scholarly journals Effects of Annual and Perennial Alleyway Cover Crops on Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties of Soil Quality in Pacific Northwest Red Raspberry

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-352
Author(s):  
Rachel E. Rudolph ◽  
Lisa W. DeVetter ◽  
Inga A. Zasada ◽  
Cedar Hesse
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Red Raspberry ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Properties Of Soil

Cover crops can lessen soil erosion and compaction, improve water infiltration, enhance nutrient availability, suppress weeds, and assist with pest management. However, cover crops are not commonly used in alleyways of established red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) fields in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Rather, the space between red raspberry beds is repeatedly cultivated and the soil is kept bare, which has detrimental effects on soil quality. Adoption of alleyway cover crops is limited because red raspberry growers are concerned about resource competition between a cover crop and red raspberry crop. A 2-year study was conducted in an established ‘Meeker’ red raspberry field in northwest Washington to evaluate the effects of eight annually seeded alleyway cover crops (cultivars of wheat, cereal rye, triticale, oat, and ryegrass), one perennial ryegrass alleyway cover crop, mowed weed vegetation, and the industry standard of cultivated bare soil (Till) on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil quality in alleyways and raised beds. This included evaluating soil bulk density (Db), compaction, organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), macro- and micronutrients, and bacterial and fungal community structure; red raspberry yield and fruit quality were also evaluated. Although there were statistically significant differences among treatments across sampling dates for CEC, there were no consistent trends. Alleyways planted with the perennial ryegrass mix had the lowest mean Db 6 and 24 months after seeding. Tilled alleyways had the lowest Db 12 and 18 months into the study. Red raspberry grown adjacent to Till did not result in a significantly higher estimated yield or fruit total soluble solids than raspberry grown adjacent to cover crops in either year of the experiment. Differences in microbial community structure were observed among seasons rather than treatments. These results do not demonstrate significant effects of alleyway cover crops on red raspberry productivity when applied to established fields. The potential benefits of alleyway cover cropping on soil quality may outweigh any concerns regarding resource competition. Changes in soil quality are often difficult to quantify and require long-term study.

Labile carbon and other soil quality indicators in two tillage systems during transition to organic agriculture

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bruce Lewis ◽  
Jason P. Kaye ◽  
Randa Jabbour ◽  
Mary E. Barbercheck
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Weed Management ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Initial Field ◽  
Soil Attributes

AbstractWeed management is one of the primary challenges for producers transitioning from conventional to organic agriculture. Tillage and the use of cover crops are two weed control tactics available to farmers transitioning to organic management, but little is known about their interactive effects on soil quality during the transition period. We investigated the response of soils to tillage and initial cover crop during the 3-year transition to organic in a cover crop–soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays) rotation in the Mid-Atlantic region of the USA. The tillage treatment contrasted full, inversion tillage with moldboard plowing (FT) versus reduced tillage with chisel plowing (RT). The cover crop treatment contrasted annual versus mostly perennial species during the first year of the rotation. The experiment was initiated twice (Start 1 and Start 2), in consecutive years in adjacent fields. By the end of the experiment, labile carbon, electrical conductivity, pH and soil moisture were all greater under RT than under FT in both starts. Soil organic matter and several other soil attributes were greater under RT than under FT in Start 1, but not in Start 2, perhaps owing to differences between starts in initial field conditions and realized weather. Soil attributes did not differ between the two cover crop treatments. Combining our soils results with agronomic and economic analyses on these plots suggests that using RT during the organic transition can increase soil quality without compromising yield and profitability.

scholarly journals Degradation Level and Wetland Rice Rehabilitation Effort in Medan Krio Village Sunggal District Deli Serdang

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-54
Author(s):  
Mhd Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Paddy Field ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Paddy Fields ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Effective Depth ◽  
Properties Of Soil

The purposes of this research are to know the level of paddy field degradation, mapping level of paddy field degradation and analyze effort of paddy field rehabilitation in Beringin Subdistrict of Deli Serdang Regency of North Sumatera Indonesia to increase rice productivity. This research was conducted in Medan Krio Village, District Sunggal Regency Deli Serdang of North Sumatera. The study was conducted in March to July 2017. This research used nonfactorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 5 levels organic dosage treatment of Compost Waste City, i.e: B0: Control, B1: Dose 1.5% (36,00 ton/ha), B2: Dose 3% (72,00 ton/ha), B3: Dose 4.5% (108,00 ton/ha), B4: Dose 6% (144,0 ton/ha). The parameters that will be analyzed are the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in paddy fields. The result showed, treatment with Dose 6% (B4) can (1) improve physical properties of soil Bulk Density, Porosity and the effective depth of soil; (2) increase the C-organic content, N-Total levels of P-Available, CEC soil, and low C/N Ratio; (3) increase Soil organic matter and total Microbes. So, Treatment Dose 6% (B4) of compost waste city gives the best effect to the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in paddy fields

Allelopathic Influence of Germinating Seeds and Seedlings of Cover Crops on Weed Species

Weed Science ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 579-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda L. Hoffman ◽  
Leslie A. Weston ◽  
John C. Snyder ◽  
Emilie E. Regnier
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Petri Dish ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Allelopathic Potential ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Allelopathic Interference ◽  
Radicle Length

Bioassays using binary mixtures that included a cover crop with known allelopathic potential and a weed species were employed to determine the importance of allelopathy compared to resource competition as interference mechanisms. Responses of weed species germinated with cover crops in a petri dish were measured. Interference between weed and cover crop seedlings was determined in a greenhouse experiment using the additive design, which included partitions to reduce above- and below-ground competition and used capillary mat subirrigation to control moisture and fertilizer availability. Germinating sorghum reduced radicle length of weeds, whereas germinating rye tended to increase weed radicle length. Methods limited above-ground competition, so likely interference mechanisms were below-ground competition and allelopathy. Germination with a cover crop had little effect on germination and shoot length of weeds. Increased density of rye but not of sorghum reduced growth of barnyardgrass seedlings. Reduced number of barnyardgrass leaves in the presence of rye was likely due to allelopathy. Suppression of barnyardgrass dry weight attributed to allelopathic interference by rye was successfully separated and compared to the combined effects of competition and allelopathy.

Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Reganold
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Conventional Farming ◽  
Conventional Agriculture ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Crop Root

AbstractBiodynamic and organic farming are similar in that both are ecologically oriented and do not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The main difference is that biodynamic farmers add eight specific amendments, called preparations, to their soils, crops, and composts. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodynamic farming practices and systems because they show potential for mitigating some detrimental effects of chemical-dependent conventional agriculture. Only a few studies examining biodynamic methods or comparing biodynamic farming with other farming systems have been published in the refereed scientific literature, especially in English. This paper summarizes data from previous studies, both published and unpublished (theses), that have compared biodynamic and conventional farming systems with respect to soil quality or profitability. These studies have shown that the biodynamic farming systems generally have better soil quality, lower crop yields, and equal or higher net returns per hectare than their conventional counterparts. Two studies that included organic management treatments with and without the preparations showed that the preparations improved biological soil properties and increased crop root growth. However, more research is needed to determine whether the preparations affect soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and crop growth and, if so, their mode of action.

scholarly journals Changes in soil properties due to the application of activators in conditions of very heavy soils

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. S40-S45
Author(s):  
Šařec Petr ◽  
Novák Petr
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Decomposition Of Organic Matter ◽  
Biological Transformation ◽  
Changes In Soil Properties ◽  
Properties Of Soil

This paper deals with verification of the effect of fermented manure (with and without Z'fix activators) and soil activators (PRP Sol) on a soil properties change. Their application should lead to a change in physical, physical-chemical and biological properties of soil, along with ecological material fixation, improved water retention and infiltration, reduction of soil susceptibility to water erosion and decreased soil tillage energy requirements. Field trial was established in Sloveč in Central Bohemia in the year 2014. The experiment was divided into several variants and was designed as multiannual. Z›fix activator was used as a biological transformation activator of manure. PRP Sol was used as a soil activator. In order to verify the effect, soil infiltration, cone index, bulk density and draft of tillage implement were measured. Measurements have shown a beneficial effect of the activators with regard to the decomposition of organic matter. Consequently, changes in soil properties and a reduction of draft at tillage operations developed. Finally, the effect should evolve gradually with a prolonged activator treatment.

Cover-Crop Systems Affect Weed Communities in a California Vineyard

Weed Science ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 596-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendra Baumgartner ◽  
Kerri L. Steenwerth ◽  
Lissa Veilleux
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Weed Biomass ◽  
Orthogonal Contrasts ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
The North ◽  
No Till ◽  
Weed Communities ◽  
Carry Over

Vineyard weed communities were examined under four dormant-season cover-crop systems representative of those used in the north-coastal grape-growing region of California: no-till annuals (ANoT) (rose clover, soft brome, zorro fescue), no-till perennials (PNoT) (blue wildrye, California brome, meadow barley, red fescue, yarrow), tilled annual (AT) (triticale), and a no-cover-crop tilled control (NoCT). Treatments were carried out for 3 yr in the interrows of a wine grape vineyard. Glyphosate was used to control weeds directly beneath the vines, in the intrarows. Treatments significantly impacted weed biomass, community structure, and species diversity in the interrows. Orthogonal contrasts showed that tillage, and not the presence of a cover crop, impacted interrow weed biomass. Distance-based redundancy analyses (db-RDA) revealed significant effects of the cover-crop systems and of tillage on weed community structure in the interrows. For scarlet pimpernel and spiny sowthistle, the combination of ANOVA and orthogonal contrasts confirmed their association with the tilled treatments, as revealed by db-RDA. This same approach identified the association between California burclover and the no-till treatments. Our findings of no significant effects of the cover-crop systems on weed biomass, community structure, or diversity in the intrarows demonstrate that the impacts the cover-crop management systems had on the interrows did not carry over to adjacent intrarows. In addition, the fact that the cover crops did not affect vine yield, growth, or nutrition relative to the no-cover-crop control suggests that cover crops are likely to minimize soil erosion from winter rains, which is the primary purpose of vineyard cover cropping in northern California, without adversely affecting vine health or weed control.

Living mulch cover crops for weed control in small-scale applications

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Pfeiffer ◽  
Erin Silva ◽  
Jed Colquhoun
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Living Mulch ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Mulch Cover

AbstractA primary challenge of managing vegetable production on a small land base is the maintenance and building of soil quality. Previous studies have demonstrated the benefits of cover crops for improved soil quality; however, small growers struggle to fit cover crops into rotations. Small-scale growers with limited available land are under significant pressure to maximize their saleable yield and often work to maximize output by using intensive cropping practices that may include both early and late season crops, thus limiting the typical shoulder season windows in which cover crops can be grown. In-season living mulches may be an effective strategy to provide small-scale growers the benefits of cover crops with less land commitment than cover crops used in typical rotations. However, research on living mulches is generally not suited to small-scale organic production systems due to the typical reliance on chemical herbicide to suppress mulches. An experiment was designed with the goal of evaluating living mulch systems for space-limited organic vegetable production. In a 2-year study, four living mulch crops (buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), field pea (Pisum sativum), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) and medium red clover (Trifolium pratense)) and a cultivated control with no mulch cover were planted in early spring each year. Snap beans (Phaseolus vulgarisvar. Tavera), transplanted bell peppers (Capsicum annuumvar. Revolution), and transplanted fall broccoli (Brassica oleraceavar. Imperial) were then planted directly into living mulches. During each summer growing season, living mulches and weeds were mown between-rows and hand-weeded in-row approximately every 10–14 days as needed for management. Labor times for mowing and cultivation were found to be higher in all treatments relative to the cultivated control. An inverse relationship between living mulch biomass and weed biomass was observed, demonstrating that living mulches may contribute to weed suppression. However, lower vegetable yields were seen in the living mulch treatments, most likely due to resource competition among vegetables, living mulches and weeds. High pre-existing weed seedbank and drought conditions likely increased competition and contributed to reduced vegetable yield.

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