scholarly journals No Tillage and Strip Tillage Effects on Plant Performance, Weed Suppression, and Profitability in Transitional Organic Broccoli Production

HortScience ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 1103-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Jokela ◽  
Ajay Nair
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Research Station ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Density And Biomass

Organic no-till and strip-till systems have gained attention because of their reported capacity to enhance soil health and suppress annual weeds. This study, conducted at the Horticulture Research Station, Ames, IA, over 2 years (2013–14 and 2014–15) compared a cover crop–based no tillage (NT), strip tillage (ST), and conventional tillage (CT) in transitional organic broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) production, with data collected on broccoli yield and quality, plant health, weed suppression, soil temperature, and cost of production. A cover crop mixture of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) was seeded in all plots in September, and was ended by rolling and crimping (NT and ST) or soil incorporation (CT) in late spring the following year. Each whole-plot tillage treatment was split into two subplot fertility treatments—one based entirely on organic preplant granular fertilizer, and the other split between preplant granular fertilizer and postplanting fertigation—to test the effect of fertigation on yield and plant growth under the typically nitrogen (N)-limited reduced tillage conditions. In 2014, yield of broccoli was highest in CT treatments, averaging 5.4 t·ha−1, with no difference between ST and NT treatments. In 2015, yields were equal among tillage treatments, averaging 20.0 t·ha−1. Changing the timing of fertilizer application through the use of fertigation did not affect yield. Weed density and biomass were lowest in the between-row (BR) regions of NT and ST plots in 2014, indicating effective early-season weed suppression. In 2015, NT and ST plots generally had lower weed biomass and density compared with CT plots, but weed growth in BR and in-row (IR) regions of NT and ST plots was similar. Soil temperature was highest in CT plots throughout the year, and higher in ST than in NT plots only during some periods. While production costs did vary slightly across treatments, profit per hectare was most strongly affected by yield. Our findings suggest that cover crop–based organic NT and ST systems may be viable options for organic broccoli growers.

Investigating tarps to facilitate organic no-till cabbage production with high-residue cover crops

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie P Lounsbury ◽  
Nicholas D Warren ◽  
Seamus D Wolfe ◽  
Richard G Smith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Nutrient Availability ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Till ◽  
Crop Biomass

AbstractHigh-residue cover crops can facilitate organic no-till vegetable production when cover crop biomass production is sufficient to suppress weeds (>8000 kg ha−1), and cash crop growth is not limited by soil temperature, nutrient availability, or cover crop regrowth. In cool climates, however, both cover crop biomass production and soil temperature can be limiting for organic no-till. In addition, successful termination of cover crops can be a challenge, particularly when cover crops are grown as mixtures. We tested whether reusable plastic tarps, an increasingly popular tool for small-scale vegetable farmers, could be used to augment organic no-till cover crop termination and weed suppression. We no-till transplanted cabbage into a winter rye (Secale cereale L.)-hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mulch that was terminated with either a roller-crimper alone or a roller-crimper plus black or clear tarps. Tarps were applied for durations of 2, 4 and 5 weeks. Across tarp durations, black tarps increased the mean cabbage head weight by 58% compared with the no tarp treatment. This was likely due to a combination of improved weed suppression and nutrient availability. Although soil nutrients and biological activity were not directly measured, remaining cover crop mulch in the black tarp treatments was reduced by more than 1100 kg ha−1 when tarps were removed compared with clear and no tarp treatments. We interpret this as an indirect measurement of biological activity perhaps accelerated by lower daily soil temperature fluctuations and more constant volumetric water content under black tarps. The edges of both tarp types were held down, rather than buried, but moisture losses from the clear tarps were greater and this may have affected the efficacy of clear tarps. Plastic tarps effectively killed the vetch cover crop, whereas it readily regrew in the crimped but uncovered plots. However, emergence of large and smooth crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) appeared to be enhanced in the clear tarp treatment. Although this experiment was limited to a single site-year in New Hampshire, it shows that use of black tarps can overcome some of the obstacles to implementing cover crop-based no-till vegetable productions in northern climates.

Strategies to terminate summer cover crops for weed management in no-tillage vegetable production in southeast Brazil

Weed Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Roberto Botelho Ferraz Branco ◽  
Fernando de Carvalho ◽  
João Paulo de Oliveira ◽  
Pedro Luis da Costa Alves
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Jack Bean ◽  
Organic Mulch ◽  
Sunn Hemp

Abstract Cover crop residue left on the soil surface as organic mulch in no-tillage crop production provides several environmental benefits, including weed suppression. Thus, many farmers who use cover crops attempt to reduce the use of agricultural inputs, especially herbicides. Therefore, our objectives were to study the potential of different cover crop species to suppress weeds and produce an in situ organic mulch, and evaluate the effect of the organic mulch with and without spraying glyphosate on weed suppression for vegetable (tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) growth and yield. Five cover crop treatments (sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), jack bean [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.], pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. bicolor] and a no-cover crop (control)) were used in the main plots; and spraying or no spraying glyphosate on the flattened cover crop in the sub plots of split-plot experimental design. Organic mulch from pearl millet, sorghum and sunn hemp resulted in lower weed biomass during the early season of both tomato and broccoli than jack bean and no-cover crop (control). Spraying glyphosate after roller crimping reduced weed biomass by 103 g m−2 and 20 g m−2 by 45 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT) of tomato, respectively and resulted in a better tomato yield compared to non spraying. Glyphosate reduced weed biomass by 110 g m−2 in the early season of broccoli (30 DAT), but did not affect yield. Terminating high biomass cover crops with a roller crimper is a promising technique for weed management in vegetable crops, which has the potential to reduce or even eliminate the need for herbicide.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Management and Weed Suppression in No-tillage Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1262-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia M. Carrera ◽  
Aref A. Abdul-Baki ◽  
John R. Teasdale
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Weed Biomass

Cover crops combined with conservation tillage practices can minimize chemical inputs and improve soil quality, soil water-holding capacity, weed suppression and crop yields. No-tillage production of sweet corn (Zea mays var. `Silver Queen') was studied for 2 years at the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Md., to determine cover crop management practices that maximize yield and suppress weeds. Cover crop treatments were hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch mixture, and bare soil (no cover crop). There were three cover crop killing methods: mowing, rolling or contact herbicide paraquat. All plots were treated with or without atrazine and metolachlor after planting. There was a 23% reduction in sweet corn plant population in the rye-hairy vetch mixture compared to bare soil. Averaged over both years, sweet corn yield in hairy vetch treatments was 43% greater than in bare soil, whereas yield in the rye-hairy vetch mixture was 30% greater than in bare soil. There were no significant main effects of kill method or significant interactions between kill method and cover crop on yield. Sweet corn yields were not different for hairy vetch or rye-hairy vetch treatments with or without atrazine and metolachlor. However, yield in bare soil without the herbicides atrazine and metolachor were reduced by 63% compared to bare soil with these herbicides. When no atrazine and metolachlor were applied, weed biomass was reduced in cover crops compared to the bare soil. Regression analysis showed greater yield loss per unit of weed biomass for bare soil than for the vetch or rye-hairy vetch mixture. This analysis suggests that cover crops increased sweet corn yield in the absence of atrazine and metolachlor not only by reducing weed biomass, but also by increasing the competitiveness of corn to weeds at any given biomass.

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

HortScience ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 461E-461
Author(s):  
H.J. Hruska ◽  
G.R. Cline ◽  
A.F. Silvernail ◽  
K. Kaul
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Winter Cover Crop ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Strip Tillage

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.

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

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

scholarly journals Benchmarking the Agronomic Performance of Biodegradable Mulches against Polyethylene Mulch Film: A Meta-Analysis

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1618
Author(s):  
Mauro B. D. Tofanelli ◽  
Sam E. Wortman
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mulch Film ◽  
Categorical Groups ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Polyethylene Mulch

Growers are interested in biodegradable alternatives to petroleum-based polyethylene mulch film (PEM). However, many growers cite limited knowledge about biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) as a significant barrier to adoption. Agronomic field tests of BDMs are often limited temporally or spatially, and the variability of performance results relative to PEM may be contributing to this perceived knowledge gap. Our objective was to use data available in the scientific literature to provide the first quantitative performance benchmark of BDMs against PEM. We extracted data from 66 articles for meta-analysis. Response ratios were calculated for comparison of BDMs relative to black PEM, and differences among categorical groups were determined using 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Overall, BDMs reduced soil temperature by 4.5% ± 0.8% (±one standard error) compared to PEM, and temperatures were coolest beneath paper-based BDM. Starch-polyester BDM was less effective than PEM for weed control, but paper-based BDM reduced weed density and biomass by 85.7% ± 9.2%. Paper-based BDMs were particularly useful for controlling Cyperus spp. weeds. Despite differences in soil temperature and weed suppression, crop yields were not different between BDMs and PEM. Future research should focus on reducing costs, adding functional value, and increasing the biodegradability of BDMs.

Using Reduced Tillage and Cover Crop Residue to Manage Weeds in Organic Vegetable Production

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 557-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guihua Chen ◽  
Lauren Kolb ◽  
Alan Leslie ◽  
Cerruti R. R. Hooks
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Organic Vegetable Production ◽  
Hand Weeding ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Time Required

Adoption of conservation tillage practices has been slow in organic vegetable production, partially due to producers’ concerns regarding weed management. Integrating cover crops into a conservation tillage program may provide organic producers a viable weed management option enabling growers to practice conservation tillage. A four-year study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different tillage methods (two conventional and two conservation practices) jointly with a mixed winter cover crop for weed suppression, time required for hand weeding, and crop yield in organically managed eggplant (2012 and 2014) and sweet corn (2013 and 2015) production systems. Tillage treatments were conventional tillage without surface mulch (CT-BG) and with black polyethylene (plastic) mulch (CT-BP), strip-tillage (ST), and no-tillage (NT) with cover crop residue. At 2 and 7 WAT/P (weeks after transplanting/planting), intra-row weed density was higher in CT-BG and ST, and inter-row weed density was higher in CT-BG and CT-BP treatments. Time required for hand-weeding was greatest in CT-BG and least in CT-BP and NT treatments. Eggplant yield was lowest in NT treatment in 2012 but similar among treatments in 2014. Sweet corn yield was similar among treatments in 2013 but highest in ST in 2015. Though both CT-BP and NT treatments showed greater potential for weed suppression, production input was highest in CT-BP but least in NT. Implications of these findings suggest that there is a potential to use strip tillage integrating with stale seedbed tactic for weed management in organic vegetables, which reduces herbicide use, hand-labor, and overall weed management cost while maintaining high yield potential.

scholarly journals Cover Crop Termination Treatment Impacts Weed Suppression Potential

Weed Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin R. Haramoto ◽  
Robert Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Species Selection ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Density And Biomass

AbstractWeed management in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacumL.) is accomplished primarily with soil-residual herbicides, cultivation, and hand removal. Management practices that reduce weed emergence, like reduced tillage and cover crop mulches, may improve weed management efficacy. Depending on cover-cropping goals, growers face trade-offs in species selection and management priorities—producing weed-suppressive mulches may lead to transplanting difficulties and soil-residual herbicide interception. Managing more complex cover crop mixtures may result in different challenges. We established on-farm trials across 4 site-years to study impacts of cover crop composition [wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) monoculture or mixture], termination treatment (early or late chemical termination or removing aboveground biomass), and soil-residual herbicides on weed density and biomass. The cover crop mixture contained cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatumL.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosaRoth.), with canola (Brassica napusL.) at 1 site-year. The mixture typically produced more biomass than monoculture wheat, although composition had few impacts on weed density or biomass. With residual herbicides, termination treatment had few impacts on weed density, suggesting that residues did not adversely affect herbicide efficacy. Without residual herbicides, early-season weed density was often higher following the late-terminated cover crop compared with other termination treatments, though midseason weed density was typically lower. When termination treatment affected final weed biomass, it was lower following late termination, with one exception—crop establishment was reduced at 1 site-year, leading to reduced weed–crop competition and greater weed biomass. Our results suggest that growers can use mixtures and, if well-timed to a rainfall event for incorporation, still effectively use soil-residual herbicides to maintain adequate weed control in tobacco regardless of how the cover crop is managed. Later termination, resulting in more residue, may lead to less weed biomass accumulation in the absence of herbicide use.

Weed Suppression by Live and Desiccated Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa)

Weed Science ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. Teasdale ◽  
Craig S. T. Daughtry
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Light Extinction ◽  
Daily Maximum ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Vicia Villosa ◽  
Winter Annual ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Temperature Amplitude

Hairy vetch was grown as a winter annual cover crop and evaluated for weed suppression when desiccated by paraquat or left alive until natural senescence in a 3-yr field experiment. Total weed density and biomass were variable in the desiccated hairy vetch treatment relative to a bare soil treatment but were consistently lower in the live hairy vetch treatment relative to the desiccated or bare soil treatments. An average of 87% of sites under live hairy vetch compared to 8% of sites under desiccated hairy vetch transmitted less than 1% of unobstructed sunlight. The red (660 nm) to far-red (730 nm) ratio of transmitted light was reduced by 70% under live hairy vetch compared to 17% under desiccated hairy vetch. Daily maximum soil temperature and diurnal soil temperature amplitude were reduced by live hairy vetch > desiccated hairy vetch > bare soil. Soil moisture content was greater under both live and desiccated hairy vetch compared to bare soil during droughty periods. Changes in light extinction, red to far-red ratio, and diurnal soil temperature amplitude were sufficient to explain greater weed suppression by live than desiccated hairy vetch.

Use of a Rolled-rye Cover Crop for Weed Suppression in No-Till Soybeans

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Mischler ◽  
William S. Curran ◽  
Sjoerd W. Duiker ◽  
Jeffrey A. Hyde
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Planting Date ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Weed Density ◽  
No Till ◽  
Density And Biomass

Cover crop management with a roller/crimper might reduce the need for herbicide. Weed suppression from a rolled cereal rye cover crop was compared to no cover crop with and without postemergence herbicide application in no-till soybean. The experiment was designed as a two-way factorial with rye termination and soybean planting date as the first factor and weed control treatment as the second. Cereal rye was drill-seeded in late September and managed using glyphosate followed by a roller/crimper in the spring. Soybean was no-till seeded after rolling and glyphosate was applied postemergence about 6 wk after planting to half the plots. Rye biomass doubled when delaying rye kill by 10 to 20 d. Weed density and biomass were reduced by the rye cover crop in all site–location combinations except one, but delaying rye kill and soybean planting date only reduced both weed density and biomass at a single location. The cover crop mulch provided weed control similar to the postemergence herbicide in two of four locations. Treatments did not affect soybean grain yield in 2007. In 2008, yield at Landisville with rye alone was equal to those yields receiving the postemergence herbicide, whereas at Rock Springs, it was equivalent or less. The net added cost of a rye cover crop was $123 ha−1with or $68.50 ha−1without a postemergence herbicide application. A rolled-rye cover crop sometimes provided acceptable weed control, but weed control alone did not justify the use of the cover crop. The potential for reduced herbicide use and other ecosystem services provided by a cover crop justify further refinement and research in this area.

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