scholarly journals Limitations and Possibilities for Some Conservation Tillage Systems with Vegetable Crops in the Southern Plains of the United States

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Roberts ◽  
James Shrefler ◽  
James Duthie ◽  
Jonathan Edelson ◽  
Bob Cartwright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Southern Plains

We conducted several experiments to determine the best system for production of spring cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group) with conservation tillage (CT) in the southern plains of the United States. Rye (Secale cereale L.) was selected as the best cover crop to cover the soil in a short time. Raised beds were formed in the fall and planted with rye. With most studies, the rye was allowed to remain on the soil surface rather than being tilled into the soil. Planting densities, rates of nitrogen fertilizer, and herbicide materials were evaluated to determine the best system for cabbage production. In each study, various cover crop practices were compared with bare soil production systems. Soil erosion was reduced by the use of rye cover crops. Cabbage was produced in the CT system, but cabbage yields were higher in bare soil plots than in the rye-covered plots. We are also in the process of developing a system of CT that involves permanent bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures and watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai]. This system allows both crops to be grown simultaneously on the same land.

Is phosphorus fertilization necessary for watermelon production on high phosphorus soils?

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel B Geleta ◽  
Christopher H Briand ◽  
Harry E Womack ◽  
Russell B Brinsfield ◽  
F. Ron Mulford
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Nutrient Loading ◽  
Citrullus Lanatus ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
The United States ◽  
Phosphorus Loading ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Phosphorus Fertilization ◽  
P Fertilizer

Nutrient loading has created water quality problems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of the United States. This study was designed to examine if a high yield of quality watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai] can be produced with reduced phosphorus (P) fertilizer inputs and the use of a preceding cover crop on high P soils of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Watermelon was planted on a Norfolk soil (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic type kandiudults) in a split plot design, with four replications. The main plot treatments were cover crops (rye versus no cover) and the sub-plot treatments were five different P-fertilizer rates ranging from 0 to 60 kg P ha-1, at 15 kg ha-1 increments. Following harvest, all P fertility regimes left behind “excessive” P levels based on soil tests. The addition of P-fertilizer to these soils was unnecessary for the production of a high yield of marketable quality watermelons. In two of three sites, the use of cover crops preceding the watermelon crop increased yields and fruit size. Use of a rye cover crop and reduced P-fertilizer inputs could have a positive environmental impact by reducing the risk of P over-loading without negatively impacting watermelon yield and quality. Key words: Watermelon quality, phosphorus-reduction, rye cover crop, phosphorus loading

scholarly journals Evaluating Strip Tillage and Rowcover Use in Organic and Conventional Muskmelon Production

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Tillman ◽  
Ajay Nair ◽  
Mark Gleason ◽  
Jean Batzer
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
The United States ◽  
Vegetable Crops ◽  
Plastic Mulch ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Strip Tillage

Increasing interest in using cover crops and reduced tillage to build soil health has created a demand for strategies to implement rolled cover crop systems. In northern areas of the United States, cool soil temperature in rolled cover crop systems can create a challenge when growing warm season vegetable crops. The use of rowcovers could mitigate the issue and facilitate adoption of rolled cover crop systems for both conventional and organic growers. This study investigated muskmelon (Cucumis melo) in two production systems, strip tillage (ST) into rolled cereal rye (Secale cereale) or conventional tillage with black plastic mulch (plasticulture), with or without the use of spunbonded polypropylene rowcovers. The trial was conducted in two fields, one in organic management and the other in conventional management. In general, ST led to cooler, moister soils than plasticulture, but rowcovers rarely affected soil temperature. Rowcovers increased mean and maximum daily air temperature by up to 4.2 and 11.7 °C, respectively, and decreased average daily light intensity by 33% to 37%. Rowcovers sometimes increased fruit size, but rarely affected marketable yield. Overall, ST reduced marketable yield compared with plasticulture by 6732 to 9900 lb/acre; however, ST with rowcovers often produced similar vegetative growth compared with plasticulture without rowcovers. Given the slow vining growth habit of muskmelon and the late planting inherent in a rolled cereal rye system, achieving high muskmelon yields, especially early yields, may be difficult.

scholarly journals Fall- and Spring-sown Cover Crop Mulches Affect Yield, Fruit Cleanliness, and Fusarium Fruit Rot Development in Pumpkin

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian A. Wyenandt ◽  
Richard M. Riedel ◽  
Landon H. Rhodes ◽  
Mark A. Bennett ◽  
Stephen G.P. Nameth
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Fruit Rot ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Vicia Villosa ◽  
Annual Medics

In 2001 and 2002, fall- and spring-sown, spring-killed or spring-sown living cover crops mulches were evaluated for their effects on pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) number and weight, fruit cleanliness, and fusarium fruit rot (FFR; Fusarium solani f. sp. cucurbitae race 1). In general, the number and weight of orange (mature) fruit and total fruit weight were higher in bare soil (conventional), fall- or spring-sown, spring-killed cover crop mulches compared with spring-sown, living annual medic (Medicago spp.) cover crop mulches. In both years, pumpkins grown on fall-sown winter rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), winter rye + hairy vetch, and spring-sown oat (Avena sativa) produced fruit numbers and weights comparable to or slightly higher than bare soil (conventional) production, suggesting that these cover crop mulches had no effects on reducing pumpkin yield. The number and weight of pumpkins grown in spring-sown, living annual medic cover crop mulches were reduced in both years compared with the other cover crop mulches. On artificially inoculated field plots, percentages of groundcover at harvest and fruit with FFR were 89% and 5% in fall-sown winter rye (seeded at 90 lb/acre), 88% and 10% in fall-sown rye (50 lb/acre), 85% and 5% in fall-sown rye + hairy vetch (50 lb/acre each), 19% and 30% in fall-sown hairy vetch (50 lb/acre), 23% and 23% in spring-sown oat (110 lb/acre), 1% and 25% to 39% in spring-sown, living annual medics (40 lb/acre) and 0% and 46% in bare soil plots, respectively. Results suggest that cover crop mulches such as fall-sown winter rye, fall-sown winter rye + hairy vetch, or spring-sown, spring-killed oat killed and left on the soil surface may help reduce losses to FFR in pumpkin production.

scholarly journals Increase in Populations of Rhizoctonia solani and Wirestem of Collard with Velvet Bean Cover Crop Mulch

Plant Disease ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
pp. 719-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony P. Keinath ◽  
Howard F. Harrison ◽  
Paul C. Marino ◽  
D. Michael Jackson ◽  
Thomas C. Pullaro
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Rhizoctonia Solani ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Velvet Bean ◽  
Organic Mulch ◽  
Progress Curve ◽  
Fallow Soil

Velvet bean has been used traditionally as a summer cover crop in the southeastern United States. We investigated the use of killed velvet bean as a cover crop mulch left on the soil surface before collard was transplanted in the fall. Control treatments were weed-free fallow and velvet bean that was killed and disked into the soil before transplanting. Incidence of wirestem, caused by Rhizoctonia solani, reached a maximum of 25% in 2000 but only 4% in 2001 in cover crop mulch treatments. Nevertheless, in both years, the infection rate, area under the disease progress curve, and final incidence were significantly greater with cover crop mulch than in the fallow or disked treatments. Wirestem incidence did not differ between the disked and fallow treatments in either year. Populations of R. solani in soil were greater after cover crop mulch than in fallow plots in both years and greater in the disked treatment than in fallow soil in 2000 but not 2001. Velvet bean does not appear to be suitable as an organic mulch for fall collard production, but could be used as a summer cover crop if disked into the soil before transplanting collard.

The Impact of Energy on the Adoption of Conservation Tillage in the United States

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-568
Author(s):  
Noel D. Uri
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structural Instability ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
The Real ◽  
Real Price ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The impact of energy on the adoption of conservation tillage is of special importance in addressing concerns about the effect of agricultural production on the environment in the United States. It is the subject of this paper. After establishing that a relationship exists between the price of energy and the adoption of conservation tillage via cointegration techniques, the relationship is quantified. It is shown that while the real price of crude oil, the proxy used for the price of energy, does not affect the rate of adoption of conservation tillage, it does impact the extent to which it is used. Finally, there is no structural instability in the relationship between the relative use of conservation tillage and the real price of crude oil over the period 1963 to 1997.

scholarly journals Redistribution of phosphorus in soil through cover crop roots

2004 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlio C. Franchini ◽  
Marcos A. Pavan ◽  
Mário Miyazawa
Keyword(s):  
Pisum Sativum ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Lupinus Albus ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Phosphate Fertilizer ◽  
Vicia Sativa ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Soil P

The objective of this study was to evaluate if cover crops can absorb P from the upper layers and transport it in their roots to subsoil layers. Samples of an Oxisol were placed in PVC columns. Super phosphate fertilizer was applied to the 0-10 cm soil surface layers. The cover crops tested were: Avena strigosa, Avena sativa, Secale cereale, Pisum sativum subsp arvense, Pisum sativum, Vicia villosa, Vicia sativa, Lupinus angustifoliu, Lupinus albus, and Triticum aestivum. After a growth period of 80 days the cover crop shoots were cut off and the soil was divided into 10cm layers and the roots of each layer were washed out. The roots and shoots were analyzed separated for total P contribution to the soil. Considerable amount of P was present in the roots of cover crops. Vicia sativa contained more than 60% of total plant P in the roots. The contribution of Vicia sativa to soil P bellow the fertilized zone was about 7 kg ha-1. It thus appeared that there existed a possibility of P redistribution into the soil under no tillage by using cover crops in rotation with cash crops. Vicia sativa was the most efficient cover crop species as P carrier into the roots from superficial layer to lower layers.

Influence of legume cover crops and conservation tillage on soil populations of selected fungal genera

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. S. Rothrock ◽  
W. L. Hargrove
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Macrophomina Phaseolina ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Fusarium Spp ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Legume Cover Crops ◽  
Legume Cover Crop

The influence of winter legume cover crops and of tillage on soil populations of fungal genera containing plant pathogenic species in the subsequent summer sorghum crop were examined in field studies. Legume cover crops significantly increased populations of Pythium spp. throughout the sorghum crop compared with a rye cover crop or no cover crop. This stimulation of the populations of Pythium spp. was not solely due to colonization of cover-crop residue, as populations were significantly greater at the time the legume cover crop was desiccated. Removal of aboveground residue generally decreased populations of Pythium spp. in soil. Incorporation of residue by tillage increased populations of Pythium spp. at some sampling dates. Legumes differed in the magnitude of stimulation, with hairy vetch stimulating Pythium spp. more than crimson clover. Cover crop treatments did not consistently influence soil populations of Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia-like binucleate fungi, or Macrophomina phaseolina. Macrophomina phaseolina populations were significantly greater under no tillage.

scholarly journals Suitability of peanut residue as a nitrogen source for a rye cover crop

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kipling Shane Balkcom ◽  
Charles Wesley Wood ◽  
James Fredrick Adams ◽  
Bernard Meso
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
N Application ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Arachis Hypogaea L ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Biomass Yields

Leguminous winter cover crops have been utilized in conservation systems to partially meet nitrogen (N) requirements of succeeding summer cash crops, but the potential of summer legumes to reduce N requirements of a winter annual grass, used as a cover crop, has not been extensively examined. This study assessed the N contribution of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) residues to a subsequent rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop grown in a conservation system on a Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) at Headland, AL USA during the 2003-2005 growing seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split plot design, with main plots of peanut residue retained or removed from the soil surface, and subplots as N application rates (0, 34, 67 and 101 kg ha-1) applied in the fall. Peanut residue had minimal to no effect on rye biomass yields, N content, carbon (C) /N ratio, or N, P, K, Ca and Zn uptake. Additional N increased rye biomass yield, and N, P, K, Ca, and Zn uptakes. Peanut residue does not contribute significant amounts of N to a rye cover crop grown as part of a conservation system, but retaining peanut residue on the soil surface could protect the soil from erosion early in the fall and winter before a rye cover crop grows sufficiently to protect the typically degraded southeastern USA soils.

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