Cover Crops in Wheat–Fallow Crop Rotation

Horseweed is an increasingly common and problematic weed in no-till soybean production in the eastern cornbelt due to the frequent occurrence of biotypes resistant to glyphosate. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual non-glyphosate herbicides, and preplant application timing on the population dynamics of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted from 2003 to 2007 in a no-till field located at a site that contained a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2). The experiment was a split-plot design with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying in-field horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Horseweed densities were collected at the time of postemergence applications, 1 mo after postemergence (MAP) applications, and at the time of crop harvest or 4 MAP. Viable seedbank densities were also evaluated from soil samples collected in the fall following seed rain. Soybean–corn crop rotation reduced in-field and seedbank horseweed densities vs. continuous soybean in the third and fourth yr of this experiment. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season-long in-field horseweed densities and protecting crop yields since the growth habit of horseweed in this region is primarily as a summer annual. Management systems also influenced the GR and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotype population structure after 4 yr of management. The most dramatic shift was from the initial GR : GS ratio of 3 : 1 to a ratio of 1 : 6 after 4 yr of residual preplant herbicide use followed by non-glyphosate postemergence herbicides.

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Effects of Temporal Crop β Diversification of a Cereal-Based Cropping System on Generalist Predators and Their Biocontrol Potential

Frontiers in Agronomy ◽

10.3389/fagro.2021.704979 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Antonio Puliga ◽

Jan Thiele ◽

Hauke Ahnemann ◽

Jens Dauber

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Pest Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Activity Density ◽

Biocontrol Potential ◽

Natural Pest Control ◽

Predation Rates

In agroecosystems, crop diversification plays a fundamental role in maintaining and regenerating biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as natural pest control. Temporal diversification of cropping systems can affect the presence and activity of natural enemies by providing alternative hosts and prey, food, and refuges for overwintering. However, we still lack studies on the effects of temporal diversification on generalist predators and their biocontrol potential conducted at field scale in commercial agricultural settings. Here, we measured proxies of ecosystem functions related with biological pest control in 29 commercial agricultural fields characterized by cereal-based cropping system in Lower-Saxony, northern Germany. The fields differed in the number of crops and cover crops cultivated during the previous 12 years. Using the Rapid Ecosystem Function Assessment approach, we measured invertebrate predation, seed predation and activity density of generalist predators. We aimed at testing whether the differences in the crop rotations from the previous years would affect activity of predators and their predation rates in the current growing season. We found that the length of the crop rotation had neutral effects on the proxies measured. Furthermore, predation rates were generally lower if the rotation comprised a higher number of cover crops compared to rotation with less cover crops. The activity density of respective taxa of predatory arthropods responded differently to the number of cover crops in the crop rotation. Our results suggest that temporal crop diversity may not benefit the activity and efficiency of generalist predators when diversification strategies involve crops of very similar functional traits. Adding different resources and traits to the agroecosystems through a wider range of cultivated crops and the integration of semi-natural habitats are aspects that need to be considered when developing more diverse cropping systems aiming to provide a more efficient natural pest control.

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Soil Physical Properties and Grain Yield Influenced by Cover Crops and Crop Rotation

American Journal of Plant Sciences ◽

10.4236/ajps.2018.94045 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 09 (04) ◽

pp. 584-598 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

César Tiago Forte ◽

Amauri Nelson Beutler ◽

Leandro Galon ◽

Camile Thais Castoldi ◽

Fábio Luís Winter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Soil Physical Properties

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Physical properties and particle-size fractions of soil organic matter in crop-livestock integration

Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo ◽

10.1590/s0100-06832012000400024 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 1299-1310 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Carolina Tirloni ◽

Antonio Carlos Tadeu Vitorino ◽

Anderson Cristian Bergamin ◽

Luiz Carlos Ferreira de Souza

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Environmental Stability ◽

Native Forest ◽

Physical And Chemical Properties ◽

Physical And Chemical ◽

And Chemical Properties

Crop-livestock integration represents an interesting alternative of soil management, especially in regions where the maintenance of cover crops in no-tillage systems is difficult. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil physical and chemical properties, based on the hypothesis that a well-managed crop-livestock integration system improves the soil quality and stabilizes the system. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design, with five replications. The treatments were arranged in a 6 x 4 factorial design, to assess five crop rotation systems in crop-livestock integration, and native forest as reference of soil undisturbed by agriculture, in four layers (0.0-0.05; 0.05-0.10; 0.10-0.15 and 0.15-0.20 m). The crop rotation systems in crop-livestock integration promoted changes in soil physical and chemical properties and the effects of the different systems were mainly detected in the surface layer. The crops in integrated crop-livestock systems allowed the maintenance of soil carbon at levels equal to those of the native forest, proving the efficiency of these systems in terms of soil conservation. The systems influenced the environmental stability positively; the soil quality indicator mineral-associated organic matter was best related to aggregate stability.

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DK-RIM: Assisting Integrated Management of Lolium multiflorum, Italian Ryegrass

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10060856 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 856 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mette Sønderskov ◽

Gayle J. Somerville ◽

Myrtille Lacoste ◽

Jens Erik Jensen ◽

Niels Holst

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Support System ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Lolium Multiflorum ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Seeding Density

Lolium multiflorum (annual Italian ryegrass) and other grass weeds are an increasing problem in cereal cropping systems in Denmark. Grass weeds are highly competitive and an increasing number of species develop resistance against the most commonly used herbicide modes of action. A diverse management strategy provides a better overall control of grass weeds and decreases the reliance on herbicides. The bio-economic decision support system, DK-RIM (Denmark-Ryegrass Integrated Management), was developed to assist integrated management of L. multiflorum in Danish cropping systems, based on the Australian RIM model. DK-RIM provides long-term estimations (10-year period) and visual outputs of L. multiflorum population development, depending on management strategies. The dynamics of L. multiflorum plants within the season and of the soil seed bank across seasons are simulated. The user can combine cultural weed control practices with chemical control options. Cultural practices include crop rotation changes, seeding density, sowing time, soil tillage system, and cover crops. Scenarios with increasing crop rotation diversity or different tillage strategies were evaluated. DK-RIM aims at being an actual support system, aiding the farmer’s decisions and encouraging discussions among stakeholders on alternative management strategies.

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Do green manures as winter cover crops impact the weediness and crop yield in an organic crop rotation?

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture ◽

10.1080/01448765.2016.1138141 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 182-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Helena Madsen ◽

Liina Talgre ◽

Viacheslav Eremeev ◽

Maarika Alaru ◽

Karin Kauer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Green Manures ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Winter Cover Crops

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Influence of Weed Management Practices and Crop Rotation on Glyphosate-Resistant Horseweed Population Dynamics and Crop Yield

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-06-187.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 508-516 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Vince M. Davis ◽

Kevin D. Gibson ◽

Thomas T. Bauman ◽

Stephen C. Weller ◽

William G. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Crop Yield ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Management Practices ◽

Plant Density ◽

Management Systems ◽

Integrated Weed Management ◽

Rapid Decline

Horseweed is an increasingly problematic weed in soybean because of the frequent occurrence of glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of crop rotation, winter wheat cover crops (WWCC), residual nonglyphosate herbicides, and preplant herbicide application timing on the population dynamics of GR horseweed and crop yield. A field study was conducted at a site with a moderate infestation of GR horseweed (approximately 1 plant m−2) with crop rotation (soybean–corn or soybean–soybean) as main plots and management systems as subplots. Management systems were evaluated by quantifying horseweed plant density, seedbank density, and crop yield. Crop rotation did not influence in-field horseweed or seedbank densities at any data census timing. Preplant herbicides applied in the spring were more effective at reducing horseweed plant densities than when applied in the previous fall. Spring-applied, residual herbicide systems were the most effective at reducing season long horseweed densities and protecting crop yield because horseweed in this region behaves primarily as a summer annual weed. Horseweed seedbank densities declined rapidly in the soil by an average of 76% for all systems over the first 10 mo before new seed rain. Despite rapid decline in total seedbank density, seed for GR biotypes remained in the seedbank for at least 2 yr. Therefore, to reduce the presence of GR horseweed biotypes in a local no-till weed flora, integrated weed management (IWM) systems should be developed to reduce total horseweed populations based on the knowledge that seed for GR biotypes are as persistent in the seed bank as glyphosate-sensitive (GS) biotypes.

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Organic farming and cover crops as an alternative to mineral fertilizers to improve soil physical properties

International Agrophysics ◽

10.1515/intag-2015-0056 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (4) ◽

pp. 405-412 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Diego Sánchez de Cima ◽

Anne Luik ◽

Endla Reintam

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Red Clover ◽

Soil Physical Properties ◽

Cattle Manure ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Organic Systems ◽

Tillage Operations

Abstract For testing how cover crops and different fertilization managements affect the soil physical properties in a plough based tillage system, a five-year crop rotation experiment (field pea, white potato, common barley undersown with red clover, red clover, and winter wheat) was set. The rotation was managed under four different farming systems: two conventional: with and without mineral fertilizers and two organic, both with winter cover crops (later ploughed and used as green manure) and one where cattle manure was added yearly. The measurements conducted were penetration resistance, soil water content, porosity, water permeability, and organic carbon. Yearly variations were linked to the number of tillage operations, and a cumulative effect of soil organic carbon in the soil as a result of the different fertilization amendments, organic or mineral. All the systems showed similar tendencies along the three years of study and differences were only found between the control and the other systems. Mineral fertilizers enhanced the overall physical soil conditions due to the higher yield in the system. In the organic systems, cover crops and cattle manure did not have a significant effect on soil physical properties in comparison with the conventional ones, which were kept bare during the winter period. The extra organic matter boosted the positive effect of crop rotation, but the higher number of tillage operations in both organic systems counteracted this effect to a greater or lesser extent.

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Influence of Velvetbean on Southern Root-knot Nematode When Used As Part of the Crop Rotation in Low-input Vegetable Production in Southern Georgia

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.4.806c ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 806C-806

Author(s):

Kathryn E. Brunson ◽

Sharad C. Phatak ◽

J. Danny Gay ◽

Donald R. Sumner

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Production Systems ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Root Knot Nematode ◽

Low Input ◽

Before And After ◽

Southern Georgia ◽

Southern Root Knot Nematode

Velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana L.) has been used as part of the crop rotation in low-input vegetable production in southern Georgia to help suppress populations of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) for the past 2 years. Over-wintering cover crops of crimson and subterranean clovers were used the low-input plots and rye was the plow-down cover crop in the conventional plots. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant were the vegetable crops grown in these production systems. Following the final harvest in 1992, use of nematicides in the low-input plots was discontinued and velvetbean was then planted into the low-input plots and disked in after 90 days. Results from the 1993–94 soil samples taken before and after velvetbean showed a continuing trend of reduced nematode numbers where velvetbean had been, while most conventional plots that had nematicides applied resulted in increases in nematode populations.

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