Cover Crop and Fertility Effects on Escherichia coli Abundance in a Composted Poultry Litter-Amended Silt Loam Soil

Soil conservation practices such as cover crops can improve crop production, soil quality, and water quality. Cover crops can also influence soil microbial growth and activity. Cover cropped and manured soils can potentially store and transmit fecal bacteria (e.g., E. coli) to surface water if runoff and subsurface seepage occur. While many studies have shown the soil health benefits of cover crops, fewer studies have evaluated the extent to which cover crops influence the abundance of potential waste-borne pathogens. A two-year study (2015–2017) was conducted on a limited-resource farm in Logan County, Kentucky, USA, to quantify the abundance of the fecal indicator Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria (as a proxy for fecal coliforms) in treatments with and without cover crops or composted poultry litter. The cover crop consisted of a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) mix. Summer crops consisted of a no-till maize (Zea mays L.)—soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. Soil samples were taken before and after each summer crop season and assessed to detect and enumerate E. coli. At the end of the study period, no significant treatment differences in the E. coli abundance in soil were detected (ca. 104 CFU·g−1) (p>0.05). However, season/time was a significant factor (p<0.05). We conclude that the background E. coli already present in soil was sufficiently high, inhibiting the detection of the influence of added composted litter. These indigenous E. coli were unaffected by cover crop and nutrient management but did fluctuate on a seasonal basis.

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Effects of Cover Crop Species and Season on Population Dynamics of Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua in Soil

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.03712-15 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 82 (6) ◽

pp. 1767-1777 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Neiunna L. Reed-Jones ◽

Sasha Cahn Marine ◽

Kathryne L. Everts ◽

Shirley A. Micallef

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Green Manure ◽

Listeria Innocua ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Crimson Clover

ABSTRACTCover crops provide several ecosystem services, but their impact on enteric bacterial survival remains unexplored. The influence of cover cropping on foodborne pathogen indicator bacteria was assessed in five cover crop/green manure systems: cereal rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover, hairy vetch-rye and crimson clover-rye mixtures, and bare ground. Cover crop plots were inoculated withEscherichia coliandListeria innocuain the fall of 2013 and 2014 and tilled into the soil in the spring to form green manure. Soil samples were collected and the bacteria enumerated. Time was a factor for all bacterial populations studied in all fields (P< 0.001).E. colilevels declined when soil temperatures dipped to <5°C and were detected only sporadically the following spring.L. innocuadiminished somewhat but persisted, independently of season. In an organic field, the cover crop was a factor forE. coliin year 1 (P= 0.004) and forL. innocuain year 2 (P= 0.011). In year 1,E. colilevels were highest in the rye and hairy vetch-rye plots. In year 2,L. innocualevels were higher in hairy vetch-rye (P= 0.01) and hairy vetch (P= 0.03) plots than in the rye plot. Bacterial populations grew (P< 0.05) or remained the same 4 weeks after green manure incorporation, although initial reductions inL. innocuanumbers were observed after tilling (P< 0.05). Green manure type was a factor only forL. innocuaabundance in a transitional field (P< 0.05). Overall, the impacts of cover crops/green manures on bacterial population dynamics in soil varied, being influenced by bacterial species, time from inoculation, soil temperature, rainfall, and tillage; this reveals the need for long-term studies.

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Evaluation of cover crop sensitivity to residual herbicides applied in the previous soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] crop

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2019.10 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 312-320 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Derek M. Whalen ◽

Mandy D. Bish ◽

Bryan G. Young ◽

Aaron G. Hager ◽

Shawn P. Conley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Crop Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Crop Establishment ◽

Study Results

AbstractIn recent years, the use of cover crops has increased in U.S. crop production systems. An important aspect of successful cover crop establishment is the preceding crop and herbicide program, because some herbicides have the potential to persist in the soil for several months. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of cover crops to common residual herbicides used in soybean production. The same field experiment was conducted in 2016 in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin, and repeated in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, and Missouri in 2017 to evaluate the potential of residual soybean herbicides to carryover and reduce cover crop establishment. Herbicides applied during the soybean growing season included acetochlor; acetochlor plus fomesafen; chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron; fomesafen; fomesafen plus S-metolachlor followed by acetochlor; imazethapyr; pyroxasulfone; S-metolachlor; S-metolachlor plus fomesafen; sulfentrazone plus S-metolachlor; sulfentrazone plus S-metolachlor followed by fomesafen plus S-metolachlor; and sulfentrazone plus S-metolachlor followed by fomesafen plus S-metolachlor followed by acetochlor. Across all herbicide treatments, the sensitivity of cover crops to herbicide residues in the fall, from greatest to least, was forage radish = turnip > annual ryegrass = winter oat = triticale > cereal rye = Austrian winter pea = hairy vetch = wheat > crimson clover. Fomesafen (applied 21 and 42 days after planting [(DAP]); chlorimuron plus thifensulfuron and pyroxasulfone applied 42 DAP; sulfentrazone plus S-metolachlor followed by fomesafen plus S-metolachlor; and sulfentrazone plus S-metolachlor followed by fomesafen plus S-metolachlor followed by acetochlor caused the highest visual ground cover reduction to cover crop species at the fall rating. Study results indicate cover crops are most at risk when following herbicide applications in soybean containing certain active ingredients such as fomesafen, but overall there is a fairly low risk of cover crop injury from residual soybean herbicides applied in the previous soybean crop.

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Cover Crops and N Rates Influence Sweetpotato Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.31.4.611e ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 611e-611

Author(s):

D.C. Sanders ◽

G.D. Hoyt ◽

J.C. Gilsanz ◽

J.M. Davis ◽

J.T. Garrett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Crop Cover ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

No Till ◽

Loam Soil ◽

N Rates ◽

Winter Fallow

`Jewel' sweetpotato was no-till planted into crimson clover, wheat, or winter fallow. Then N was applied at 0, 60, or 120 kg·ha–1 in three equal applications to a sandy loam soil. Each fall the cover crop and production crop residue were plowed into the soil, beds were formed, and cover crops were planted. Plant growth of sweetpotato and cover crops increased with N rate. For the first 2 years crimson clover did not provide enough N (90 kg·ha–1) to compensate for the need for inorganic N. By year 3, crimson clover did provide sufficient N to produce yields sufficient to compensate for crop production and organic matter decomposition. Soil samples were taken to a depth of 1 m at the time of planting of the cover crop and production crop. Cover crops retained the N and reduced N movement into the subsoil.

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Comparison of Fecal Coliform Agar and Violet Red Bile Lactose Agar for Fecal Coliform Enumeration in Foods

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.68.4.1631-1638.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 1631-1638 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

A. Leclercq ◽

C. Wanegue ◽

P. Baylac

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Fecal Coliform ◽

Food Samples ◽

Fecal Coliforms ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Direct Plating ◽

Hafnia Alvei ◽

E Coli ◽

Plating Method ◽

Mashed Potatoes

ABSTRACT A 24-h direct plating method for fecal coliform enumeration with a resuscitation step (preincubation for 2 h at 37 ± 1°C and transfer to 44 ± 1°C for 22 h) using fecal coliform agar (FCA) was compared with the 24-h standardized violet red bile lactose agar (VRBL) method. FCA and VRBL have equivalent specificities and sensitivities, except for lactose-positive non-fecal coliforms such as Hafnia alvei, which could form typical colonies on FCA and VRBL. Recovery of cold-stressed Escherichia coli in mashed potatoes on FCA was about 1 log unit lower than that with VRBL. When the FCA method was compared with standard VRBL for enumeration of fecal coliforms, based on counting carried out on 170 different food samples, results were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Based on 203 typical identified colonies selected as found on VRBL and FCA, the latter medium appears to allow the enumeration of more true fecal coliforms and has higher performance in certain ways (specificity, sensitivity, and negative and positive predictive values) than VRBL. Most colonies clearly identified on both media were E. coli and H. alvei, a non-fecal coliform. Therefore, the replacement of fecal coliform enumeration by E. coli enumeration to estimate food sanitary quality should be recommended.

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173 Grazing Cover Crops: Effects of Cattle Removal Date on Forage Production and Cattle Performance

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skab235.168 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 94-94

Author(s):

Russell C Carrell ◽

Sandra L Dillard ◽

Mary K Mullenix ◽

Audrey Gamble ◽

Russ B Muntifering

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Forage Production ◽

Cool Season ◽

Total Gain ◽

Cattle Performance

Abstract Use of cool-season annual cover crops through grazing has been shown to be a potential tool in extending the grazing season, while still mitigating environmental risks associated with warm-season row crop production. Although data describing the effects of grazing on soil health are not novel, effects of grazing length on animal performance and cover crop production are limited. The objective was to determine cattle performance and forage production when grazing a cool-season annual cover-crop. Twelve, 1.2-ha pastures were established in a four species forage mix and randomly allocated to be grazed through either mid-February (FEB), mid-March (MAR), or mid-April (APR) with a non-grazed control (CON). Three tester steers were randomly placed in each paddock and a 1:1 forage allowance was maintained in each paddock using put-and-take steers. Animals were weighed every 30 d for determination of average daily gain (ADG). Forage was harvested bi-weekly and analyzed for forage production, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Fiber fractions were measured using an ANKOM fiber analyzer (ANKOM Tech, Macedon, NY). All data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Differences in forage mass were detected between CON and FEB (3,694.75 vs. 2,539.68 kg/ha; P < 0.003), CON and MAR (3,694.75 vs. 1,823.45 kg/ha; P < 0.001), and CON and APR (3,694.75 vs. 1,976.23 kg/ha; P < 0.001). Differences in total gain/acre were detected between APR and MAR (212.24 vs. 101.74 kg/ha; P < 0.0001), APR and FEB (212.24 vs 52.65 kg/ha; P < 0.0001), and FEB and MAR (101.74 vs. 52.65 kg/ha; P < 0.003). No differences were detected for tester ADG (1.23 kg/day, P = 0.56), NDF (44.9%, P = 0.99), or ADF (27.2%, P = 0.92) among treatments. These results indicate that cattle removal date effected forage yield and total gain/hectare.

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Cover crop effects on soil temperature in a clay loam soil in southwestern Ontario

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.1139/cjss-2021-0070 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

X.M. Yang ◽

W.D. Reynolds ◽

C.F. Drury ◽

M.D. Reeb

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Environmental Performance ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Clay Loam ◽

Near Surface ◽

Soil Temperatures ◽

Surface Soil Temperature

Although it is well established that soil temperature has substantial effects on the agri-environmental performance of crop production, little is known of soil temperatures under living cover crops. Consequently, soil temperatures under a crimson clover and white clover mix, hairy vetch, and red clover were measured for a cool, humid Brookston clay loam under a corn–soybean–winter wheat/cover crop rotation. Measurements were collected from August (after cover crop seeding) to the following May (before cover crop termination) at 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm depths during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. Average soil temperatures (August–May) were not affected by cover crop species at any depth, or by air temperature at 60 cm depth. During winter, soil temperatures at 15, 30, and 45 cm depths were greater under cover crops than under a no cover crop control (CK), with maximum increase occurring at 15 cm on 31 January 2019 (2.5–5.7 °C) and on 23 January 2020 (0.8–1.9 °C). In spring, soil temperatures under standing cover crops were cooler than the CK by 0.1–3.0 °C at 15 cm depth, by 0–2.4 °C at the 30 and 45 cm depths, and by 0–1.8 °C at 60 cm depth. In addition, springtime soil temperature at 15 cm depth decreased by about 0.24 °C for every 1 Mg·ha−1 increase in live cover crop biomass. Relative to bare soil, cover crops increased near-surface soil temperature during winter but decreased near-surface soil temperature during spring. These temperature changes may have both positive and negative effects on the agri-environmental performance of crop production.

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Influence of legume cover crops and conservation tillage on soil populations of selected fungal genera

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m88-038 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 201-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

C. S. Rothrock ◽

W. L. Hargrove

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Field Studies ◽

Macrophomina Phaseolina ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Legume Cover Crops ◽

Legume Cover Crop

The influence of winter legume cover crops and of tillage on soil populations of fungal genera containing plant pathogenic species in the subsequent summer sorghum crop were examined in field studies. Legume cover crops significantly increased populations of Pythium spp. throughout the sorghum crop compared with a rye cover crop or no cover crop. This stimulation of the populations of Pythium spp. was not solely due to colonization of cover-crop residue, as populations were significantly greater at the time the legume cover crop was desiccated. Removal of aboveground residue generally decreased populations of Pythium spp. in soil. Incorporation of residue by tillage increased populations of Pythium spp. at some sampling dates. Legumes differed in the magnitude of stimulation, with hairy vetch stimulating Pythium spp. more than crimson clover. Cover crop treatments did not consistently influence soil populations of Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia-like binucleate fungi, or Macrophomina phaseolina. Macrophomina phaseolina populations were significantly greater under no tillage.

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No-tillage sorghum and garbanzo yields match or exceed standard tillage yields

California Agriculture ◽

10.3733/ca.2021a0017 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 112-120

Author(s):

Jeffrey P. Mitchell ◽

Anil Shrestha ◽

Lynn Epstein ◽

Jeffery A. Dahlberg ◽

Teamrat Ghezzehei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Surface ◽

San Joaquin Valley ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

No Till ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Crop System

To meet the requirements of California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, there is a critical need for crop production strategies with less reliance on irrigation from surface and groundwater sources. One strategy for improving agricultural water use efficiency is reducing tillage and maintaining residues on the soil surface. We evaluated high residue no-till versus standard tillage in the San Joaquin Valley with and without cover crops on the yields of two crops, garbanzo and sorghum, for 4 years. The no-till treatment had no primary or secondary tillage. Sorghum yields were similar in no-till and standard tillage systems while no-till garbanzo yields matched or exceeded those of standard tillage, depending on the year. Cover crops had no effect on crop yields. Soil cover was highest under the no-till with cover crop system, averaging 97% versus 5% for the standard tillage without cover crop system. Our results suggest that garbanzos and sorghum can be grown under no-till practices in the San Joaquin Valley without loss of yield.

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Evaluation of Chemical Termination Options for Cover Crops

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/wet.2017.113 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 227-235 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Matheus G. Palhano ◽

Jason K. Norsworthy ◽

Tom Barber

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Yield Potential ◽

Crop Acreage ◽

Potential Cost ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Legume Cover Crops ◽

And Control

AbstractCover crop acreage has substantially increased over the last few years due to the intent of growers to capitalize on federal conservation payments and incorporate sustainable practices into agricultural systems. Despite all the known benefits, widespread adoption of cover crops still remains limited due to potential cost and management requirements. Cover crop termination is crucial, because a poorly controlled cover crop can become a weed and lessen the yield potential of the current cash crop. A field study was conducted in fall 2015 and 2016 at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville to evaluate preplant herbicide options for terminating cover crops. Glyphosate-containing treatments controlled 97% to 100% of cereal rye and wheat, but glyphosate alone controlled less than 57% of legume cover crops. The most effective way to control hairy vetch, Austrian winterpea, and crimson clover with glyphosate resulted from mixtures of glyphosate with glufosinate, 2,4-D, and dicamba. Higher rates of auxin herbicides improved control in these mixtures. Glufosinate alone or in mixture controlled legume cover crops 81% or more. Paraquat plus metribuzin was effective in terminating both cereal and legume cover crops, with control of cereal cover crops ranging from 87% to 97% and control of legumes ranging from 90% to 96%. None of these herbicides or mixtures adequately controlled rapeseed.

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Escherichia coli is not a suitable fecal indicator to assess water fecal contamination by otters

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/1519-6984.167279 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

pp. 155-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. Oliveira ◽

D. Freire ◽

N. M. Pedroso

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Fecal Contamination ◽

Microbiological Quality ◽

Aquatic Environments ◽

Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽

Fecal Indicator ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

E Coli ◽

Paulo State

Abstract The detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments is extremely relevant in terms of public health. As these laboratorial methodologies are usually difficult, expensive and time-consuming, they are frequently replaced by the assessment of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. This study aimed to assess the presence of E. coli in fecal samples from Neotropical otters, to evaluate its potential as fecal indicator to be applied to the determination of water microbiological quality in areas where otters’ populations are high. Twenty-six otter fecal samples, collected in Alto Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of E. coli, using conventional bacteriological methods. Only 8 scat samples (30%) were E. coli positive, indicating that this microorganism is not a suitable fecal indicator to assess water fecal contamination by Neotropical otters, and should not be used to infer the presence of otter related pathogens in waters.

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