Cover Crop Effectiveness Varies in Cover Crop-Based Rotational Tillage Organic Soybean Systems Depending on Species and Environment

Vincent-Caboud, Laura; Vereecke, Léa; Silva, Erin; Peigné, Joséphine

doi:10.3390/agronomy9060319

Cited by 17 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Cereal rye is the most common small grain cover crop evaluated for soybean MNT, as it is easily integrated into typical organic crop rotations with planting after the crop harvest in late summer or early fall, while providing the advantages of winter hardiness, high biomass, and consistent weed suppression (Smith et al 2011;Clark et al 2017). Cereal rye provides further benefits compared with other small grains including faster emergence, greater allelopathic effects, earlier flowering, and consistent cover crop termination by rolling-crimping, as well as producing the highest soybean yields across a variety of pedo-climatic conditions Silva and Delate 2017;Wallace et al 2017;Vincent-Caboud et al 2019) (Table 1). Beyond the physical impedance provided by the mulch, decomposition of cereal rye mulch can result in N immobilization, which further inhibits the germination and development of weeds (Mohler et Callaway 1995;Reberg-Horton et al 2012).…”

Section: Cover Crop Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using mulch from cover crops to facilitate organic no-till soybean and maize production. A review

Vincent-Caboud

Casagrande²,

David

et al. 2019

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sustainable cropping systems that balance agricultural productivity and ecological integrity are urgently needed. Overreliance on soil tillage and herbicides to manage weeds has resulted in a number of major environmental problems including soil erosion and degradation, biodiversity loss, and water quality impairment. Combining organic farming and conservation agriculture is a viable alternative to address these challenges. In particular, mulch-based no tillage systems can be used to reduce tillage in organic production, improving soil quality while decreasing labor and fuel requirements. This technique involves planting cash crops directly into terminated cover crops that remain on soil surface and serve as mulch to prevent weeds establishment and protect soil from erosion. Despite potential benefits, adoption of organic mulch-based no tillage is limited due to challenges with cover crop termination, weed suppression, and yields. Here, we (i) review international research on organic mulch-based no tillage systems (soybean and maize), (ii) identify production issues that limit the success of this technique, and (iii) outline research priorities. As result, organic mulch-based no tillage is knowledge intensive and requires advanced planning and careful management of the cover crop. Primary challenges include timely cover crop establishment and termination, nutrient management, reduced soil temperature and moisture at planting, and achieving adequate seed-to-soil contact when planting into thick mulch on soil surface. Long-term research is needed to better understand the effects of this technique production on soil health and on the broader environmental and economic impacts. To increase adoption of organic mulch-based no tillage, future research should focus on (i) screening species and cultivars to identify cover crop and crop combinations that optimize cropping system performance and (ii) developing equipment for improving cover crop termination and seed placement. Research conducted in partnership with farmers will be valuable for developing guidelines and increasing adoption of this technique. Keywords Direct seeding. Organic farming. Residue. Roller-crimper. Weed management Contents 1. Introduction 2. Scope of international research on mulch no tillage in organic farming 3. How can cover crop and cash crop management optimize organic mulch-based no tillage success? 4. Research agenda for the future 5. Conclusion References

show abstract

Section: Cover Crop Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using mulch from cover crops to facilitate organic no-till soybean and maize production. A review

Vincent-Caboud

Casagrande²,

David

et al. 2019

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The high nutritional value of soybean seeds, which contain about 40% of protein with a good amino acid composition, 20% of fat with a high content of essential unsaturated fatty acids, and other valuable components, makes a good argument for the cultivation of soybean (Zeller 1999;Rogalska-Niedźwiedź 2000;Boros 2002;Abbasi Surki et al 2010;Nowak 2011). Due to consumers' large interest in healthy food, soybean is grown more and more frequently under the organic system, in which it produces satisfactory yields (Cox et al 2018;Vincent-Caboud et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Yield and Economic Effectiveness of Soybean Grown Under Different Cropping Systems

Gawęda

Nowak

Haliniarz

et al. 2020

Int. J. Plant Prod.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

An increase in the area under soybean and other legume crops in Europe is one of the assumptions of the European Soya Declaration. A study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of cropping system and tillage system on yield, some quality characteristics of soybean seeds and economic evaluation. Therefore, this paper is of interdisciplinary nature. On average over a four-year study period, the soybean seed yield was significantly higher in monoculture compared to the yield obtained in crop rotation. A decreasing trend in yield of monocultured soybean was only observed in the 4th year of the experiment. Seeds grown in monoculture were characterized by a significantly higher percentage protein content and a lower fat content compared to obtained in crop rotation. Plough tillage affected more beneficially soybean yield. Under no-tillage conditions, soybean seeds were shown to have a higher percentage protein content and a lower fat content. The average income per ha of soybean grown under plough tillage system was higher by EUR 64.6 than that under no-tillage. In comparing production profitability depending on the cropping system, it can be noted that it was more beneficial to grow soybean in monoculture. In monoculture, both plough tillage and no-tillage generated a higher income per ha than in the case of soybean grown in crop rotation.

show abstract

“…For several decades, organic farming has been identified as an alternative form of farming to ensure food security and reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment (Badgley et al, 2007). Among all developed practices for tillage reducing and soil coverage improvement, retaining crop residue as soil mulch or soil cover is one of the highly beneficial practices of good soil management (Vincent-Caboud et al, 2019). Besides poor soil nutrient status, water is also a limiting factor of food production under rain fed conditions, and thus water and nutrients alternate within a particular season as key factors limiting crop production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of soil conservation practices on soil moisture and maize crop (Zea mays L.) productivity in Centre Benin

Akplo¹,

Alladassi²,

Martinien³

et al. 2020

Afr. J. Plant Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soil quality constitutes a major factor for crops growth. This study aimed at determining the sustainable soil conservation practices that would increase maize growth as well as production and improve the soil moisture. Two experimental sites were chosen: Dan localized on Acrisol and Zazounmè localized on ferralsol. Two cropping seasons were investigated: the long rain seasons of 2018 and 2019. The experimental design was split-plot with four replications. The main factor was tillage with three modalities: no-tillage (NT); ridging parallel to the slope (PR); Isohypse ridging (IR) and the second factor was mulching with four amounts: 0, 3, 5 and 7 t.ha -1 . Tillage, mulch amount and their interaction significantly influenced the soil moisture, maize growth and yield over the two investigated cropping seasons at both sites whereby the highest values were obtained under IR for tillage, 7 t.ha -1 (for mulch amount) and IR7M (for the interaction tillage x mulch amount). Overall, IR significantly increased the maize growth speed by 8% at Dan and by 16% at Za-zounmè; the maize grain yield by 33% at Dan and by 30% at Za-zounmè and the soil water content by 24% at Dan and 20% at Za-zounmè, in comparison with No-Tillage. An increasing effect of mulch amount was also observed. As far as mulching is concerned, the highest values (in average of LR2018 and LR2019) of growth speed (3.77 cm.day -1 at Dan and 4.08 cm.day -1 at Za-zounmè); grain yield (3003.03 at Dan and 3471.09 kg.ha -1 at Za-zounmè) and soil water content (26.89 mm at Dan and 20.44 mm at Za-zounmè) were observed. This suggests that isohypse ridging associated with an appropriate amount of organic mulch could be an option to mitigate dry spells and drought and improve local farmers' income in the area of low rainfall in sub-Sahara Africa.

show abstract

Cover Crop Effectiveness Varies in Cover Crop-Based Rotational Tillage Organic Soybean Systems Depending on Species and Environment

Cited by 17 publications

References 58 publications

Using mulch from cover crops to facilitate organic no-till soybean and maize production. A review

Using mulch from cover crops to facilitate organic no-till soybean and maize production. A review

Yield and Economic Effectiveness of Soybean Grown Under Different Cropping Systems

Influence of soil conservation practices on soil moisture and maize crop (Zea mays L.) productivity in Centre Benin

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About