Winter Cover Crops for Sustainable Agricultural Systems: Influence on Soil Properties, Water Quality, and Crop Yields

Sainju, Upendra M.; Singh, Bharat

doi:10.21273/hortsci.32.1.21

Cited by 131 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 67 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Nitrogen contribution of a rotation crop to the subsequent crop can be influenced by a number of interacting factors including crop species grown (Sainju and Singh 1997), chemical composition and N concentration in plant residues (Trinsoutrot et al 2000), stage of crop growth at incorporation (Frankenberger and Abdelmagid 1985), tillage and harvest management practices (Groya and Sheaffer 1985;Meek et al 1994), and environmental factors such as soil temperature and moisture (Honeycutt and Potaro 1990;Honeycutt 1994Honeycutt , 1999. Some researchers reported that green manure N-substitution values were in excess of actual green manure N accumulation, suggesting that in some cases plants of the subsequent crop take up green manure N more efficiently than mineral fertilizer N or that the green manure modifies the soil environment, crop growth, or both such that greater crop N uptake is possible (Cherr et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil mineralizable nitrogen and soil nitrogen supply under two-year potato rotations

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Two-year potato rotations were evaluated for their effects on soil mineralizable N and soil N supply. Pre-plant soil samples (0-15 cm) collected from the potato year after seven rotation cycles were used to estimate soil mineralizable N using a 24 week aerobic incubation. Potentially mineralizable N (N 0 ) ranged from 102 to 149 kg N ha −1 , and was greater after pea/white clover and oats/Italian ryegrass than after oats by an average of 35 and 22%, respectively. Labile, intermediate and stable mineralizable N pools were increased after pea/white clover compared with oats, whereas only the stable mineralizable N pool was increased after oats/Italian ryegrass. Potato plant N uptake with no fertilizer applied was greater in potato-pea/white clover compared with the three other rotations (126 vs. average of 67 kg N ha −1 ). Choice of rotation crop in potato production influences both the quantity and quality of soil mineralizable N.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil mineralizable nitrogen and soil nitrogen supply under two-year potato rotations

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The majority of research on cover crops has focused on their role in cereal crop rotations (Sainju and Singh 1997;Macdonald et al 2005) and little information is available on their role in organic fruit production. Because of this shortcoming a research project was started in 1999 to evaluate the eVects of diVerent cover crops on soil properties, tree nutrition, crop production and the diversity of arthropods in the orchard Xoor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover crops influence soil properties and tree performance in an organic apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchard in northern Patagonia

Sánchez¹,

Giayetto²,

Cichón³

et al. 2007

Plant Soil

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Little is known about the eVects of cover crops on soil properties in organic orchards. To Wll this gap, this work aimed at examining the eVects of several cover crops on soil fertility, nitrate dynamics, populations of nematodes and tree performance in an organic orchard of apple cv. Royal Gala/EM 26 planted in 1994 at 4 £ 2 m. In 1999 the following treatments were randomly applied to the inter-row spaces of 20 tree rows each: permanent cover of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plus fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schribn.), Alfalfa/fescue (AF); permanent cover of strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum L.), Strawberry clover (SC); seeding of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), Vetch (V); and Control (C) (natural vegetation of grasses and legumes with the soil disked twice in late winter, which is the traditional management system used by growers in this region). The cover crops were mowed 3 or 4 times during the growing season and the clippings were left on the ground for decomposition. The trial was conducted in the northern Patagonia region of Argentina in a sandy loam soil with a pH of 7.6 and initial organic matter content of 1.5%. A commercially available certiWed organic fertilizer containing 5% total N, 2% total P and 4% total K was added annually at a rate of 1.0 kg per tree in equal amounts to each treatment in a radius of 0.4 m around the trunk. After 6 years, soil organic matter in the top soil was 31, 27.9, 23 and 18.6 g kg ¡1 for SC, AF, V and C treatments, respectively. Total soil N followed the same trend. Apple leaf N declined steadily in all treatments especially in AF and C from year 3 to 5 with values below 1.8% and it was therefore necessary to increase the rate of organic fertilizer. Nitrate concentrations remained under 7.5 mg kg ¡1 during the winter months in all treatments and increased in spring and summer. A sharp increase in soil nitrate, up to 100 ppm, was observed in late spring in V due to rapid biomass decomposition after maturation of the common vetch. Populations of nematodes especially bacterivores and herbivores increased from September (late winter) to March (fall) in the V treatment. SigniWcant diVerences were observed when we compared the eVects of treatments on the entire nematode population. Tree growth as measured by trunk cross sectional area and canopy volume was signiWcantly lower in the C treatment.

show abstract

“…The use of cover crops is a common practice among organic vegetable growers (Beveridge and Naylor 1999) due to its ability to control weeds, improve soil fertility and structure, conserve soil moisture and reduce erosion (Reddy 2003;Sainju and Singh 1997;Teasdale 1996). Studies evaluating the effects of cover crops on weed suppression in vegetable production systems have been reported previously (Fisk et al 2001;Reddy 2003;Teasdale and Daughtry 1993).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Summer cover crops for weed management and yield improvement in organic lettuce (Lactuca sativa) production

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Over the last two decades, the demand for organic products has grown rapidly in the world due to increased concern about side effects of pesticides on the environment and human health. Studies were conducted in organic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) from 2004 to 2005 at the Black Sea Agricultural Research Institute in Samsun, Turkey, to determine the suppressive effects of summer cover crops on weeds. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)Moench.], sudangrass [Sorghum vulgare Pers. var. sudanense (Piper) Hitchc.], hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), grain amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and bare ground with no cover crop. Weed density and total weed dry biomass were assessed before and at 14, 28, and 56 days after incorporation (DAI) of the cover crops. The cover crops produced between 1.2 and 3 t ha −1 biomass and grain sorghum produced more dry matter than any other species in both years. After incorporation of the cover crops, hairy vetch and sorghum treatments showed fewer weed species, and lower weed density than the other cover crops in both years. Hairy vetch, grain sorghum, and sudangrass were the most effective cover crops and reduced total weed dry biomass by 90. 3%, 87.4%, and 86.9% in 2004, and by 88%, 86.3%, and 85.2% in 2005, respectively. Cover crop residue suppressed many broadleaved weed species but failed to control grass weeds. Hairy vetch treatments produced the highest yield, followed by sudangrass and grain sorghum. Yields with grain amaranth and pea were similar to that of the control. These results indicate that hairy vetch, grain sorghum, and sudangrass can be used to suppress weeds in early season of organic lettuce production.

show abstract

Winter Cover Crops for Sustainable Agricultural Systems: Influence on Soil Properties, Water Quality, and Crop Yields

Cited by 131 publications

References 67 publications

Soil mineralizable nitrogen and soil nitrogen supply under two-year potato rotations

Soil mineralizable nitrogen and soil nitrogen supply under two-year potato rotations

Cover crops influence soil properties and tree performance in an organic apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchard in northern Patagonia

Summer cover crops for weed management and yield improvement in organic lettuce (Lactuca sativa) production

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About