Integration of cover crops and fertilizer rates for weed management in celery

Abstract

Field studies were carried out in Laingsburg, MI, from 2002 to 2004 on Houghton muck soil to assess the impacts of cover crops and soil fertility regimes on weed populations and celery yield. The cover crops were oilseed radish, cereal rye, hairy vetch, and a bare ground control. The fertility rates were full (180, 90, and 450 kg ha−1nitrogen [N], phosphorus pentoxide [P2O5], and potassium oxide [K2O], respectively), half (90, 45, and 225 kg ha−1N, P2O5, and K2O, respectively), and low (90 kg ha−1N). Each cover crop treatment was combined with the low or half rate of fertilizer. An additional treatment with bare ground plus the full rate of fertilizer was added as standard practice. Treatments were maintained in the same location for the duration of the study. Major weed species were common chickweed, prostrate pigweed, shepherd's-purse, common purslane, and yellow nutsedge. Each year, oilseed radish consistently produced the greatest biomass and provided over 98% early season weed biomass suppression. Hairy vetch and cereal rye provided about 70% weed suppression in early spring. Soil fertility level affected weed populations during the 2004 growing season. In 2004, weed biomass in treatments without cover crops or with vetch increased when greater amounts of fertilizer were applied. Within individual fertility levels, higher celery yields were recorded in the oilseed radish plots. For example, in the low fertility rate, celery yield was 34.8, 29.2, 23.9, and 24.4 ton ha−1in the oilseed radish, cereal rye, hairy vetch, and control plots, respectively in 2003. Overall, the results of this experiment indicate that when included in a system where hoeing and hand-weeding are the only weed control methods, cover crops can successfully improve weed management and celery yield on muck soils, allowing reduced fertilizer inputs.

Effects of early compost application on no-till organic soybean

“…This correlation has been reported for several species (Bond & Grundy, 2001;Khatounian, 2004;Melander et al, 2005;Charles et al, 2006).…”

Brassica Biofumigants Improve Onion (Allium cepaL.) and Celery (Apium graveolens) Production Systems

“…They could help increase crop yield and potentially protect muck soil from wind and water erosion. Previous studies have shown that brassica cover crops can help recycle nutrients and reduce weed pressure in onion and celery production systems (Charles et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2008). Oilseed radish, increased bacterial feeders in both onion and celery field and reduced plant-parasitic nematodes in the celery field.…”

Effects of long‐term fertilization on the weed growth and community composition in a double‐rice ecosystem during the fallow period

“…First, it is likely that the high fertility in croplands might have a greater effect on weed growth than on the germination of weed seeds, as suggested by Charles et al . (). Second, the relatively short duration of the fallow period and the frequent disturbance of cropping might prevent the establishment of highly competitive species in croplands (Cramer et al .…”

“…Finally, in comparison with natural ecosystems, the lower number of plant species in croplands might limit the response of weed richness to fertilization at the community level (Charles et al . ; Grime et al . ; Poggio & Ghersa ).…”

“…However, in this study, fertilization in the crop-growing season did not significantly affect the weed species richness during the fallow period, despite the marked increase in weed density and biomass. First, it is likely that the high fertility in croplands might have a greater effect on weed growth than on the germination of weed seeds, as suggested by Charles et al (2006). Second, the relatively short duration of the fallow period and the frequent disturbance of cropping might prevent the establishment of highly competitive species in croplands (Cramer et al 2008).Third, most of the species that presented during the fallow period were low winter weeds that do not have an erect main stem and are not capable of competing with each other to the exclusion of other species, thereby leading to no species loss (Dickson & Foster 2011).…”