Broccoli Production in Cowpea, Soybean, and Velvetbean Cover Crop Mulches

Fall transplanted `Commander' broccoli (Brassica oleracea Botrytis group) yield in mulches formed from the residues of killed cowpea (Vigna unquiculata), soybean (Glycine max), and velvetbean (Mucuna pruriens) cover crops was compared to yield in conventional production on bare soil. Average aboveground biomass production was 6.9, 7.7, and 5.9 t·ha-1 (3.08, 3.43, and 2.63 tons/acre) and total nitrogen content of the aboveground tissues was 2.9%, 2.8%, and 2.7% of the dry weight for cowpea, soybean, and velvetbean, respectively. Within each cover crop mulch main plot, subplots received different nitrogen rates, [0, 84.1, or 168.1 kg·ha-1 (0, 75, or 150 lb/acre)]. For several nitrogen level × year comparisons, broccoli grown in mulched plots yielded higher than broccoli grown on bare soil plots. Cowpea and soybean mulches promoted broccoli growth more than velvetbean mulch. The mulches of all three species persisted through the growing season and suppressed annual weeds.

Download Full-text

Winter Annual Weed Suppression in Rye–Vetch Cover Crop Mixtures

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-d-12-00084.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 818-825 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Zachary D. Hayden ◽

Daniel C. Brainard ◽

Ben Henshaw ◽

Mathieu Ngouajio

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Weed Species ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Winter Annual ◽

Winter Annual Weeds ◽

Annual Weeds

Winter annual weeds can interfere directly with crops and serve as alternative hosts for important pests, particularly in reduced tillage systems. Field experiments were conducted on loamy sand soils at two sites in Holt, MI, between 2008 and 2011 to evaluate the relative effects of cereal rye, hairy vetch, and rye–vetch mixture cover crops on the biomass and density of winter annual weed communities. All cover crop treatments significantly reduced total weed biomass compared with a no-cover-crop control, with suppression ranging from 71 to 91% for vetch to 95 to 98% for rye. In all trials, the density of nonmustard family broadleaf weeds was either not suppressed or suppressed equally by all cover crop treatments. In contrast, the density of mustard family weed species was suppressed more by rye and rye–vetch mixtures than by vetch. Cover crops were more consistently suppressive of weed dry weight per plant than of weed density, with rye-containing cover crops generally more suppressive than vetch. Overall, rye was most effective at suppressing winter annual weeds; however, rye–vetch mixtures can match the level of control achieved by rye, in addition to providing a potential source of fixed nitrogen for subsequent cash crops.

Download Full-text

Relationship Between Cover Crop Growth, Weed Suppression, and Yield of No-tillage Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica)

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.495f ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 495f-496

Author(s):

Ronald D. Morse ◽

Aref Abdul-Baki

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Conventional Tillage ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

No Till ◽

Total Crop ◽

Fertilizer Rates

In 1997, no-till fall broccoli was grown at the Kentland Agricultural Research Farm (KARF), Blacksburg, Va., and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Md., to determine supplemental N requirements above the nitrogen contribution from legume in situ mulches. Treatments were tillage systems [CT = conventional tillage, bare soil, tilled prior to transplanting; NT-BS = untilled bare soil; NT-SB = soybean (Glycine max L.) cover crop; and NT-CP = cowpea (Vigna sinensis Endl.) cover crop; and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 84, and 168 at KARF, and 0, 56, 112, and 168 kg·ha–1 at BARC). All plots at both sites were treated with recommended herbicides and drip irrigated as needed to supplement rainfall. Dry weight soybean and cowpea biomass was 6.1 and 4.3 at KARF and 4.8 and 3.5 t·ha–1 at BARC. In N-unfertilized plots at both sites, average broccoli yield was higher in NT-SB and NT-CP than CT and NT-BS. The N contribution from the legume mulches was inadequate to meet total crop demand, since N fertilizer applications increased broccoli yield in all tillage treatments, including the legume cover crops (soybean and cowpea). In N-fertilized plots, broccoli yield was similar among tillage treatments at KARF where weed problems were not severe; however, at BARC, yield in CT was higher than in all no-till treatments. Weed pressure was considerably lower in CT than in no-till plots at BARC. Based on these data and other related no-till studies, two conclusions can be drawn: a) no-till systems are a viable option for production of broccoli when weeds are adequately controlled; and b) uniformly distributed, high-residue levels are required for weed suppression when weed pressure is high and herbicides are either ineffective or not applied.

Download Full-text

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

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500094376 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 579-584 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

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.

Download Full-text

Antagonistic activity of selected fungi of the soil environment of carrot

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/792/2017-pse ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (No. 2) ◽

pp. 58-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Patkowska Elżbieta ◽

Jamiołkowska Agnieszka ◽

Błażewicz-Woźniak Marzena

Keyword(s):

Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Experimental Treatment ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Antagonistic Activity ◽

Antagonistic Effect ◽

Soil Environment ◽

Trichoderma Spp ◽

Penicillium Spp

The present studies aim at determining the antagonistic effect of selected fungi species occurring in the soil under carrot cultivation towards Altenaria dauci (J.G. Kühn) J.W. Groves & Skolko, Alternaria radicina Meier, Drechsler & E.D. Eddy, Fusarium oxysporum E.F. Sm & Swingle, Rhizoctonia solani J.G. Kühn and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary. The field experiment considered cover crops (oats, tansy phacelia and vetch). The control consisted of traditional carrot cultivation (without cover crops). Statistically, the smallest population of fungi was found in 1 g of soil dry weight after the application of oats, and a slightly bigger – after tansy phacelia and vetch. The largest population of fungi was obtained in the traditional cultivation of carrot. Cover crops contributed to the increase of the population of antagonistic Clonostachys spp., Myrothecium spp., Penicillium spp. and Trichoderma spp. in the soil. Regardless of the experimental treatment, those antagonistic fungi were the most effective in limiting the growth of S. sclerotiorum, A. dauci and A. radicina. The effect of those fungi was a little smaller towards F. oxysporum and R. solani. Oats as a cover crop had the best effect on the antagonistic activity of the studied fungi occurring in the soil environment of carrot.

Download Full-text

Cover-Crop Roller–Crimper Contributes to Weed Management in No-Till Soybean

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-09-00040.1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 300-309 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Adam S. Davis

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Rate Variation ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Soybean Yield ◽

Weed Interference ◽

No Till

Termination of cover crops prior to no-till planting of soybean is typically accomplished with burndown herbicides. Recent advances in cover-crop roller–crimper design offer the possibility of reliable physical termination of cover crops without tillage. A field study within a no-till soybean production system was conducted in Urbana, IL, from 2004 through 2007 to quantify the effects of cover crop (cereal rye, hairy vetch, or bare soil control), termination method (chemical burndown or roller–crimper), and postemergence glyphosate application rate (0, 1.1, or 2.2 kg ae ha−1) on soybean yield components, weed–crop interference, and soil environmental variables. Biomass of weeds surviving management within a soybean crop following either a vetch or rye cover crop was reduced by 26 and 56%, respectively, in the rolled system compared to the burndown system. Soybean yield loss due to weed interference was unaffected by cover-crop termination method in soybean following a rye cover crop, but was higher in the rolled than burndown treatment in both hairy vetch and bare soil treatments. In soybean following a rye cover crop, regardless of termination method, yield loss to weed interference was unaffected by glyphosate rate, whereas in soybean following a vetch cover crop or bare soil, yield loss decreased with glyphosate rate. Variation in soybean yield among cover crops and cover-crop termination treatments was due largely to differences in soybean establishment, rather than differences in the soil environment. Use of a roller–crimper to terminate a cover crop preceding no-till soybean has the potential to achieve similar yields to those obtained in a chemically terminated cover crop while reducing residual weed biomass.

Download Full-text

Comparison of the Allelopathic Potential of Leguminous Summer Cover Crops: Cowpea, Sunn Hemp, and Velvetbean

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.42.2.289 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 289-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Michael J. Adler ◽

Carlene A. Chase

Keyword(s):

Plant Height ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Weed Species ◽

Crop Species ◽

Allelopathic Potential ◽

Sunn Hemp ◽

Germination And Growth

The phytotoxicity of aqueous foliar extracts and ground dried residues of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. cv. Iron Clay], and velvetbean [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr.] to crop and weed germination and growth was evaluated to compare the allelopathic potential of the cover crops. By 14 days after treatment (DAT), goosegrass [Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.] germination with 5% aqueous extracts of all cover crops (w/v fresh weight basis) was similar and greater than 75% of control. However, with the 10% extracts, goosegrass germination was lowest with cowpea extract, intermediate with velvetbean extract, and highest with sunn hemp extract. Livid amaranth (Amaranthus lividus L.) germination declined to ≈50% with cowpea and sunn hemp extracts and even lower to 22% with velvetbean extract. The suppression of livid amaranth germination was greater with the 10% extracts than the 5% extracts. Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germination was unaffected by velvetbean extract, inhibited more by the 5% cowpea extract than the 10% extract, and was also sensitive to the 10% sunn hemp extract. All cover crop extracts resulted in an initial delay in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) germination, but by 14 DAT, inhibition of germination was apparent only with cowpea extract. The phytotoxicity of ground dried residues of the three cover crops on germination, plant height, and dry weight of goosegrass, smooth amaranth (A. hybridus L.), bell pepper, and tomato was evaluated in greenhouse studies. Goosegrass germination was inhibited in a similar manner by residues of the three cover crops to 80% or less of control. Smooth amaranth germination, plant height, and dry biomass were more sensitive to sunn hemp residues than to cowpea and velvetbean residues. Bell pepper germination, plant height, and dry weight were greater than 90% of control except for dry weight with cowpea residue, which was only 78% of control. The greatest effect of cover crop residue on tomato occurred with dry weight, because dry weights with cowpea and sunn hemp were only 76% and 69% of control, respectively, and lower than with velvetbean. There was more evidence of cover crop phytotoxicity with the weed species than with the crop species and cowpea extracts and residue affected all species more consistently than those of sunn hemp and velvetbean.

Download Full-text

Tomato Growth in Spring-sown Cover Crops

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.11.1.150 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 150

Author(s):

Mary C. Akemo ◽

Mark A. Bennett ◽

Emilie E. Regnier

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Seeding Rate ◽

Nutrient Analysis ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Number Of Leaves

Pure and biculture stands of rye `Wheeler' (Secale cereale L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) were established and killed for mulch in Spring 1996, 1997, and 1998, in Columbus, Ohio. Treatments were five rye to pea proportions, each with a high, medium, and low seeding rate. Their effects on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth and yield were compared with those of a weedy check; a tilled, nonweeded check; and a tilled, hand-weeded check. Tomato tissue and soil were sampled for nutrient analysis. Number of leaves, branching, height, leaf area, dry weight, rate of flowering and fruit set, and fruit yield of tomato plants varied directly with the proportion of pea in the cover crop and decreased with reduced cover crop seeding rates. In 1997, yields of tomato were as high as 50 MT·ha-1 in the 1 rye: 3 pea cover crop; yield was poorest in the weedy check (0.02 MT·ha-1 in 1996). Most of the cover-cropped plots produced better yields than did the conventionally weeded check. No consistent relationship between levels of macronutrients in tomato leaf and soil samples and the cover crop treatments was established. Spring-sown rye + pea bicultures (with a higher ratio of pea) have a potential for use in tomato production.

Download Full-text

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

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.6.1262 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 1262-1266 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

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.

Download Full-text

Tomato Growth in Spring-sown Cover Crops

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.5.843 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (5) ◽

pp. 843-848 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mary C. Akemo ◽

Mark A. Bennett ◽

Emilie E. Regnier

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Seeding Rate ◽

Nutrient Analysis ◽

Tomato Production ◽

Tomato Plants ◽

Number Of Leaves

Pure and biculture stands of rye `Wheeler' (Secale cereale L.) and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) were established and killed for mulch in Spring 1996, 1997, and 1998, in Columbus, Ohio. Treatments were five rye to pea proportions, each with a high, medium, and low seeding rate. Their effects on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) growth and yield were compared with those of a weedy check; a tilled, nonweeded check; and a tilled, hand-weeded check. Tomato tissue and soil were sampled for nutrient analysis. Number of leaves, branching, height, leaf area, dry weight, rate of flowering and fruit set, and fruit yield of tomato plants varied directly with the proportion of pea in the cover crop and decreased with reduced cover crop seeding rates. In 1997, yields of tomato were as high as 50 MT·ha–1 in the 1 rye: 3 pea cover crop; yield was poorest in the weedy check (0.02 MT·ha–1 in 1996). Most of the cover-cropped plots produced better yields than did the conventionally weeded check. No consistent relationship between levels of macro-nutrients in tomato leaf and soil samples and the cover crop treatments was established. Spring-sown rye + pea bicultures (with a higher ratio of pea) have a potential for use in tomato production.

Download Full-text

Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Karabenguk (Mucuna pruriens) sebagai Tanaman Penutup Tanah pada Dua Musim Berbeda

Caraka Tani Journal of Sustainable Agriculture ◽

10.20961/carakatani.v19i1.20452 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

Supriyono Supriyono ◽

Tohari Tohari ◽

Abdul Syukur ◽

Didik Indradewa

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Dry Season ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Mucuna Pruriens ◽

Velvet Bean ◽

Two Factors

This research does to known: 1) the effect of season, 2) the effect of cover crop kind and organic fertilizer, and 3) the interaction of two factors on growth and yield of velvet bean as cover crops. This research was conducted in Tancep, Ngawen, Gunungkidul at 170 m usl, litosol, 5-17 cm level of soil tillage, 9-10o elevation level, was started at December 2002 and finished at August 2003.This research design was factorial-RCBD, 1st factor was planting season on 2 level, rainy and dry seasons, 2nd factor was cover crop kind on 6 levels, rase and putih gunungkidul velvet bean, Cm and Cp as conventional cover crops, rase and putih gunungkidul with organic fertilizer velvet bean. Per planting hole with 1 plant for velvet bean and 10 plant for coventional cover crop.The result of this research were: 1st, velvet bean growth on rainy season very high than dry season, 2nd vegetative growth rate on velvet bean higher than conventional cover crop, 3rd without fertilizer, velvet bean have some growth and yield comparing by fertilizer velvet bean and 4th some yield variable, dry season was indicated better than rainy season.

Download Full-text