Cover crops have neutral effects on predator communities and biological control services in annual cellulosic bioenergy cropping systems

The global demand for plant biomass to provide bioenergy and heat is continuously increasing because of a growing interest among many industrialized and developing countries towards climate sound and renewable energy supply. The exacerbation of land-use conflicts proliferates social-ecological demands on future bioenergy cropping systems. Perennial herbaceous wild plant mixtures (WPMs) represent an approach to providing social-ecologically more sustainably produced biogas substrate that has gained increasing public and political interest only in recent years. The focus of this study lies on three perennial wild plant species (WPS) that usually dominate the biomass yield performance of WPM cultivation. These WPS were compared with established biogas crops in terms of their substrate-specific methane yield (SMY) and lignocellulosic composition. The plant samples were investigated in a small-scale mesophilic discontinuous biogas batch test for determining the SMY. All WPS were found to have significantly lower SMY (241.5–248.5 lN kgVS−1) than maize (337.5 lN kgVS−1). This was attributed to higher contents of lignin (9.7–12.8% of dry matter) as well as lower contents of hemicellulose (9.9–11.5% of dry matter) in the WPS. Only minor, non-significant differences to cup plant and Virginia mallow were observed. Thus, when planning WPS as a diversification measure in biogas cropping systems, their lower SMY should be considered.

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Combining crop diversification practices can benefit cereal production in temperate climates

Agronomy for Sustainable Development ◽

10.1007/s13593-021-00703-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Carolina Rodriguez ◽

Linda-Maria Dimitrova Mårtensson ◽

Erik Steen Jensen ◽

Georg Carlsson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Grain Legume ◽

Crop Diversification ◽

Forage Legume ◽

Cereal Crop ◽

Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽

N Acquisition ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Crop Sequence

AbstractDiversifying cropping systems by increasing the number of cash and cover crops in crop rotation plays an important role in improving resource use efficiency and in promoting synergy between ecosystem processes. The objective of this study was to understand how the combination of crop diversification practices influences the performance of arable crop sequences in terms of crop grain yield, crop and weed biomass, and nitrogen acquisition in a temperate climate. Two field experiments were carried out. The first was a 3-year crop sequence with cereal or grain legume as the first crops, with and without undersown forage legumes and forage legume-grass crops, followed by a cereal crop. The second experiment was a 2-year crop sequence with cereal or legume as the first crops, a legume cover crop, and a subsequent cereal crop. For the first time, crop diversification practices were combined to identify plant-plant interactions in spatial and temporal scales. The results partly confirm the positive effect of diversifying cereal-based cropping systems by including grain legumes and cover crops in the crop sequence. Legume cover crops had a positive effect on subsequent cereal grain yield in one of the experiments. Using faba beans as the first crop in the crop sequence had both a positive and no effect on crop biomass and N acquisition of the subsequent cereal. In cover crops composed of a forage legume-grass mixture, the grass biomass and N acquisition were consistently increased after the grain legume, compared to the cereal-preceding crop. However, differences in the proportion of legume to grass in mixture did not influence crop yield or N acquisition in the subsequent cereal. In conclusion, these results support that increased crop diversity across spatial and temporal scales can contribute to resource-efficient production and enhance the delivery of services, contributing to more sustainable cropping systems.

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Diversity of Root Bacteria from Peanut Cropping Systems

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/pnut.31.2.0005 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 86-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

D. T. Gooden ◽

H. D. Skipper ◽

J. H. Kim ◽

K. Xiong

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Biological Control ◽

Gas Chromatography ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Critical Research ◽

Chromatography Analysis ◽

Rotation System ◽

Gas Chromatography Analysis ◽

Peanut Production

Abstract Rhizobacteria play an important role in sustainable agriculture via plant growth and biological control of pests in a number of ecosystems. Understanding the interactions of crop rotation and rhizobacteria on peanut production is a critical research need. Development of a database on the rhizobacteria obtained from continuous and rotational fields of peanut was initiated in 1997 and terminated in 2000. Peanut was planted in monoculture for 4 yr. In rotational plots, peanut, cotton, corn, and peanut were planted in sequence. Rhizobacteria were isolated from the roots of crop plants grown in a Norfolk soil near Florence, SC. These isolates were identified by composition of fatty acids from gas chromatography analysis (GC/FAME). Arthrobacter and Bacillus were the major genera from non-rhizosphere soils. At initiation of this study in July 1997, the plots selected for continuous peanut had more diversity in rhizobacteria than those plots selected for rotation. In July 2000, rhizobacteria diversity was greater from peanut roots in the rotation cropping system than continuous peanut. Even though rhizobacteria diversity was greater in the rotation system, higher peanut yields were recorded in the continuous peanut system in 2000. Burkholderia spp. were always isolated from the peanut and other crop rhizospheres at each sampling date.

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Erratum to “Soil carbon stocks in different bioenergy cropping systems including subsoil” [Soil Tillage Res. 155 (2016) 308–317]

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2015.12.009 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 158 ◽

pp. 186

Author(s):

Martin Gauder ◽

Norbert Billen ◽

Sabine Zikeli ◽

Moritz Laub ◽

Simone Graeff-Hönninger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Carbon ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Carbon Stocks ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Soil Carbon Stocks ◽

Bioenergy Cropping Systems

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Energy Potential and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Bioenergy Cropping Systems on Marginally Productive Cropland: Energy Potential and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Bioenergy Cropping Systems on Marginally Productive Cropland

Efficiency and Sustainability in Biofuel Production ◽

10.1201/b18466-4 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 33-50

Author(s):

Marty Schmer ◽

Kenneth Vogel ◽

Gary Varvel ◽

Ronald Follett ◽

Robert Mitchell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Energy Potential ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Bioenergy Cropping Systems

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Biological control in various cropping systems

Biological Control in Plant Protection ◽

10.1201/b16042-3 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 11-31

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Cropping Systems

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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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Use of Crop Rotations, Cover Crops and Green Manures for Disease Suppression in Potato Cropping Systems

Global Journal of Agricultural Innovation Research & Development ◽

10.15377/2409-9813.2021.08.12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 153-168

Author(s):

Robert P. Larkin

Keyword(s):

Disease Control ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Green Manure ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Disease Suppression ◽

Green Manures ◽

Rotation Crops

Crop rotations and the inclusion of cover crops and green manures are primary tools in the sustainable management of soil-borne diseases in crop production systems. Crop rotations can reduce soil-borne disease through three general mechanisms: (1) serving as a break in the host-pathogen cycle; (2) by altering the soil physical, chemical, or biological characteristics to stimulate microbial activity and diversity; or (3) directly inhibiting pathogens through the release of suppressive or toxic compounds or the enhancement of specific antagonists. Brassicas, sudangrass, and related plant types are disease-suppressive crops well-known for their biofumigation potential but also have other effects on soil microbiology that are important in disease suppression. The efficacy of rotations for reducing soil-borne diseases is dependent on several factors, including crop type, rotation length, rotation sequence, and use of the crop (as full-season rotation, cover crop, or green manure). Years of field research with Brassica and non-Brassica rotation crops in potato cropping systems in Maine have documented the efficacy of Brassica green manures for the reduction of multiple soil-borne diseases. However, they have also indicated that these crops can provide disease control even when not incorporated as green manures and that other non-biofumigant crops (such as barley, ryegrass, and buckwheat) can also be effective in disease suppression. In general, all crops provided better disease control when used as green manure vs. as a cover crop, but the addition of a cover crop can improve control provided by most rotation crops. In long-term cropping system trials, rotations incorporating multiple soil health management practices, such as longer rotations, disease-suppressive rotation crops, cover crops, and green manures, and/or organic amendments have resulted in greater yield and microbial activity and fewer disease problems than standard rotations. These results indicate that improved cropping systems may enhance productivity, sustainability, and economic viability.

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