Cover Crops Influence Meadow Vole Presence in Organic Orchards

Living mulch cover crops can improve soil health and build organic matter, yet their use in fruit orchards comes with a risk of encouraging meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), a rodent that can be destructive to fruit trees. Several living mulch cover crop species were assessed in an apple (Malus ×domestica) orchard understory along with wood chip mulch and bare ground. Desired species characteristics were weed competitiveness, low growth habit, nitrogen fixation, and potential rodent repellency. Legume species included birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), medic (Medicago spp.), and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), which were planted in solid stands as well as mixtures. Nonlegume species included sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum), and colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis). Meadow vole presence was evaluated in fall and spring with point-intersect and run-length measurements. A legume mix (medic, birdsfoot trefoil, subterranean clover, and colonial bentgrass) had the highest meadow vole presence, with no reduction under the “sandwich” system of tilling either side of the tree trunks while leaving a cover crop in a narrow strip with the trunks. The nonlegume mix [colonial bentgrass, sweet alyssum, creeping thyme, and fivespot (Neomophila maculata)] had similar results. However, the sweet woodruff (planted in the “sandwich” system) had significantly lower presence of meadow voles than the other living mulches. Wood chip mulch, cultivation, and bare ground control were all similar, with very low presence, indicating low risk of meadow vole damage. The results from the sweet woodruff suggest that we need more research on the potential to select living mulches that are nonattractive or repellent to meadow voles for use in orchards.

Download Full-text

Amelioration of soil compaction by a cover-crop for no-tillage lettuce production

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9950553 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 553 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

RJ Stirzaker ◽

I White

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Field Trials ◽

Early Summer ◽

No Tillage ◽

Hot Weather

Excessive cultivation in many horticultural areas results in soil structural decline and poor utilization of water and nutrients. There are no reliable techniques for growing irrigated vegetables without cultivation. This work explores the hypothesis that a winter legume cover-crop can overcome the soil limitations of no-tillage and provide an alternative to excessive cultivation in the vegetable industry. We grew lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under no-tillage in field trials on a sandy loam soil following a bare winter fallow or a cover-crop of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), and compared this with cultivation by rotary hoe. The clover died naturally in early summer or was desiccated in the spring to form a mulch of at least 5 t ha-1 on the soil surface. The experiment was carried out over a 2.5 year period. The first crop was grown during hot weather and the soil in the no-tillage treatments was only moderately compacted. The yield of lettuce was similar in the no-tillage and cultivated treatments, and increased by about 30% when a mulch was added to each treatment. The soil was artificially compacted after the first crop. The second crop was grown 18 months later, during cooler spring weather, and following two further cover-crops. The yield of no-tillage lettuce was only 40% of that obtained with cultivation. Yield in the no-tillage treatment was doubled in two different ways: (1) by the addition of a surface mulch, and (2) through changes to soil structure stimulated by a cover-crop in the absence of a mulch. The experiments showed that a well-managed cover-crop can significantly ameliorate a compacted sandy soil by modifying soil temperature, soil strength, and by stimulating the formation of biopores.

Download Full-text

798 PB 074 CHANGES IN WEED SPECIES WITH DIFFERENT COVER CROPS IN TWO CALIFORNIA VINEYARDS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.547e ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 547e-547

Author(s):

Clyde L. Elmore ◽

Scott Steinmaus ◽

Dean Donaldson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Practice ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Weed Species ◽

Perennial Weed ◽

Annual Bluegrass ◽

Wild Mustard ◽

Field Bindweed ◽

Winter Annual

Cover crops are grown in vineyards for many reasons, including erosion control, maintaining organic matter and changing pest complexes. Changing a management practice from using resident vegetation as a cover to other planted cover crops will change the vineyard floor flora. The cover crops of `Olge' oat, `Olge' oat and purple vetch, and purple vetch alone were compared to resident vegetation as winter planted cover crops. The cover was harvested in April of each year and blown under the vine row; The cover crop remains were disked into the middles after mulching. Three varieties of subterranean clover were planted in the vine rows at each location in one-half of each of the cover crops. The winter annual weed species, black and wild mustard, common chickweed and annual bluegrass decreased in the inter-row areas. The perennial weed field bindweed increased in all cover crop treatments.

Download Full-text

COVER CROP MIXTURES FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.664c ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 664c-664 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nancy G. Creamer ◽

Mark A. Bennett ◽

Benjamin R. Stinner

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Red Clover ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

The State ◽

First Year ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Species Mixture

Polyculture mixtures of several species of cover crops may be the best way to optimize some of the benefits associated with cover crop use. In the first year of a three year study, 16 polyculture mixtures of cover crops (4 species/mixture) were screened at seven sites throughout the state. Five of the mixtures were seeded at two planting dates. Fall evaluation of the cover crop mixtures included ease of establishment, vigor, percent groundcover, plant height, and relative biomass. The two mixtures with the highest percent groundcover were (1): sudex, rye, mammoth red clover, and subterranean clover (62% and 80% groundcover, one and two months after planting respectively), and, (2), annual alfalfa, hairy vetch, ryegrass, and rye (56% and 84% groundcover one and two months after planting respectively). The six mixtures with the highest percent groundcover did consistently well, relative to other mixtures, at all locations. Mixture (1) above also had the highest relative biomass throughout the state. Yellow and white sweet clovers, hairy vetch, winter oats, subterranean clover, red clover, rye and barley established well and maintained high vigor ratings throughout the fall. Ladino clover, timothy, and big flower vetch consistently had poor vigor ratings.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of Cover Crop Mixtures for Use in Vegetable Production Systems

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.32.5.866 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (5) ◽

pp. 866-870 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Nancy G. Creamer ◽

Mark A. Bennett ◽

Benjamin R. Stinner

Keyword(s):

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Individual Species ◽

N Availability ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Mechanical Methods

Planting polyculture mixtures of cover crops can optimize the benefits of their use. Thirteen polyculture mixtures of cover crops were evaluated in Columbus and Fremont, Ohio, to find a species mix that would establish quickly for erosion control, overwinter in Ohio, contribute sufficient N and have a C : N ratio between 20:1 and 30:1 to optimize N availability for subsequent crops, be killable by mechanical methods, and have high weed control potential. All of the mixtures in Columbus had achieved 30% ground cover 1 month after planting, but only four of the mixtures achieved this in Fremont due to poor conditions at planting. Above-ground biomass (AGB) accumulation in the mixtures ranged from 3631 to 13,642 kg·ha-1 in Columbus, and 449 to 12,478 kg·ha-1 in Fremont. Nitrogen in the AGB ranged from 74 to 269 kg·ha-1 in Columbus, and 10 to 170 kg·ha-1 in Fremont. Weed cover in the cover crop plots ranged from 1% to 91% eight weeks after cover crop kill in Columbus, and 12% to 90% seven weeks after cover crop kill in Fremont. Because one or more species in each screened mixture was determined not to be suitable, none of the mixtures was optimum. However, information gained about performance of individual species within the mixtures is also useful. `Nitro' alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), ladino clover (Trifolium repense L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), Austrian winter peas [Pisum sativum ssp. Arvense (L.) Poir], and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) did not overwinter dependably in Ohio. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) did not compete well with taller, more vigorous species, and were not persistent in the mixtures. Medium and mammoth red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), annual and perennial ryegrass, and white and yellow blossom sweetclover [Melilotus alba Desr., and Melilotus officianalis (L). Desr.], were not killable by mechanical methods. Individual species that established quickly, were competitive in the mixtures, overwintered dependably, and were killed by mechanical methods were rye (Secale cereale L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.)

Download Full-text

Preplant-Postemergence Herbicides for Legume Cover-Crop Control in Minimum Tillage Systems

Weed Technology ◽

10.1017/s0890037x00025495 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 332-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

James L. Griffin ◽

Seth M. Dabney

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Field Studies ◽

Application Time ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Legume Cover Crops ◽

Legume Cover Crop ◽

Postemergence Herbicides

Field studies were conducted to compare preplant-postemergence-applied paraquat, glyphosate, SC-0224, and HOE-39866 on subterranean clover, crimson clover, and hairy vetch cover crops. Subterranean clover control with paraquat at 1.1 kg ai/ha was about 80 and 100% when applied in early April and early May, respectively, regardless of spray volume (190 vs. 370 L/ha). Glyphosate and SC-0224 at 1.7 and 2.8 kg ai/ha applied in April controlled about 53% of subterranean clover. Subterranean clover control with HOE-39866 at 0.8 kg ai/ha applied in April was excellent. Paraquat at 0.6 kg ai/ha and HOE-39866 at 0.8 kg/ha regardless of application time controlled both crimson clover and hairy vetch. Grain sorghum and soybean yields following the legume cover crops generally were similar for the herbicide treatments.

Download Full-text

Use of Cover Crop Mulches in a Processing Tomato Production System

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.476a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 476a-476

Author(s):

E.V. Herrero ◽

J.P. Mitchell ◽

E. Campiglia ◽

W.T. Lanini ◽

S. Temple ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Barrel Medic ◽

Processing Tomato ◽

No Till ◽

Weed Cover ◽

Synthetic Fertilizers ◽

High Yields

Conventional processing tomato production in California relies on inputs of synthetic fertilizers, water, and tillage to achieve high yields. Recently, there has been interest in reducing off-farm inputs and increasing soil quality by reducing tillage and increasing organic matter. Thus, this experiment examined the use of cover crops and no-till tomato production. Experiments were conducted in 1996 and 1997 at two sites, Five Points and Davis, Calif. Winter-grown cover crops included barrel medics, subterranean clover, pea, vetch, triticale, ryegrass, oat, and fallow controls. Cover crop plots were divided into three parts and nitrogen fertilizer added at 0, 112 or 225 kg/ha. Cover crops were mowed, and 3 weeks later, tomatoes were no-till transplanted into each plot. Weed cover at all sampling dates was less than 5% on all plots at the Five Points site, with no significant differences among treatments. At Davis, weed cover was much higher, but was also not significant among treatments. Tomato yields were highest (93 ton/ha) on the fallow plots and lowest (58 ton/ha) on the barrel medic plots at the Five Points site. At Davis, tomato yields were generally very low due to competition from weeds. The barrel medic cover crops plots had the highest tomato yields at this site (34 tons/ha), with plots without cover crops having the lowest yields (12 tons/ha). Tomato yields were 18% and 29% higher when 112 kg/ha or 225 kg/ha of nitrogen was added, compared to no nitrogen.

Download Full-text

Reduced Fungicide Applications and Host Resistance for Managing Three Diseases in Pumpkin Grown on a No-Till Cover Crop

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2002.86.10.1134 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 86 (10) ◽

pp. 1134-1141 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Kathryne L. Everts

Keyword(s):

Powdery Mildew ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Black Rot ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Bare Ground ◽

Fruit Number ◽

No Till ◽

Magic Lantern

Two recent changes in Maryland pumpkin production are (i) planting no-till into a cover crop with soil surface residue (70% of acreage) and (ii) adoption of cultivars with moderate resistance to powdery mildew. Pumpkin cultivar resistance to powdery mildew, planting method (no-till cover crop or conventional tillage bare ground), and fungicide schedules were examined for development of powdery mildew (caused primarily by Podosphaera xanthii), Plectosporium blight (Plectosporium tabacinum), and black rot (Didymella bryoniae), and pumpkin yield and quality. Fungicide application intervals were (i) nontreated, (ii) 7 days, (iii) 14 days, or (iv) 7 days early and 14 days late season. Pumpkin grown no-till on hairy vetch and hairy vetch plus rye cover crops had an average 36% less Plectosporium blight and 50% less black rot than those grown conventional tillage on bare ground. Powdery mildew was less severe on cv. Magic Lantern, which is moderately resistant to this disease, than on susceptible cv. Wizard. Regression equations to describe the impact of disease and treatment on pumpkin fruit number, weight, and peduncle quality (healthy, intact peduncles) were developed using three-stage least squares procedure. Powdery mildew caused the greatest reduction on fruit number, weight, and peduncle quality compared with other diseases. Plectosporium blight reduced fruit number in 1999 and 2000, and fruit weight and peduncle quality in 2000. Hairy vetch and hairy vetch plus rye cover crops resulted in greater fruit number (1,033 and 858 more marketable fruit/ha, respectively) than bare ground in 2000. Powdery mildew resistance (Magic Lantern) combined with pumpkin production on a cover crop resulted in lower levels of powdery mildew (average areas under the disease progress curve 1,474 versus 2,379), Plectosporium blight (average 5 versus 16% severity), and black rot (average 153 versus 217 symptomatic fruit/ha) compared with conventional production (Wizard on bare ground). A reduced fungicide schedule resulted in acceptable disease management, yield, and peduncle quality of Magic Lantern grown on a cover crop; Magic Lantern grown on a cover crop and sprayed every 14 days yielded the same as or more than Wizard grown on bare ground and sprayed weekly.

Download Full-text

A method for mechanically killing cover crops to optimize weed suppression

American Journal of Alternative Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0889189300006408 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 157-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

N.G. Creamer ◽

B. Plassman ◽

M.A. Bennett ◽

R.K. Wood ◽

B.R. Stinner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Mechanical Method ◽

Crop Species ◽

Crimson Clover

AbstractResidues of dead cover crops can suppress weeds by providing a mulch on the soil surface. The cover crop usually is killed with herbicides, but a mechanical method is desirable in systems intended to reduce chemical use. We designed and built an undercutter to kill cover crops by severing their roots while flattening the intact aboveground biomass on the surface of raised beds. We studied which cover crop species could be killed with the undercutter and compared the weed control potential of cover crop residues after flail mowing, sicklebar mowing, and undercutting.Whether a species was killed by the undercutter depended primarily on growth stage. Species that were in mid- to late bloom or beyond, including rye, hairy vetch, bigflower vetch, crimson clover, barley, and subterranean clover, were easily killed by undercutting. There were no differences in dry weights of broadleaf weeds between the undercut and simulated sicklebar mowed treatments, both of which had less weed biomass than the clean-tilled or flail-mowed plots.

Download Full-text

Long-Term Effect of Cover Crops on Species Abundance and Diversity of Weed Flora

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants9111506 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1506 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alessia Restuccia ◽

Aurelio Scavo ◽

Sara Lombardo ◽

Gaetano Pandino ◽

Stefania Fontanazza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Species Composition ◽

Seed Bank ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Seed Bank ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Conventional Management ◽

Crop Biomass

Cover crops are gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly tool for weed control in organic and low-input agricultural systems. A 5-year study was carried out in a Mediterranean environment (Sicily, south Italy) to (1) quantify cover crop biomass production and (2) evaluate the effects on weed soil seed bank, aboveground biomass, species richness, species composition and associations between communities. Cover crop treatments included subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and spontaneous flora, both with and without burying dead mulch into the soil, compared to a conventional management treatment. Weed biomass was significantly reduced by subterranean clover, contrariwise to spontaneous flora, with season-dependent results. Cover crop biomass, which ranged from 44 to more than 290 g DW m−2, was negatively correlated to weed biomass. Moreover, subterranean clover decreased the size of the soil seed bank and species richness. Based on relative frequency, a low similarity was found between the conventional management and cover crop treatments. In addition, no significant differences in species composition across treatments were observed, whereas principal component analysis highlighted some associations. The results suggest that subterranean clover cover cropping is a good option for weed management in Mediterranean agroecosystems.

Download Full-text

Influence of cover crop treatments on the performance of a vineyard in a humid region

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2015134-8265 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. e0907 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Emiliano Trigo-Córdoba ◽

Yolanda Bouzas-Cid ◽

Ignacio Orriols-Fernández ◽

Emilia Díaz-Losada ◽

Jose M. Mirás-Avalos

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Vegetative Growth ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Subterranean Clover ◽

Trifolium Subterraneum ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Stem Water Potential ◽

Berry Quality ◽

Berry Composition

Vineyards are usually managed by tilling the inter-rows to avoid competition from other plants for soil water and nutrients. However, in humid and sub-humid climates, such as that of NW Spain, cover crops may be an advantage for controlling vine vegetative growth and improving berry composition, while reducing management costs. The current study was conducted over three consecutive growing seasons (2012-2014) to assess the effects of establishing three permanent cover crop treatments on water relations, vine physiology, yield and berry composition of a vineyard of the red cultivar ‘Mencía’ (Vitis vinifera L.) located in Leiro, Ourense. Treatments consisted of four different soil management systems: ST, soil tillage; NV, native vegetation; ER, English ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.); and SC, subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.). Midday stem water potential was more negative in the native vegetation treatment, causing significant reductions in leaf stomatal conductance on certain dates. Total vine leaf area and pruning weight was reduced in the cover crop treatments in the last year of the experiment. Yield was unaffected by the presence of a cover crop. No significant differences among treatments were observed for berry composition; however, wines were positively affected by the SC treatment (higher tannin content and colour intensity and lower malic acid concentration when compared with ST). Wines from the cover crop treatments were preferred by taste panelists. These results indicate that in humid climates cover crop treatments can be useful for reducing vine vegetative growth without compromising yield and berry quality.

Download Full-text