Hairy Vetch Varieties and Bi-Cultures Influence Cover Crop Services in Strip-Tilled Sweet Corn

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.

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Weed Control and Sweet Corn (Zea maysvar.rugosa) Response in a No-till System with Cover Crops

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500094005 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 355-361 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Nilda R. Burgos ◽

Ronald E. Talbert

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Yellow Nutsedge ◽

No Till ◽

Agricultural Experiment ◽

And Control

Studies were conducted at the Main Agricultural Experiment Station in Fayetteville and the Vegetable Substation in Kibler, Arkansas, in 1992 and 1993 on the same plots to evaluate weed suppression by winter cover crops alone or in combination with reduced herbicide rates in no-till sweet corn and to evaluate cover crop effects on growth and yield of sweet corn. Plots seeded to rye plus hairy vetch, rye, or wheat had at least 50% fewer early season weeds than hairy vetch alone or no cover crop. None of the cover crops reduced population of yellow nutsedge. Without herbicides, hairy vetch did not suppress weeds 8 wk after cover crop desiccation. Half rates of atrazine and metolachlor (1.1 + 1.1 kg ai ha−1) reduced total weed density more effectively in no cover crop than in hairy vetch. Half rates of atrazine and metolachlor controlled redroot pigweed, Palmer amaranth, and goosegrass regardless of cover crop. Full rates of atrazine and metolachlor (2.2 + 2.2 kg ai ha−1) were needed to control large crabgrass in hairy vetch. Control of yellow nutsedge in hairy vetch was marginal even with full herbicide rates. Yellow nutsedge population increased and control with herbicides declined the second year, particularly with half rates of atrazine and metolachlor. All cover crops except hairy vetch alone reduced emergence, height, and yield of sweet corn. Sweet corn yields from half rates of atrazine and metolachlor equalled the full rates regardless of cover crops.

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Cover Crop Rotations Alter Soil Microbiology and Reduce Replant Disorders in Strawberry

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.5.1303 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 1303-1308 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Ann Toren Seigies ◽

Marvin Pritts

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Methyl Bromide ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Strawberry Plant ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

History Of ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Bare Fallow ◽

Root Health

In July 2001, a study was established in a field with a 30-year history of perennial strawberry production to examine effects on replant disorder of 12 different species of preplant cover crops, soil fumigation (methyl bromide plus chloropicrin), and fallow management. In May 2002, strawberries (`Jewel') were planted into pots containing soils with the incorporated cover crops, grown for 1 year, and then fruited. Strawberry yields in 2003 were highest in pots containing indiangrass (Sorghastrum avenaceum) and brown mustard (Brassica juncea) -incorporated soils, resulting in 32% and 28%, respectively, higher yield than plants in pots containing untreated, bare fallow soil. Yield was lowest in fumigated soil or soil incorporated with sunnhemp (Crotolaria juncea), having 19% and 10% less yield than the fallow treatment, respectively. In Aug. 1999, a complementary study was established in a field with a 7-year history of continuous perennial strawberry production to examine the effects of single species and multiple species rotations on replant disorder, bacterial populations, and fungal pathogens over 2 fruiting years. Cover crop treatments included various monocultures and sequences of perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa), brown mustard, kale (B. oleracea `Winterbor'), sweet corn (Zea mays `Saccharata'), rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), marigold (Tagetes patula `Nema-gone'), oats (Avena sativa `Newdak'), and sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanese). These rotations were compared with the effects of fumigation using methyl bromide with chloropicrin (99:1), continuous strawberry, and bare fallow. Symptoms of replant disorder developed in the continuous strawberry plots within a few months of planting. Plants in the fumigation treatment produced greater fruit yield than all other treatments in 2003, 139% more than plants from the continuous strawberry treatment. Strawberry plants grown in the kale/sweet corn/rye treatment had consistently high yield, and both the hairy vetch/marigold/rye and the oats/sudangrass/rye treatments led to marked improvement over the continuous strawberry treatment. Plants from the brown mustard treatment also were more vigorous and productive than plants from the continuous strawberry treatment during 2002 despite having relatively low foliar biomass and a relatively high level of fungal infection on strawberry plant roots. In the field, symptoms of replant disorder were best overcome by fumigation with methyl bromide or multiple species rotations, particularly that of kale followed by sweet corn and rye. Although Rhizoctonia levels were associated with poor root health, general fungal and bacterial root infection rates were not consistently associated with the presence of visible symptoms of replant disorder nor with strawberry plant growth and productivity.

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(12) Influence of Single and Biculture Cover Crops with or without Synthetic Nitrogen on Leaf Area Index and Above Ground Biomass Yields of Sweet Corn

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.41.4.1063b ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 1063B-1063

Author(s):

Wayne F. Whitehead ◽

Bharat P. Singh

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area Index ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Area Index ◽

Ground Biomass

During the 2004–05 growing season, a study was conducted to determine effect of cover crop, their mixture and fertilizer N rates on above ground biomass (AGB) yields, and Leaf Area Index (LAI) of Bt sweet corn. The following cover crop nitrogen fertility treatments were applied using randomized complete-block design with three replications: 1) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-0 N, 2) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-0 N, 3) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-0 N, 4) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-0 N, 5) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-101 kg N/ha, 6) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-101 kg N/ha, 7) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha, 8) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha, 9) fall-0 N, fallow; spring-202 kg N/ha, 10) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye; spring-202 kg N/ha, 11) fall-0 N, hairy vetch; spring-202 kg N/ha, and 12) fall-0 N, abruzzi rye+hairy vetch; spring-202 kg N/ha. In Spring 2005, `Attribute BSS0977' bi-color (BC) supersweet (sh2) corn seeds were field planted. AGB yields were collected during harvest week while LAI was recorded at tasseling (6/27), silking (7/8) and one week after harvest (7/25). Hairy vetch; spring-101 kg N/ha produced highest LAI at tasseling (2.18), silking (2.73), and one week after harvest (2.57). Lowest LAI at tasseling (1.12) and silking(1.60) were produced by abruzzi rye; spring-0 N with fallow; spring-0 N producing lowest LAI (1.40) one week after harvest. Maximum AGB fresh (40.5 Mg/ha) and dry weight (12.1 Mg/ha) yields were produced by hairy vetch; spring-101kg N/ha, while minimum AGB fresh (9.6 Mg/ha) and dry weight (3.6 Mg/ha) yields were produced by abruzzi rye; spring-0 N. Results imply LAI at each growth stage and AGB yields of this BCsh2 corn variety are best supported by hairy vetch supplemented with N at 101 kg/ha.

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Nitrogen contribution of rye–hairy vetch cover crop mixtures to organically grown sweet corn

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170512000014 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 59-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Andrew Lawson ◽

Ann Marie Fortuna ◽

Craig Cogger ◽

Andy Bary ◽

Tami Stubbs

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

N Availability ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Total N ◽

Available N ◽

Laboratory Incubation ◽

N Release ◽

Organically Grown

AbstractOrganic cropping systems that utilize winter grown cereal–legume cover crop mixtures can increase plant available nitrogen (N) to a subsequent cash crop, but the rate of N release is uncertain due to variations in residue composition and environmental conditions. A study was conducted to evaluate N availability from rye (Secale cereale L.)–hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) cover crop mixtures and to measure the response of organically grown sweet corn (Zea mays L.) to N provided by cover crop mixtures. Nitrogen availability from pure rye, pure hairy vetch, and rye–vetch mixtures was estimated using laboratory incubation with controlled temperature and soil moisture. Sweet corn N response was determined in a 2-year field experiment in western Washington with three cover crop treatments as main plots (50:50 rye–vetch seed mixture planted mid September, planted early October, and none) and four feather meal N rates as subplots (0, 56, 112 and 168 kg available N ha−1). Pure hairy vetch and a 75% rye–25% hairy vetch biomass mixture (R75V25) released similar amounts of N over 70 days in the laboratory incubation. But, the initial release of N from the (R75V25) treatment was nearly 70% lower, which may result in N release that is better timed with crop uptake. Cover crops in the field were dominated by rye and contained 34–76 kg ha−1 total N with C:N ranging from 18 to 27. Although time of planting and management of cover crop quality improved N uptake in sweet corn, cover crops provided only supplemental plant available N in this system.

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Biomass and Nitrogen Content of Hairy Vetch-Cereal Rye Cover Crop Mixtures as Influenced by Species Proportions

Agronomy Journal ◽

10.2134/agronj14.0462 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 107 (6) ◽

pp. 2069-2082 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

Hanna J. Poffenbarger ◽

Steven B. Mirsky ◽

Raymond R. Weil ◽

Jude E. Maul ◽

Matthew Kramer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Content ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Cereal Rye ◽

Species Proportions

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Remediation of degraded arable steppe soils in Moldova using vetch as green manure

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-6-609-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 609-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

M. Wiesmeier ◽

M. Lungu ◽

R. Hübner ◽

V. Cerbari

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Belowground Biomass ◽

Relative Increase ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Arable Soils ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Cover Cropping ◽

Arable Farming ◽

The Republic ◽

Continental Climate

Abstract. In the Republic of Moldova, non-sustainable arable farming led to severe degradation and erosion of fertile steppe soils (Chernozems). As a result, the Chernozems lost about 40% of their initial amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC). The aim of this study was to remediate degraded arable soils and promote carbon sequestration by implementation of cover cropping and green manuring in Moldova. Thereby, the suitability of the legume hairy vetch (Vicia sativa) as cover crop under the dry continental climate of Moldova was examined. At two experimental sites, the effect of cover cropping on chemical and physical soil properties as well as on yields of subsequent main crops was determined. The results showed a significant increase of SOC after incorporation of hairy vetch mainly due to increases of aggregate-occluded and mineral-associated OC. This was related to a high above- and belowground biomass production of hairy vetch associated with a high input of carbon and nitrogen into arable soils. A calculation of SOC stocks based on equivalent soil masses revealed a sequestration of around 3 t C ha−1yr−1 as a result of hairy vetch cover cropping. The buildup of SOC was associated with an improvement of the soil structure as indicated by a distinct decrease of bulk density and a relative increase of macroaggregates at the expense of microaggregates and clods. As a result, yields of subsequent main crops increased by around 20%. Our results indicated that hairy vetch is a promising cover crop to remediate degraded steppe soils, control soil erosion and sequester substantial amounts of atmospheric C in arable soils of Moldova.

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Tillage and Planting Date Effects on Weed Dormancy, Emergence, and Early Growth in Organic Corn

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-14-00112.1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 63 (2) ◽

pp. 477-490 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

John R. Teasdale ◽

Steven B. Mirsky

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Dominant Species ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Management ◽

Planting Date ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Weed Biomass ◽

Giant Foxtail ◽

Smooth Pigweed

Insufficient weed control is a major constraint to adoption of reduced-tillage practices for organic grain production. Tillage, cover crop management, and crop planting date are factors that influence emergence periodicity and growth potential of important weed species in these systems. We assessed two hairy vetch cover crop management practices, disk-kill and roll-kill, across a range of corn planting dates from early May to late June in three experiments in Beltsville, MD. Patterns of seed dormancy, emergence, and early weed growth were determined for overseeded populations of common ragweed, giant foxtail, and smooth pigweed, three important species in the Mid-Atlantic states that represent early to late emergence. Common ragweed emergence was lowest and dormancy was highest of the three species across all planting dates. Giant foxtail emergence was higher than the other species in roll-killed hairy vetch and included a significant number of seeds that germinated before rolling operations in late June. Smooth pigweed had the highest emergence and lowest dormancy in disk-killed hairy vetch in June. Individual giant foxtail plant weight was higher in roll-killed than disk-killed hairy vetch in 2 of 3 yr, whereas that of smooth pigweed plants was higher in disk-killed than roll-killed vetch in 2 of 3 yr. Giant foxtail was the dominant species in roll-killed hairy vetch (averaged 79% of total weed biomass at corn silking), probably because of early germination and establishment before rolling operations. Smooth pigweed was the dominant species in disk-killed hairy vetch at June planting dates (averaged 77% of total weed biomass), probably because of high growth rates under warm conditions in tilled soil. This research demonstrated that cover crop management practices and the timing of planting operations can shift the dominant species of weed communities in organic farming systems and must be considered in long-term weed management planning.

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

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m88-038 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 201-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

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.

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