Soil Phosphorus Removal as a Function of Cropping System

A factored experiment was established at the Texas A&M Univ. Research and Extension Center at Overton in Spring 1995. The objective was to investigate the use of warm- and cool-season legume cover crops in vegetable cropping systems for reducing phosphorus (P) accumulation from poultry litter (PL) and commercial blend (CB) fertilizer. PL rates were based on soil test nitrogen (N) requirement of the vegetable crop and percent N content of the litter. This was considered the 1X rate. Fertility treatments were applied to the vegetable crop only. PL was applied at O, 1X, 2X and 4X rates. CB was applied at recommended rates for N, P, and K. The vegetable crops were: Spring 1995—watermelon; Fall 1995—turnip; Spring 1996—tomato; Fall 1996—collard; Spring 1997—squash. The legumes were: spring—Iron and Clay cowpea; fall—crimson clover. Dry-matter yield of cowpeas and clover was not affected by fertility treatment in any of the years studied to date (Spring 1995, 1996, 1997). Plant concentration of P for both cover crops was increased all 3 years as rate increased. PL applied at the 1X rate maintained P levels in the surface 0—15 cm of soil at 60 mg·kg-1 over the five-season study period. CB maintained levels of P equal to the control. A cropping system of spring vegetable—fall legume greatly reduced P accumulation. A reduction in P was also noted from a system of fall vegetable—spring legume, but not as pronounced. The greatest accumulation was with a system of spring vegetable—fall vegetable.

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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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Common pre- and post-harvest diseases of vegetable crops in Jamaica.

CAB Reviews Perspectives in Agriculture Veterinary Science Nutrition and Natural Resources ◽

10.1079/pavsnnr202015057 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (057) ◽

Author(s):

Noureddine Benkeblia

Keyword(s):

Leaf Spot ◽

Early Blight ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Foot Disease ◽

Septoria Leaf Spot

Abstract Vegetable production in Jamaica, and throughout the world, faces many diseases that affect the yield and the quality of the fresh harvest produce. However, some diseases are more predominant than others. The most observed diseases of vegetables are anthracnose, leaf spot, club root, downy mildew, gray mold, mosaic and geminiviruses, early blight, septoria leaf spot and leaf rusts. Nevertheless, other diseases can also be found seriously affecting the grown vegetable. Greenhouse cropping systems are also affected by similar and other diseases such as septoria leaf spot, early blight, anthracnose, fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, late blight, bacterial spot, bacterial speck, bacterial canker, gray mold, leaf mold, powdery mildew and elephant's foot disease. Although not specific to the country, other diseases are also found more frequently than others, and the frequency varies with the region and the cropping system (indoor or outdoor).

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Epigeal fauna and soil attributes in a cover-cropped organic vegetable system

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20200842 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Sandra Santana de Lima ◽

Dérique Biassi ◽

Cyndi dos Santos Ferreira ◽

Priscila Silva Matos ◽

Lucas Vasconcelos Rocha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Secondary Forest ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Block Design ◽

Solanum Melongena ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Cropping System ◽

Positive Association ◽

Forest Site

ABSTRACT: This study assessed the effect of cover crop biomass on the epigeal fauna of an organic eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cropping system. A randomized block design was used, with four cover crop treatments: brachiaria, crotalaria, millet, and cocktail (brachiaria, crotalaria and millet). The epigeal faunal indices were determined at each plot. The epigeal fauna of a secondary forest site was also assessed for comparison. Epigeal individuals were collected using pitfall traps at two sampling periods (110 and 180 days after mowing cover crops). Soil samples were collected for determination of physical and chemic properties. 2032 individuals were captured in the first sampling and 3806 individuals in the second. The highest values of wealth in the first collection were observed in the millet and cocktail areas. Cluster analysis showed similarity of epigeal faunal groups between millet and brachiaria plots at the first sampling and between cocktail and crotalaria sites at the second sampling. Co-inertia analysis showed a significant covariance between epigeal fauna at the second sampling and soil properties. The cover crops management had a beneficial influence on the activity, wealth and ecological indexes, in both sampling periods. The positive association observed between epigeal faunal groups and soil physical and chemical properties demonstrates the efficiency of cover crops in improving soil quality in organic cropping systems.

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An Evaluation of Summer Cover Crops for Use in Vegetable Production Systems in North Carolina

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.4.600 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 600-603 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Nancy G. Creamer ◽

Keith R. Baldwin

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Aboveground Biomass ◽

Production Systems ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Foxtail Millet ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Lablab Purpureus ◽

Sorghum Sudangrass

Summer cover crops can produce biomass, contribute nitrogen to cropping systems, increase soil organic matter, and suppress weeds. Through fixation of atmospheric N2 and uptake of soil residual N, they also contribute to the N requirement of subsequent vegetable crops. Six legumes {cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), sesbania (Sesbania exaltata L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsutum L.), velvetbean [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort.) Merr.], and lablab (Lablab purpureus L.)}; two nonlegume broadleaved species [buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)]; and five grasses {sorghum-sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench × S. sudanense (P) Stapf.], sudangrass [S. sudanense (P) Stapf.], Japanese millet [Echinochloa frumentacea (Roxb.) Link], pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L). R. Br.], and German foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.)]}, were planted in raised beds alone or in mixtures in 1995 at Plymouth, and in 1996 at Goldsboro, N.C. Biomass production for the legumes ranged from 1420 (velvetbean) to 4807 kg·ha-1 (sesbania). Low velvetbean biomass was attributed to poor germination in this study. Nitrogen in the aboveground biomass for the legumes ranged from 32 (velvetbean) to 97 kg·ha-1 (sesbania). All of the legumes except velvetbean were competitive with weeds. Lablab did not suppress weeds as well as did cover crops producing higher biomass. Aboveground biomass for grasses varied from 3918 (Japanese millet) to 8792 kg·ha-1 (sorghum-sudangrass). While N for the grasses ranged from 39 (Japanese millet) to 88 kg·ha-1 (sorghum-sudangrass), the C: N ratios were very high. Additional N would be needed for fall-planted vegetable crops to overcome immobilization of N. All of the grass cover crops reduced weeds as relative to the weedy control plot. Species that performed well together as a mixture at both sites included Japanese millet/soybean and sorghum-sudangrass/cowpea.

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006 SOIL NITROGEN MOVEMENT AND SOIL STRENGTH IN VARIOUS VEGETABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.428c ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 428c-428

Author(s):

Juan Carlos Gilsanz ◽

D. C. Sanders ◽

G. D. Hoyt

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Potato Crop ◽

Soil Nitrate ◽

Snap Bean ◽

Crimson Clover ◽

Snap Beans ◽

Soil Impedance

Rye plus crimson clover cover crops were followed by spring potato and fall snap bean or sorghum or fallow. The soil samples at 15 cm increments to 90 cm were evaluated for nitrate levels after each crop and cover crop. After the cover crops, soil nitrate levels were reduced relative to the fallow area. After the potato, crop soil nitrate levels increased above initial spring levels due a uniform fertilization due to the amount of N applied and short cycle of the crop. Snap beans and sorghum had increased plant stands and reduced soil impedance after fall cover crops. HOW nitrate levels varied with soil depth and time will be discussed.

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Use of Cowpea to Manage Soil Phosphorus Accumulation from Poultry Litter Applications in a Cool-season Vegetable Rotation

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.4.591a ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 591a-591

Author(s):

Clydette Alsup ◽

Brian A. Kahn

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Soil Phosphorus ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Cool Season ◽

Soil P ◽

Phosphorus Accumulation ◽

Turnip Greens ◽

Vegetable Rotation

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.)] cover crops were grown in a rotation with broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and turnip greens [Brassica rape L. var. (DC.) Metzg. utilis] to evaluate the legume's ability to remove excess P from soils when poultry litter was used as a fertilizer. Fertilizer treatments were litter to meet each crop's recommended preplant N requirements (1X), litter at twice the recommended rate, and urea at the IX rate as the control. Following the vegetable crops, cowpeas were planted on half of each replication, while the other half was fallowed. The cowpeas were harvested for green-shell seeds and then underwent a simulated haying operation. Soil samples were taken at 0-to 15-cm and 15- to 30-cm depths at the onset of the study and after each crop to monitor plant nutrient levels. The cowpeas effectively lowered soil N levels but not soil P levels. However, there was no consistent evidence of an increase in soil P or K levels with litter applications. All three vegetable crops were successfully grown using poultry litter, although the 1X rate appeared inadequate for maximum production of broccoli and turnip greens.

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Using Cowpea to Manage Soil Phosphorus Accumulation from Poultry Litter Applications in a Cool-season Vegetable Rotation

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.37.3.496 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 496-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Clydette M. Alsup ◽

Brian A. Kahn ◽

Mark E. Payton

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Spinacia Oleracea ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Cropping System ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Soil Test ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Soil Test P ◽

Turnip Greens ◽

Vegetable Rotation

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cover crops were grown in a rotation with broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and turnip greens [Brassica rapa L. var. (DC.) Metzg. utilis] to evaluate the legume's ability to remove excess P from soils when poultry litter was used as a fertilizer. Fertilizer treatments were: 1) litter to meet each crop's recommended preplant N requirements (1×); 2) litter at twice the recommended rate (2×); and 3) urea at the 1× rate as the control. Following the vegetable crops, cowpeas were planted on half of each replication, while the other half was fallowed. The cowpeas were harvested at the green-shell seed stage and then underwent a simulated haying operation to remove remaining shoot material from the field. Soil samples were taken at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths at the onset of the study and after each crop to monitor plant nutrient concentrations. The cowpeas lowered soil test N concentrations at both soil sampling depths, but had no consistent effect on soil test P concentrations. Soil test P at the 0-15 cm depth was not increased by litter at the 1× rate but was increased by litter at the 2× rate relative to the urea control, regardless of cropping system. Poultry litter was effective as a fertilizer for all three vegetable crops, but the 1× rate appeared inadequate for maximum production of broccoli and turnip greens.

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Using Hairy Vetch to Manage Soil Phosphorus Accumulation from Poultry Litter Applications in a Warm-season Vegetable Rotation

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.37.3.490 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 490-495

Author(s):

Clydette M. Alsup ◽

Brian A. Kahn ◽

Mark E. Payton

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Poultry Litter ◽

Cropping System ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Soil Test ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Soil Test P ◽

Vegetable Rotation

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crops were grown in a rotation with sweet corn (Zea mays var. rugosa Bonaf.) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo L. Reticulatus group) to evaluate the legume's ability to remove excess P from soils when poultry litter was used as a fertilizer. Fertilizer treatments were: 1) litter to meet each crop's recommended preplant N requirements (1×); 2) litter at twice the recommended rate (2×); and 3) urea at the 1× rate as the control. Following the vegetable crops, hairy vetch was planted on half of each replication, while the other half was fallowed. The vetch was removed from the field in a simulated haying operation in the spring. Soil samples were taken at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths at the onset of the study and after each crop to monitor plant nutrient concentrations. The vetch sometimes raised soil test N concentrations at the 0-15 cm depth. Soil test P concentrations at the 0-15 cm sampling depth in the vetch system were consistently lower numerically, but not statistically, relative to comparable plots in the fallow system. Soil test P at the 0-15 cm depth was usually increased by litter at the 2× rate relative to the urea control, regardless of cropping system. Yields of both vegetable crops were similar among all cover crop and fertilizer treatments.

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Cover crops use in Midwestern US agriculture: perceived benefits and net returns

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170518000194 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 38-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Alejandro Plastina ◽

Fangge Liu ◽

Fernando Miguez ◽

Sarah Carlson

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Cropping System ◽

Cost Share ◽

Conservation Practice ◽

Net Returns ◽

Soil Sustainability ◽

Pros And Cons

AbstractDespite being generally accepted as a promising conservation practice to reduce nitrate pollution and promote soil sustainability, cover crop adoption in Midwestern US agriculture is low. Based on focus groups, surveys and partial budgets, we calculated the annual net returns to cover crop use for farmers in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota; and elicited farmers’ perceptions about the pros and cons of incorporating cover crops to their row cropping systems. The novelty of our methodology resides in comparing each farmer's practices in the portion of their cropping system with cover crops (typically small), against their practices in the other portion of their cropping system without cover crops. The resulting comparisons, accounting for farmer heterogeneity, are more robust than the typical effects calculated by comparing indicators across cover crop users and unrelated non-adopters. Our results highlight the complicated nature of integrating cover crops into the crop production system and show that cover crops affect whole farm profitability through several channels besides establishment and termination costs. Despite farmers’ positive perceptions about cover crops and the availability of cost-share programs, calculated annual net returns to cover crops use were negative for most participants.

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Cropping System and Rotational Grazing Effects on Soil Fertility and Enzymatic Activity in an Integrated Organic Crop-Livestock System

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10060803 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 803

Author(s):

Fernando Shintate Galindo ◽

Kathleen Delate ◽

Bradley Heins ◽

Hannah Phillips ◽

Andrew Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Ph ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Cropping System ◽

Cattle Grazing ◽

Rotational Grazing ◽

Microbial Decomposition

Alternative grazing systems that incorporate cover crops may be useful to achieve a longer grazing season and maximize forage production. However, little is known about their impact on soil properties, especially in the presence or absence of cattle grazing in the early spring. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interacting effects of cropping systems with and without cattle grazing in rotation with corn or soybean on the balance and dynamics of soil fertility and enzyme activity. This study was conducted as a system experiment between 2015 and 2019 in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, USA. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Treatments included presence or absence of cattle grazing and two types of cropping systems (pasture-rye-soybean-pasture [P-R-SB-P] and pasture-wheat/vetch-corn-pasture [P-W/V-C-P]. Soil samples were collected six times during the study. Soil properties analyzed were soil pH, organic matter, salinity, K, Ca, Mg, cation exchange capacity (CEC), P, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, aryl-sulfatase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, ammonium, nitrate, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), N%, C%, S%, and C:N ratio. Grazing increased glucosidase activity, available Ca, Mg, NO3−, NH4+, soil pH, soil C%, S%, and the C:N ratio. In the P-W/V-C-P cropping system, soil pH, available Ca, NO3−, and sulfatase activity were found to increase compared with the P-R-SB-P cropping system. In contrast, soil OM, available K, Mg, CEC, glucosidase, phosphatase, POXC, and total C%, N%, and S% were greater in the P-R-SB-P cropping system compared with the P-W/V-C-P cropping system. The results of this study suggested that rotational grazing can increase soil quality and microbial decomposition under the P-W/V-C-P cropping system, and that this result was greater than under the P-R-SB-P cropping system, leading to a faster nutrient cycling. These results show promise for producers who are seeking methods to diversify their farming operation and reduce the need for external inputs.

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