causing increased disease in corn seedlings planted soon after cereal rye termination. To test this, we performed a series of experiments in a controlled environment chamber to assess the response of corn seedlings with and without a commercial fungicide seed treatment to the presence of cereal rye or other species of cover crops that were terminated with herbicide prior to corn planting. Our results indicate that under cool and wet conditions, cereal rye reduces corn seedling growth performance and increases incidence of corn seedling root disease. Fungicide seed treatment had limited efficacy in preventing these effects, perhaps because environmental conditions were set to be very conducive for disease development. However, hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth) and winter canola (Brassica napusL.) cover crops had fewer negative impacts on corn seedlings compared with cereal rye. Thus, to expand the practice of cover cropping before corn, it should become a research priority to develop alternative management practices to reduce the risk of corn seedling root infection following cereal rye cover crops. Over the longer term, testing, selection and breeding efforts should identify potential cover crop species or genotypes that are able to match the winter hardiness, growth at cool temperatures and the conservation and environmental quality benefits of cereal rye, while avoiding the potential for negative impacts on corn seedlings when environmental conditions are suitable for disease development.
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McKenzie, Sean C., Hayes B. Goosey, Kevin M. O'Neill, and Fabian D. Menalled. "Integration of sheep grazing for cover crop termination into market gardens: Agronomic consequences of an ecologically based management strategy." Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 32, no. 5 (September 29, 2016): 389–402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1742170516000326.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractCover crops are suites of non-marketable plants grown to improve soil tilth and reduce erosion. Despite these agronomic benefits, the use of cover crops is often limited because they do not provide a direct source of revenue for producers. Integrating livestock to graze cover crops could provide both an expeditious method for cover crop termination and an alternative source of revenue. However, there has been little research on the agronomic impacts of grazing for cover crop termination, especially in horticultural market-gardens. We conducted a 3-year study comparing the effects of sheep grazing to terminate a four species cover crop (buckwheat, sweetclover, peas and beets) with those of mowing on soil quality indicators, cover crop termination efficacy, and subsequent cash-crop yields. In addition, we tested the nutritional quality of the cover crop as forage. Compared with mowing, sheep grazing did not affect soil chemistry, temperature or moisture. Our study demonstrates that sheep grazing removed more cover crop biomass than mowing at termination. The assessment of nutritional indices suggests that the four-species cover crop mixture could provide high-quality forage with a potential value of US$144.00–481.80 ha−1of direct revenue as a grazing lease. Cash-crop yields did not differ between previously grazed and previously mowed plots in the subsequent growing season. We conclude that integrating sheep grazing into market vegetable garden operations could make cover crops more economically viable without having adverse effects on subsequent cash crops.
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Hruska, H. J., G. R. Cline, A. F. Silvernail, and K. Kaul. "399 Use of Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops for Sustainable Vegetable Production." HortScience 35, no. 3 (June 2000): 461E—461. http://dx.doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.35.3.461e.
Full textAbstract:
Research began in 1999 to examine sustainable production of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using conservation tillage and legume winter cover crops. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage, strip-tillage, and no-tillage, and winter covers consisted of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and a vetch/rye biculture. Pepper yields following the rye winter cover crop were significantly reduced if inorganic N fertilizer was not supplied. However, following vetch, yields of peppers receiving no additional N were similar to yields obtained in treatments receiving the recommended rate of inorganic N fertilizer. Thus, vetch supplied sufficient N to peppers in terms of yields. Pepper yields following the biculture cover crop were intermediate between those obtained following vetch and rye. When weeds were controlled manually, pepper yields following biculture cover crops were similar among the three tillage treatments, indicating that no-tillage and strip-tillage could be used successfully if weeds were controlled. With no-tillage, yields were reduced without weed control but the reduction was less if twice the amount of residual cover crop surface mulch was used. Without manual weed control, pepper yields obtained using strip-tillage were reduced regardless of metolachlor herbicide application. It was concluded that a vetch winter cover crop could satisfy N requirements of peppers and that effective chemical or mechanical weed control methods need to be developed in order to grow peppers successfully using no-tillage or strip-tillage.