399 Use of Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops for Sustainable Vegetable Production

Research began in 1999 to examine sustainable production of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using conservation tillage and legume winter cover crops. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage, strip-tillage, and no-tillage, and winter covers consisted of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and a vetch/rye biculture. Pepper yields following the rye winter cover crop were significantly reduced if inorganic N fertilizer was not supplied. However, following vetch, yields of peppers receiving no additional N were similar to yields obtained in treatments receiving the recommended rate of inorganic N fertilizer. Thus, vetch supplied sufficient N to peppers in terms of yields. Pepper yields following the biculture cover crop were intermediate between those obtained following vetch and rye. When weeds were controlled manually, pepper yields following biculture cover crops were similar among the three tillage treatments, indicating that no-tillage and strip-tillage could be used successfully if weeds were controlled. With no-tillage, yields were reduced without weed control but the reduction was less if twice the amount of residual cover crop surface mulch was used. Without manual weed control, pepper yields obtained using strip-tillage were reduced regardless of metolachlor herbicide application. It was concluded that a vetch winter cover crop could satisfy N requirements of peppers and that effective chemical or mechanical weed control methods need to be developed in order to grow peppers successfully using no-tillage or strip-tillage.

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Peanut Yield Response to Conservation Tillage, Winter Cover Crop, Peanut Cultivar, and Fungicide Applications1

Peanut Science ◽

10.3146/ps08-004.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 44-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ronald B. Sorensen ◽

Timothy B. Brenneman ◽

Marshall C. Lamb

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Leaf Spot ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Stem Rot ◽

Pod Yield ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Strip Tillage

Abstract Strip tillage with various crop covers in peanut (Arachis hypogaea, L.) production has not shown a clear yield advantage over conventional tillage, but has been found to reduce yield losses from some diseases. This study was conducted to determine pod yield and disease incidence between two tillage practices, five winter cover crops, three peanut cultivars, and three fungicide programs. Conventional and strip tillage treatments were implemented on a Greenville sandy loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudults) near Shellman, GA. Five winter cereal grain cover crops (strip tillage) and a no-cover crop treatment were sprayed at recommended (1R), half recommended (0.5R) or untreated (0R) fungicide programs. Within peanut cultivars, leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori) intensity decreased as the number of fungicide applications increased; however, stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) incidence was the same for the 1R and 0.5R fungicide programs but increased 0R program. Conventional tilled peanuts developed more leaf spot compared with strip tillage. There was no difference in leaf spot ratings among winter crop covers. There was no difference in stem rot incidence with tillage or winter cover crop. There was no yield difference with peanut cultivar. Pod yield was the same for the 1R and 0.5R fungicide program (3867 kg/ha) but decreased at the 0R fungicide program (2740 kg/ha). Pod yield was greater with conventional tillage and strip tillage with black oats (Avena sativa L.) (3706 kg/ha) compared with strip tillage of other winter crop cover treatments (3358 kg/ha). Conventional tillage had more leaf spot, equal incidence of stem rot, and higher yield compared with strip tillage. The 0.5R fungicide program had the same yield compared with the 1R fungicide program implying a possible 50% savings on fungicide applications on well rotated fields with lower disease risk.

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COVER CROPS AND PEST MANAGEMENT

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.3.429f ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 429f-429

Author(s):

S.C. Phatak ◽

D.R. Sumner ◽

R.B. Chalfant ◽

J.D. Gay ◽

L.D. Chandler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Damping Off ◽

Economic Threshold ◽

Beneficial Insects ◽

Conventional Production ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Winter Cover Crops

Cover crops relay-cropped with vegetables with conservation tillage were compared with fallow conventional production for 10 years. Conservation till-relay received no pesticide and only one-quarter the recommended fertilizers. Winter cover provided significantly better weed control than conventional. Weed problems in relay occurred only in the rows where vegetables were planted. Legume winter covers increased soilborne organisms but did not influence root disease severity or postemergence damping-off. Thrips, aphids, and whiteflies were most frequent. These pests remained below the economic threshold with winter cover crop-relay. However, infestation of these pests and Colorado potato beetles was severe in conventional plots. Winter cover crops provided habitat for more than 14 beneficial insects.

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Assessing winter cover crop nutrient uptake efficiency using a water quality simulation model

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-18-5239-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 5239-5253 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

I.-Y. Yeo ◽

S. Lee ◽

A. M. Sadeghi ◽

P. C. Beeson ◽

W. D. Hively ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Watershed Scale ◽

Source Areas ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Nitrate Export ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Winter Cover Crops

Abstract. Winter cover crops are an effective conservation management practice with potential to improve water quality. Throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW), which is located in the mid-Atlantic US, winter cover crop use has been emphasized, and federal and state cost-share programs are available to farmers to subsidize the cost of cover crop establishment. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effect of planting winter cover crops to improve water quality at the watershed scale (~ 50 km2) and to identify critical source areas of high nitrate export. A physically based watershed simulation model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), was calibrated and validated using water quality monitoring data to simulate hydrological processes and agricultural nutrient cycling over the period of 1990–2000. To accurately simulate winter cover crop biomass in relation to growing conditions, a new approach was developed to further calibrate plant growth parameters that control the leaf area development curve using multitemporal satellite-based measurements of species-specific winter cover crop performance. Multiple SWAT scenarios were developed to obtain baseline information on nitrate loading without winter cover crops and to investigate how nitrate loading could change under different winter cover crop planting scenarios, including different species, planting dates, and implementation areas. The simulation results indicate that winter cover crops have a negligible impact on the water budget but significantly reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater and delivery to the waterways. Without winter cover crops, annual nitrate loading from agricultural lands was approximately 14 kg ha−1, but decreased to 4.6–10.1 kg ha−1 with cover crops resulting in a reduction rate of 27–67% at the watershed scale. Rye was the most effective species, with a potential to reduce nitrate leaching by up to 93% with early planting at the field scale. Early planting of cover crops (~ 30 days of additional growing days) was crucial, as it lowered nitrate export by an additional ~ 2 kg ha−1 when compared to late planting scenarios. The effectiveness of cover cropping increased with increasing extent of cover crop implementation. Agricultural fields with well-drained soils and those that were more frequently used to grow corn had a higher potential for nitrate leaching and export to the waterways. This study supports the effective implementation of cover crop programs, in part by helping to target critical pollution source areas for cover crop implementation.

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Effect of Winter Cover Crop Residue on No-till Pumpkin Yield

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.42.7.1568 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 1568-1574 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Ryan Harrelson ◽

Greg D. Hoyt ◽

John L. Havlin ◽

David W. Monks

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Surface Residue ◽

No Till ◽

Wide Range ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover

Throughout the southeastern United States, vegetable growers have successfully cultivated pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) using conventional tillage. No-till pumpkin production has not been pursued by many growers as a result of the lack of herbicides, no-till planting equipment, and knowledge in conservation tillage methods. All of these conservation production aids are now present for successful no-till vegetable production. The primary reasons to use no-till technologies for pumpkins include reduced erosion, improved soil moisture conservation, long-term improvement in soil chemical and microbial properties, and better fruit appearance while maintaining similar yields compared with conventionally produced pumpkins. Cover crop utilization varies in no-till production, whereas residue from different cover crops can affect yields. The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the influence of surface residue type on no-till pumpkin yield and fruit quality. Results from these experiments showed all cover crop residues produced acceptable no-till pumpkin yields and fruit size. Field location, weather conditions, soil type, and other factors probably affected pumpkin yields more than surface residue. Vegetable growers should expect to successfully grow no-till pumpkins using any of the winter cover crop residues tested over a wide range in residue biomass rates.

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Narrow row enhances the effect of winter cover crop on weed suppression in no-tillage soybean

Journal of Weed Science and Technology ◽

10.3719/weed.49.supplement_202 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 49 (Supplement) ◽

pp. 202-203

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Kobayashi ◽

Shigenori Miura ◽

Atsushi Oyanagi

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

No Tillage ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Narrow Row

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Evaluation of Three Winter Cereals for Weed Control in Conservation-Tillage Nontransgenic Cotton

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-04-245r1.1 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 731-736 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

D. Wayne Reeves ◽

Andrew J. Price ◽

Michael G. Patterson

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Cotton Production ◽

Winter Cereal ◽

Winter Cereals ◽

Fallow System ◽

Winter Fallow

The increased use of conservation tillage in cotton production requires that information be developed on the role of cover crops in weed control. Field experiments were conducted from fall 1994 through fall 1997 in Alabama to evaluate three winter cereal cover crops in a high-residue, conservation-tillage, nontransgenic cotton production system. Black oat, rye, and wheat were evaluated for their weed-suppressive characteristics compared to a winter fallow system. Three herbicide systems were used: no herbicide, preemergence (PRE) herbicides alone, and PRE plus postemergence (POST) herbicides. The PRE system consisted of pendimethalin at 1.12 kg ai/ha plus fluometuron at 1.7 kg ai/ha. The PRE plus POST system contained an additional application of fluometuron at 1.12 kg/ha plus DSMA at 1.7 kg ai/ha early POST directed (PDS) and lactofen at 0.2 kg ai/ha plus cyanazine at 0.84 kg ai/ha late PDS. No cover crop was effective in controlling weeds without a herbicide. However, when black oat or rye was used with PRE herbicides, weed control was similar to the PRE plus POST system. Rye and black oat provided more effective weed control than wheat in conservation-tillage cotton. The winter fallow, PRE plus POST input system yielded significantly less cotton in 2 of 3 yr compared to systems that included a winter cover crop. Use of black oat or rye cover crops has the potential to increase cotton productivity and reduce herbicide inputs for nontransgenic cotton grown in the Southeast.

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Residual Dry Matter, Weeds and Soil Aggregates after Winter Cover Crop

Journal of Experimental Agriculture International ◽

10.9734/jeai/2019/v32i230100 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Edleusa Pereira Seidel ◽

João Henrique Silva Caetano ◽

Arthur Schafer Karpinski ◽

Willian Dos Reis

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Aggregates ◽

Block Design ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Dry Mass ◽

No Tillage ◽

Common Vetch ◽

Winter Cover

Soil quality maintenance in a no-tillage system (NTS) depends on cover crops. They are essential for crop rotation, affect several soil attributes, and contribute to phytosanitary control. However, cover crop efficacy is influenced by their root function and the presence of plant straw on soil surfaces. The objective of this study was to compare various winter cover crops in terms of their effects on dry mass yield, straw persistence after 40 d, weed incidence, and soil aggregate stability. The soil tested was an Oxisol Ustox Hapludox in Western Paraná State, southern Brazil. A randomized block design was used with four replicates and six treatments (fallow, black oat, fodder turnip, field pea, common vetch, and fodder turnip + black oat). Cover crops were managed 88 d after sowing. Dry mass (DM) and residual dry mass (RDM) were measured at 20 d and 40 d after harvest. Aggregate stability and weed type and density were evaluated after 40 d of management (DAM). The results showed that black oat obtained the lowest decomposition; therefore, a potential species to be used in the system of crop rotation in the no-tillage. The consorted of fodder turnip and black oat provided relatively higher dry mass yields and improved soil aggregation. Cover crops reduced the incidence of weeds, being important for no-till sustainability.

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Reduced Tillage Practices for Summer Squash Production in Southern Illinois

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.12.1.114 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 114-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

S. Alan Walters ◽

Jeffrey D. Kindhart

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Festuca Arundinacea ◽

No Tillage ◽

Southern Illinois ◽

Tillage Practices ◽

Summer Squash ◽

Tillage System ◽

Method Of Planting ◽

Strip Tillage

Various tillage systems were evaluated in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) production in southern Illinois to observe the influence of these systems on yellow and zucchini squash production during 1998, 1999, and 2000. For squash production, suppression of a cover crop such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) or winter ryegrass (Secale cereale) must be accomplished to obtain the greatest possible yields. However, once the cover crop is killed via herbicides, squash yields tend to be similar among tillage, strip tillage, and no-tillage treatments. Previous studies indicated that early yields may be reduced when using a no-tillage production system, especially if direct seeding is the method of planting and would not be beneficial to growers seeking early production. This study found that squash growers can use transplants in a no-tillage system and not compromise early yields. No differences were observed for soil bulk densities between tillage and no-tillage treatments and may partially explain why similar yields were obtained between these treatments. Effective systems for weed control must be developed in no-tillage squash production before wide acceptance will occur. Observations from this study indicated that the success of no-tillage squash production depends on the availability of effective herbicides; however, few herbicides are currently labeled for use in summer squash. Future studies need to address the problem of weed control in no-tillage squash production.

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A CROPPING SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IMPROVING WATER USE EFFICIENCY IN SEMI-ARID IRRIGATED PRODUCTION AREAS

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.682e ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 682e-682

Author(s):

J.P. Mitchell ◽

C. Shennan ◽

D. Peters ◽

R.O. Miller

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Drainage Water ◽

Structural Problems ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover

Sustainable alternatives for saline drainage water management in areas such as California's San Joaquin Valley are needed. Previous work has demonstrated the short-term potential for reuse of saline drainage water for irrigation in this area. Results from our 6-year cyclic drainage reuse study, however, indicate that soil structural problems may occur which can greatly reduce stand establishment and crop yields in periodically salinized soils. To prevent these problems, we are evaluating the effectiveness of winter cover crop incorporation and gypsum applications relative to conventional fallows, for improving/maintaining soil physical properties and crop productivity in cyclically salinized soils. Six winter cover crop/fallow treatments have been imposed upon a rotation of tomatoes, tomatoes and cotton as summer crops. By monitoring water use, relevant soil physical and chemical properties as well as crop performance during the course of this 3-year rotation study, we are assessing the potential benefits and constraints of using winter cover crops in drainage water reuse systems.

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Impact of Winter Cover Crop Usage in Soilborne Disease Suppressiveness in Woody Ornamental Production System

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10070995 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 995 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Milan Panth ◽

Fulya Baysal-Gurel ◽

Terri Simmons ◽

Karla M. Addesso ◽

Anthony Witcher

Keyword(s):

Disease Management ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Production System ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Red Maple ◽

Soilborne Disease ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Nursery Production ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Winter Cover Crops

Diseases caused by soilborne pathogens are a major limitation to field grown nursery production. The application of cover crops for soilborne disease management has not been widely investigated in a woody ornamental nursery production system. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of winter cover crops usage on soilborne disease management in that system. Soils from established field plots of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) with and without winter cover crops (crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) or triticale (× Triticosecale W.)) were sampled following the senescence of the cover crops. Separate bioassays were performed using red maple cuttings on inoculated (with Phytopythium vexans, Phytophthora nicotianae or Rhizoctonia solani) and non-inoculated field soils. The results indicated that winter cover crop usage was helpful for inducing soil disease suppressiveness. There was lower disease severity and pathogen recovery when the cover crops were used compare to the non-cover cropped soil. However, there were no differences in maple plant fresh weight and root weight between the treatments. The rhizosphere pseudomonad microbial population was also greater when the cover crops were used. Similarly, the C:N ratio of the soil was improved with the cover crop usage. Thus, in addition to improving soil structure and reducing erosion, cover crops can provide improved management of soilborne diseases. Therefore, stakeholders can consider cover crop usage as an alternative sustainable management tool against soilborne diseases in field nursery production system.

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