Cover Crops as an Agroecological Practice on Organic Vegetable Farms in Wisconsin, USA

Silva, Erin M.; Moore, Virginia

doi:10.3390/su9010055

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Dual use cover/green manure crops can serve as a cornerstone of soil nutrient management for US Midwest organic grain farmers, although cold winter temperatures and short intervals for legume cover/green manure crop growth between cash crop phases can limit N 2 –fixation contributions from cover/green manure crops (Moore et al, 2016). Farmers are innovating with more complex cover/green crop planting strategies to overcome these challenges, including intercropping and interseeding (Silva and Moore, 2017). Cover/green manure crops offer an opportunity to supply N while mitigating ground and surface water contamination by both N and P (Kleinman et al, 2005; Siller et al, 2016; Osterholz et al, 2019).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

et al. 2019

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Organic farmers have identified soil fertility and weed management as the two highest research priority areas. No review exists of research on soil nutrient management in organic field crop systems. We conducted a comprehensive review to identify the principles and factors governing nutrient management, knowledge gaps, and future research needs in organic grain and other field crop systems in Canada and the United States. We compared results from research conducted in different climates, soils, and crop rotational sequences. Results indicate that (i) dual‐use cover/green manure crops and/or animal manure are the most common sources of plant available N and other nutrients in organic field crop systems; (ii) soil nutrient deficiencies can develop through sole reliance on cover/green manure crops; (iii) dependence on animal manure can lead to N and P excesses; (iv) conventional soil testing procedures may not accurately predict crop nutrient needs; (v) greater knowledge of microbial processes governing nutrient cycling is needed; and (vi) better understanding of the impact of weeds on soil fertility may create weed and nutrient management synergies. Knowledge gaps include a lack in understanding of how the soil and plant biomes influence nutrient‐use efficiency and how crop diversity and rotations impact soil fertility, sustainability, and resilience in organic field crop systems. Likewise, interactions between weeds, crops, soil fertility, and weed management strategies are poorly understood. Core Ideas Soil, climate, fertility sources, and land use impact organic nutrient management strategies. Cover/green manure crops and animal manures are used to maintain soil fertility on organic farms. Conventional soil testing may not be ideally suited to organic systems. Tracking soil nutrient temporal changes can improve comprehensive nutrient management plans. More research of how weeds and soil microbial community structure/function impact nutrient cycling and crop production is needed.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

et al. 2019

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“…The C/N of the vetch resulted very similar over the two years (about [17][18], whereas that of the Italian ryegrass varied significantly (p < 0.05) from 32 (2020) to 41 (2019). Overall, the C/N values of the mixture were statistically different in the two years (32 in 2019 and 24 in 2020) as well as the total amounts of N taken up by the CC (83 kg ha −1 in 2019 and to 156 kg ha −1 in 2020).…”

Section: Plant Categorymentioning

confidence: 87%

“…In addition, a detailed economic analysis of the cost (tillage, seeds, termination) and the benefits (cost saving for the remaining N in soil or weed suppression) to be gained from the CC introduction is scarce and not exhaustive [17]. Other reasons can be the lack of training and technical assistance in relation to the cropping system re-arrangements that the introduction of cover implies [18] Therefore, the utility of CCs should be carefully evaluated before deciding about their introduction in cropping system design [19].The effects of CCs have been extensively investigated in recent decades [19][20][21] and researchers pointed out how the extent of these effects were greatly influenced by the site-specific conditions, such as cover crop species, soil nature, climate regime, crops in rotation, input level of the farming practices adopted [22][23][24]. For instance, the expected increase in SOM (soil organic matter) due to CC biomass burial is not generalizable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover Crop Introduction in a Mediterranean Maize Cropping System. Effects on Soil Variables and Yield

et al. 2021

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Cover crops (CCs) are able to affect subsequent crop behaviour by acting on many soil variables and affecting the dynamics of different ecological processes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of introducing CC in continuous-maize cropping systems within Mediterranean areas. The experimental site was located in Central Italy, on a sandy loam and the research activity was carried out over two years (2019–2020). The two cropping systems in comparison differed from each other in terms of the CC cultivation: TR (treated, with CC) and CO (control, without CC). In both years, we observed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of soil nitrate and water content for the TR system. In the shallowest layer (0–30 cm), nitrate content was reduced by up −80% and −65% (July 2019 and 2020), whereas soil moisture showed decreases ranging from −13% (July 2019) to −34% (May 2019). In 2019, the TR-maize (Zea mays L.) yield was statistically lower than CO (−443 g dm m−2), whereas in 2020 the yields of the two systems resulted statistically equivalent. This different behaviour can be explained with the serious delay in the CC sowing occurred in 2019 (12 December). Conversely, an increase in the apparent remaining N in the soil (+140 and +133 kg N ha−1 for 2019 and 2020, respectively) and in the C (carbon) inputs (+4.78 and +7.39 t dm ha−1 of biomass) were pointed out for the TR system. The large use of inputs in Mediterranean maize cropping systems limited some of the benefits from CCs, but their suitability has to be evaluated by considering all the involved effects, some of which need a long time to become appreciable.

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“…However, cold winter temperatures and short intervals for plant growth can limit the amount of N derived from CGMs, particularly in areas at northern latitudes. Innovative strategies have improved the integration of N management functionality of CGMs into organic grain production systems (Silva & Moore, 2017). Recent success in planting soybean directly into a rye CGM crop at the boot growth stage (Zadoks GS 45), along with rye termination when flowering ended (Zadoks GS 69), enabled earlier establishment of soybean (Silva & Vereecke, 2019).…”

Section: Dual‐use Cover/green Manure Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

et al. 2020

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Dual-use cover/green manure (CGM) crops and animal manure are used to supply nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to organically grown field crops. A comprehensive review of previous research was conducted to identify how CGM crops and animal manure have been used to meet N and P needs of organic field crops, and to identify knowledge gaps to direct future research efforts. Results indicate that: (a) CGM crops are used to provide N to subsequent cash crops in rotations; (b) CGM-supplied N generally can meet field crop needs in warm, humid regions but is insufficient for organic grain crops grown in cool and sub-humid regions; (c) adoption of conservation tillage practices can create or exacerbate N deficiencies; (d) excess N and P can result where animal manures are accessible if application rates are not carefully managed; and (e) integrating animal grazing into organic field crop systems has potential benefits but is generally not practiced. Work is needed to better understand the mechanisms governing the release of N by CGM crops to subsequent cash crops, and the legacy effects of animal manure applications in cool and sub-humid regions. The benefits and synergies that can occur by combining targeted animal grazing and CGMs on soil N, P, and other nutrients should be investigated. Improved communication and networking among researchers can aid efforts to solve soil fertility challenges faced by organic farmers when growing field crops in North America and elsewhere.

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Cover Crops as an Agroecological Practice on Organic Vegetable Farms in Wisconsin, USA

Cited by 18 publications

References 75 publications

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

Nutrient Cycling in Organic Field Crops in Canada and the United States

Cover Crop Introduction in a Mediterranean Maize Cropping System. Effects on Soil Variables and Yield

Green and animal manure use in organic field crop systems

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