Plant trait analysis to determine effective annual cover crops for Spanish orchards

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Ripley ◽  
Carly Stevens ◽  
John Quinton
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Chemistry ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Olive Orchard ◽  
Trait Analysis ◽  
Plant Trait ◽  
The Impact

<p>This paper investigates the use of plant trait analysis on cover crop species, and the impact selected species had on soil chemistry in a Spanish olive orchard. Farmers with hillside orchards in Spain frequently remove vegetation between tree rows due to concerns about water competition in the semi-arid environment. However, this increases the vulnerability of the soil to water erosion. Despite research showing that annual cover crops control soil loss, there has been little uptake of this form of management by farmers.</p><p>Ten species, native to southern Spain which had previously been used in cover crop experiments, and for which the seed was low cost, were assessed with plant trait analysis. Above and below ground traits, including specific leaf area, total biomass, root diameter and root volume, were examined to indicate the potential of the plants to reduce splash erosion, runoff and soil detachment. Four of the species were then selected and used in monocultures and mixes in an olive orchard set up in collaboration with CSIC in Cordoba. Soil moisture, rainfall, temperature and soil cover data was collected. Chemical analysis of plant and soil samples is to take place in January 2021.</p><p><em>Brachypodium distachyon</em>, <em>Calendula arvensis</em>, <em>Medicago sativa</em> and <em>Medicago truncatula</em> had the most potential as cover crop species. In the field, the treatment with the greatest number of species (two grasses, one legume and one forb) had the highest mean soil cover at 78 ± 16%. It is hypothesised that the plots in which the greatest cover was established would show the greatest change in soil chemistry and that, where the legume was planted there will be higher nitrogen in the soil.</p><p>This presentation will outline the plant traits analysed, the outcomes of this analysis and the impact selected plants had on plant and soil chemistry in the field.</p>

scholarly journals An Analysis of the Economic Effects of Cover Crop Use on Farm Net Returns per Acre in Central Indiana

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 5104
Author(s):  
Megan N. Hughes ◽  
Michael R. Langemeier
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Stochastic Modelling ◽  
Economic Effects ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
The Impact

Utilizing cover crop treatments can have significant agronomic benefits for a farm enterprise. However, implementing this technology introduces additional costs. Data were obtained from a Central Indiana case farm to evaluate the relationship between applied nitrogen and corn yield, and how this relationship is impacted by introducing three different species of cover crops: annual ryegrass, cereal rye, and an oats and radish blend. The resulting information was then translated into a partial budget so that the effects on net returns could be analyzed using historical prices and stochastic modelling. The results showed that the impact on net returns per acre varied among cover crop species. The implementation of annual ryegrass resulted in a negative change to net returns. Conversely, implementing cereal rye or an oats and radish blend resulted in a positive change to net returns, with the largest net benefits accruing to the oats and radish blend.

scholarly journals In Field Measurements of Nitrogen Mineralization following Fall Applications of N and the Termination of Winter Cover Crops

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. ASWR.S13861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey G. Lacey ◽  
Shalamar D. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
N Application ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

Little is known about the timing and quantity of nitrogen (N) mineralization from cover crop residue following cover crop termination. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the impact of cover crop species on the return of fall applied N to the soil in the spring following chemical and winter terminations. Fall N was applied (200 kg N ha−1) into a living stand of cereal rye, tillage radish, and control (no cover crop). After chemical termination in the spring, soil samples were collected weekly and were analyzed for inorganic N (NO3-N and NH4-N) to investigate mineralization over time. Cereal rye soil inorganic N concentrations were similar to that of the control in both the spring of 2012 and 2013. Fall N application into tillage radish, cereal rye, and control plots resulted in an average 91, 57, and 66% of the fall N application rate as inorganic N in the spring at the 0-20 cm depth, respectively. The inclusion of cover crops into conventional cropping systems stabilized N at the soil surface and has the potential to improve the efficiency of fall applied N.

scholarly journals Response of broadleaf and grass cover crop species to soil residues of glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Zahoor A. Ganie ◽  
Amit J. Jhala
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Aminomethylphosphonic Acid ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the United States; however, concern about increasing residues of glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in soil is escalating. There is a lack of scientific literature examining the response of cover crops to soil residues of glyphosate or AMPA. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of glyphosate or AMPA residues in silty clay loam soil on emergence, growth, and biomass of cover crops, including cereal rye, crimson clover, field pea, hairy vetch, and winter wheat, as well as their germination in a 0.07% (0.7 g/L) solution of AMPA or glyphosate. Greenhouse studies were conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to determine the dose response of broadleaf and grass cover crops to soil-applied glyphosate or AMPA. The results indicated that soil treated with glyphosate or AMPA up to 105 mg ae kg–1 of soil had no effect on the emergence, growth, above-ground biomass, and root biomass of any of the cover crop species tested. To evaluate the impact of AMPA or glyphosate on the seed germination of cover crop species, seeds were soaked in petri plates filled with a 0.7 g L−1 solution of AMPA or glyphosate. There was no effect of AMPA on seed germination of any of the cover crop species tested. Seed germination of crimson clover and field pea in a 0.7 g L−1 solution of glyphosate was comparable to the nontreated control; however, the germination of cereal rye, hairy vetch, and winter wheat was reduced by 48%, 75%, and 66%, respectively, compared to the nontreated control. The results suggested that glyphosate or AMPA up to 105 mg ae kg–1 in silt clay loam soil is unlikely to cause any negative effect on the evaluated cover crop species.

scholarly journals Integrating Cover Crops as a Source of Carbon for Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1614
Author(s):  
Luca Vecchia ◽  
Francesco Di Gioia ◽  
Antonio Ferrante ◽  
Jason C. Hong ◽  
Charles White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Soil Disinfestation ◽  
Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation ◽  
Lettuce Yield ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
The Impact

The adoption of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), a biologically-based method for the management of soilborne pests and pathogens at the commercial scale strictly depends on the availability of effective and low-cost sources of carbon (C). A three-phase pot study was conducted to evaluate the performance of twelve cover crop species as alternative sources of C in comparison to molasses. Buckwheat produced the greatest above-ground and total plant dry biomass and accumulated the largest amount of total C. In the second phase, simulating the application of ASD in a pot-in-pot system, molasses-amended soil achieved substantially higher levels of anaerobicity, and lowered soil pH at 3 and 7 days after treatment application compared to soil amended with the cover crops tested. In the third phase of the study, after the ASD simulation, lettuce was planted to assess the impact of cover crops and molasses-based ASD on lettuce yield and quality. The treatments had limited effects on lettuce plant growth and quality as none of the treatments caused plant stunting or phytotoxicity. Tested cover crop species and molasses had a significant impact on the availability of macro and micro-elements in the soil, which in turn influenced the uptake of minerals in lettuce. Fast growing cover crops like buckwheat or oat, capable of accumulating high levels of C in a relatively short time, may represent a viable alternative to substitute or be combined with standard C sources like molasses, which could provide an on-farm C source and reduce cost of application. Further research is needed to assess the performance of cover crops at the field scale and verify their decomposability and efficacy in managing soil-borne pests and pathogens.

scholarly journals Upland rice under no-tillage preceded by crops for soil cover and nitrogen fertilization

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1669-1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edemar Moro ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽  
Heitor Cantarella ◽  
Adriano Stephan Nascente
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilization ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Upland Rice ◽  
Nitrification Inhibitor ◽  
Nitrogen Sources ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Crop Species

The grain yield of upland rice under no-tillage has been unsatisfactory and one reason could be the nitrate/ammonium balance in the soil. Cover crops and nitrogen fertilization can be used to change the nitrate/ammonium relation in the soil and improve conditions for the development of upland rice in the no-tillage (NT) system. The aim was to study the effect of cover crops and nitrogen sources on grain yield of upland rice under no tillage. The study was carried out on the Fazenda Experimental Lageado, in Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in an Oxisol area under no-tillage for six years. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block split-plot design with four replications. The plots consisted of six cover crop species (Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, B. ruziziensis, Pennisetum americanum, and Crotalaria spectabilis) and the split-plots of seven forms of N fertilizer management. Millet is the best cover crop to precede upland rice under NT. The best form of N application, as nitrate, is in split rates or total rate at topdressing or an ammonium source with or without a nitrification inhibitor, in split doses. When the cover crops C. spectabilis, B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, and B. ruziziensis preceded rice, they induced the highest grain yield when rice was fertilized with N as ammonium sulfate source + nitrification inhibitor in split rates or total dose at topdressing.

scholarly journals Soybean Relative Maturity, Not Row Spacing, Affected Interseeded Cover Crops Biomass

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 441
Author(s):  
Hans J. Kandel ◽  
Dulan P. Samarappuli ◽  
Kory L. Johnson ◽  
Marisol T. Berti
Keyword(s):  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Soybean Yield ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Crop Biomass

Adoption of cover crop interseeding in the northwestern Corn Belt in the USA is limited due to inadequate fall moisture for establishment, short growing season, additional costs, and need for adapted winter-hardy species. This study evaluated three cover crop treatments—no cover crop, winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and winter camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz)—which were interseeded at the R6 soybean growth stage, using two different soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) maturity groups (0.5 vs. 0.9) and two row spacings (30.5 vs. 61 cm). The objective was to evaluate these treatments on cover crop biomass, soil cover, plant density, and soybean yield. Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield was also measured the following year. The early-maturing soybean cultivar (0.5 maturity) resulted in increased cover crop biomass and soil cover, with winter rye outperforming winter camelina. However, the early-maturing soybean yielded 2308 kg·ha−1, significantly less compared with the later maturing cultivar (2445 kg·ha−1). Narrow row spacing had higher soybean yield, but row spacing did not affect cover crop growth. Spring wheat should not follow winter rye if rye is terminated right before seeding the wheat. However, wheat planted after winter camelina was no different than when no cover crop was interseeded in soybean. Interseeding cover crops into established soybean is possible, however, cover crop biomass accumulation and soil cover are limited.

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.

scholarly journals Systemic Colonization by Metarhizium robertsii Enhances Cover Crop Growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Imtiaz Ahmad ◽  
María del Mar Jiménez-Gasco ◽  
Dawn S. Luthe ◽  
Mary E. Barbercheck
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Above Ground Biomass ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Metarhizium Robertsii ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Ground Biomass

Fungi in the genus Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) are insect pathogens that can establish as endophytes and can benefit their host plant. In field experiments, we observed a positive correlation between the prevalence of M. robertsii and legume cover crops, and a negative relationship with brassicaceous cover crops and with increasing proportion of cereal rye in mixtures. Here, we report the effects of endophytic M. robertsii on three cover crop species under greenhouse conditions. We inoculated seeds of Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L., AWP), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), and winter canola (Brassica napus L.) with conidia of M. robertsii to assess the effects of endophytic colonization on cover crop growth. We recovered M. robertsii from 59%, 46%, and 39% of seed-inoculated AWP, cereal rye, and canola plants, respectively. Endophytic M. robertsii significantly increased height and above-ground biomass of AWP and cereal rye but did not affect chlorophyll content of any of the cover crop species. Among inoculated plants from which we recovered M. robertsii, above-ground biomass of AWP was positively correlated with the proportion of colonized root but not leaf tissue sections. Our results suggest that winter cover crops may help to conserve Metarhizium spp. in annual cropping systems.

Cover crop species affect mycorrhizae-mediated nutrient uptake and pest resistance in maize

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebony G. Murrell ◽  
Swayamjit Ray ◽  
Mary E. Lemmon ◽  
Dawn S. Luthe ◽  
Jason P. Kaye
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Pest Resistance ◽  
Plant Nutrient ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Corn Borer ◽  
Maize Growth

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase plant nutrient uptake and chemical defense production, both of which can improve plants’ ability to resist insect herbivory. Cover crops—non-commercial species planted in between cash crops in a crop rotation—can naturally alter both soil nutrients and AMF. We tested whether different cover crop species alter AMF colonization, plant nutrient status and plant–insect interactions in a subsequent maize crop. Cover crop species were either non-mycorrhizal, non-leguminous (canola, forage radish), mycorrhizal non-leguminous (cereal rye, oats), mycorrhizal leguminous (clover, pea) or absent (fallow). We measured the cascading consequences of cover crop treatment on maize root AMF colonization, maize growth and performance of an herbivorous insect (European corn borer) feeding on the maize. Maize AMF colonization was greater in plots previously planted with mycorrhizal (rye, oats) than non-mycorrhizal (canola, radish) cover crops or no cover crop (fallow). AMF colonization was linked to increased plant phosphorous and nitrogen, and maize growth increased with low plant N:P. Induced jasmonic acid pathway plant defenses increased with increasing maize growth and AMF colonization. European corn borer survivorship decreased with lower plant N:P, and insect development rate decreased with increased induced plant defenses. Our data describe a cascade in which cover crop species selection can increase or decrease mycorrhizal colonization of subsequent maize crop roots, which in turn impacts phosphorus uptake and may affect herbivory resistance in the maize. These results suggest that farmers could select cover crop species to manage nutrient uptake and pest resistance, in order to amend or limit fertilizer and pesticide use.

scholarly journals The Perceived Benefits, Challenges, and Environmental Effects of Cover Crop Implementation in South Carolina

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 372
Author(s):  
Lucas Clay ◽  
Katharine Perkins ◽  
Marzieh Motallebi ◽  
Alejandro Plastina ◽  
Bhupinder Singh Farmaha
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Best Management ◽  
Row Crop ◽  
The Impact

Cover crops are becoming more accepted as a viable best management practice because of their ability to provide important environmental and soil health benefits. Because of these benefits, many land managers are strongly encouraging the use of cover crops. Additionally, there is limited information on farmers′ perceptions of the benefits and challenges of implementing cover crops. Many farmers state that they do not have enough money or time to implement cover crops. In an attempt to gather more data about the adoption rate and perceptions of cover crops in South Carolina, a survey was sent to 3000 row crop farmers across the state. Farmers were asked whether they implement cover crops and their perceptions of the benefits and challenges associated with implementation. Furthermore, questions were asked regarding the impact of row cropping on their environment to gauge farmer′s education level on environmental impacts. Responses showed many people are implementing cover crops; however, there are still differences in perceptions about benefits and challenges between those who are adopting cover crops and those who are not. This research assesses these differences and aims to provide a baseline for focusing cover crop programs to tackle these certain challenges and promote the benefits.

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