scholarly journals Effect of cover crops in olive groves on Cicadomorpha communities

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. e0303
Author(s):  
Antonio J. Carpio ◽  
Marta Solana ◽  
Francisco S. Tortosa ◽  
Jesús Castro
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Study Plot ◽  
Song Birds ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
Insect Predation ◽  
Positive Effect

Aim of study: To identify the environmental variables that affect the Cicadomorpha communities and the role played by cover crops in olive groves by comparing olive orchards with cover crop to those with bare ground.Area of study: Córdoba, Spain.Material and methods: Two study plots, one with cover crop and the other with bare ground, were delimited in three areas of olives orchards. Three passive samplings (May, June and July) were performed in each study plot to estimate the abundance and the species richness of potential Cicadomorphas vectors of Xylella fastidiosa. In each sampling, eight yellow sticky traps (22 × 35 cm) were randomly distributed in each study plot (n = 144 traps).Main results: The Cicadomorpha communities were mainly affected by landscape variables (such as the total surface and the distance to remnants of natural vegetation) and environmental variables (such as the temperature, moisture or ETo), whereas cover crops played a secondary role in the abundance of the Cicadomorpha.Research highlights: The results of the study suggest that Cicadomorpha richness and abundance depend on the structural complexity provided by cover crops (positive effect) and live hedges (negative effect), which may be owing to the higher food abundance and shelter when cover crops are present, whereas higher insect predation may occur close to hedges, probably owing to insectivorous song birds.

scholarly journals Influence of Pre-Sowing Operations on Soil-Dwelling Fauna in Soybean Cultivation

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 474
Author(s):  
Darija Lemic ◽  
Ivana Pajač Živković ◽  
Marija Posarić ◽  
Renata Bažok
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Fauna ◽  
Biological Indicators ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Beneficial Insects ◽  
The Family ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Natural Equilibrium ◽  
Positive Effect

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different pre-sowing operations on the abundance and composition of total soil fauna in soybean cultivation, with special attention to carabids as biological indicators of agroecosystem quality. The study was conducted in central Croatia with six different pre-sowing activities (cover crop, mulching, ploughing, glyphosate, fertiliser removal, conventional tillage). Pitfall traps were used to collect soil fauna in April, June and September. After determining the abundance and composition of the fauna, their coenological characteristics were calculated and statistical analysis was performed. During the study, 7836 individuals of soil fauna were collected. The composition consisted of 84% beneficial, 8% harmful and 8% indifferent fauna. Class Insecta was the most numerous with a proportion of 56%, with most members of the family Carabidae (1622 individuals), followed by the class Arachnida (40%). The number of fauna collected was influenced by the interaction between pre-seeding intervention and sampling date. Pre-seeding interventions that did not involve soil activities did not affect the number and composition of soil fauna at the beginning of vegetation. Mechanical interventions in the soil and warmer and drier weather have a negative effect on the number and composition of soil fauna. As the season progresses, the influence of pre-sowing activities on soil fauna in soybean crops decreases. It seems that a reduction in mechanical activities in the shallow seed layer of the soil has a positive effect on species richness or diversity. Of particular note is the large proportion of beneficial insects that currently colonise the study area, characterising soil richness and stable natural equilibrium.

scholarly journals Study of C, N, P and K Release from Residues of Newly Proposed Cover Crops in a Spanish Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rodríguez-Lizana ◽  
Miguel Ángel Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres ◽  
Rosa Carbonell-Bojollo ◽  
Manuel Moreno-García ◽  
Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Brachypodium Distachyon ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Grab Sampling ◽  
P Release ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
C And N

Cover crops (CC)s are increasingly employed by farmers in olive groves. Spontaneous soil cover is the most commonly used CC. Its continuous utilization changes ruderal flora. It is necessary to study new CCs. Living CCs provide C and nutrients to soil during decomposition. Information on this issue in olive groves is scarce. A 4-year field study involving grab sampling of Brachypodium distachyon, Sinapis alba and spontaneous CC residues was conducted to study C and nutrient release from cover crop residues. Throughout the decomposition cycles, C, N and P release accounted for 40 to 58% of the C, N and P amounts in the residues after mowing. Most K was released (80–90%). Expressed in kg per hectare, the release of C and N in Brachypodium (C: 4602, N: 181, P: 29, K: 231) and Sinapis (C: 4806, N: 152, P: 18, K: 195) was greater than that in spontaneous CC (C: 3115, N: 138, P: 21, K: 256). The opposite results were observed for K. The Rickman model, employed to estimate the amount of C, N and P in residues, yielded a good match between the simulated and measured values. In comparison to spontaneous CC, the newly proposed CCs have a higher potential to provide soil with C and N.

scholarly journals Modelling European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur L. 1758) distribution in the south eastern Iberian Peninsula

2021 ◽  
pp. 279-287
Author(s):  
A. Bermúdez–Cavero ◽  
J. A. Gil–Delgado ◽  
G. M. López–Iborra
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Breeding Birds ◽  
Se Spain ◽  
Herbaceous Crops ◽  
Semiarid Areas ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Turtle Dove ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Streptopelia Turtur

The European turtle dove population and breeding range has declined sharply in Spain. This study reanalyses data from the Atlas of Breeding Birds in Alicante (SE Spain), aiming to identify the main variables related to its occurrence and abundance. We used hierarchical partitioning analysis to identify important environmental variables associated with natural vegetation, farming, hydrological web, anthropic presence, climate, and topography. Analysis combining the most explicative variables of each group identified the mixture of pines and scrubland in the semiarid areas and the length of unpaved roads as the most important variables with a positive effect on occurrence, while herbaceous crops and scrublands in dry ombrotype climate areas had the most important negative effect. Abundance was related only to the availability of water points. We discuss the implications of these findings for habitat management in conservation of this species.

Carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) differentially respond to soil management practices in feed and forage systems in transition to organic management

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 608-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Pisani Gareau ◽  
Christina Voortman ◽  
Mary Barbercheck
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Carabid Beetles ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Cereal Grain

AbstractWe conducted a 3-yr cropping systems experiment in central Pennsylvania, USA, to determine the effects of initial cover crop species, tillage and resulting environmental variables on the activity–density (A–D), species richness, community composition and guild composition of carabid beetles (Carabidae: Coleoptera) during the transition from conventional to organic production. We compared four systems in a factorial combination of a mixed perennial sod (timothy, Phleum pratense L.) and legumes (red clover, Trifolium pratense L.) or annual cereal grain (cereal rye, Secale cereale L.) followed by a legume (hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Roth) as initial cover crops, and soil management using full tillage (moldboard plow) or reduced tillage (chisel plow) implemented in soybeans followed by maize in the subsequent year. The experiment was established twice, first in autumn 2003 (S1) and again in autumn 2004 (S2) in an adjacent field, in a randomized complete-block design with four replicates in each Start. We collected a total of 2181 adult carabid beetles. Approximately 65% of the carabid beetles collected were from six species. Indicator Species Analysis showed that several carabid species were indicative of treatment, e.g., Poecilus chalcites was a strong indicator for treatments with an initial cereal rye cover crop. Eleven environmental variables explained variation in carabid A–D, richness and the A–D of species categorized by size class and dominant trophic behavior, respectively, but varied in significance and direction among guilds. Soil moisture was a significant effect for total carabid A–D in both S1 and S2. Redundancy analyses revealed some similar and some idiosyncratic responses among informative species for the cover crop×tillage treatments through the 3-yr rotation. The most consistent factors that distinguished species assemblages among years and treatments were the number and intensity of soil disturbances and perennial weed density. The consistent occurrence of soil disturbance indicators in multivariate analyses suggests that future studies that aim to compare the effects of nominal soil management treatments on carabid beetles and other soil-associated arthropods should quantify frequency and intensity of disturbance associated with crop management practices.

Macrophyte Diversity and Complexity Reduce Larval Mosquito Abundance

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 1041-1048
Author(s):  
Will P Lumpkin ◽  
Kincade R Stirek ◽  
Lee A Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Macrophyte ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Larval Abundance ◽  
Community Interactions ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Predator Diversity ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Experimental Mesocosms ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract The role of aquatic arthropod diversity and community interactions of larval mosquitoes are important for understanding mosquito population dynamics. We tested the effects of aquatic macrophyte diversity and habitat structural complexity in shaping the predator and competitor invertebrate communities associated with mosquito larvae. Experimental mesocosms were planted with live aquatic macrophytes and allowed to be naturally colonized by local invertebrates. Results indicated a positive effect of macrophyte diversity on competitor diversity and a negative effect on predator diversity. In turn, predator diversity negatively impacted mosquito abundance through a direct effect, while competitor diversity showed an indirect negative effect on mosquito larval abundance through its positive effect on predator diversity. The enhancement of aquatic macrophyte diversity and structural complexity has practical applications for the reduction of mosquito populations in managed systems where complete source elimination is not possible.

scholarly journals The Self-Seeding of Anthemis arvensis L. for Cover Crop in Olive Groves under Intense Rabbit Grazing

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1412
Author(s):  
Antonio J. Carpio ◽  
María-Auxiliadora Soriano ◽  
José A. Gómez ◽  
Francisco S. Tortosa
Keyword(s):  
Plant Height ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
The Self ◽  
Growth Cycles ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
Anthemis Arvensis

Cover crops can be an effective means to protect soil and reduce risks of erosion in olive groves. However, for this protection to be significant, the vegetation must attain a significant amount of ground cover, which is estimated to be at least 30% during the rainy season. In olive groves on degraded soils, which occupy large surface areas in the olive-growing areas of the Mediterranean region, the establishment of cover crops may be an arduous challenge, particularly in areas with a high density of rabbits. In this study, we have selected two olive orchards with scarce natural vegetation located in Andalusia (southern Spain), in which rabbit populations intensively forage the cover crops, to test whether the self-seeding of an unpalatable species corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis L.; A. arvensis for short) could achieve sufficient coverage for soil protection, in the year following that in which the broadcast-seeding was carried out for the implementation of cover crops. The hand broadcast-seeding of A. arvensis was carried out on sixteen elementary plots in the lanes of the two olive orchards in the autumn of 2015, and seed germination in the subsequent self-seeding took place in the autumn of 2016. The plant height and A. arvensis ground cover in these plots were measured throughout the two growth cycles, and aerial biomass was measured at maturity. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the maximum plant height between the two growth cycles (mean ± SD of 21.2 ± 1.6 cm), while the ground cover was significantly greater in the case of self-seeding, especially during the winter (37.2 ± 8.1 and 9.3 ± 6.7% for self-seeding and broadcast-seeding, respectively), and aerial biomass at maturity had more than doubled (99.7 and 43.9 g m−2, respectively). These data suggest that this unpalatable species could establish an effective herbaceous cover by means of self-seeding in olive groves on degraded soils that are being overgrazed owing to the high pressure of rabbits. Despite the poor establishment in the broadcast-seeding year, our findings indicate that A. arvensis might be an alternative cover crop that could help the sustainability of these threatened olive groves. Its high seed production (2000 to 4000 seeds per plant), and an early emergence just after the first autumn rains, should result in an increased ground cover by A. arvensis during the rainy season in the subsequent years of self-seeding. This, therefore, could contribute to soil conservation, in addition to providing other benefits of increased biodiversity and improvement for agricultural landscapes.

scholarly journals A Model of the Effect of Environmental Variables on the Presence of Otters along the Coastline of the Isle of Skye

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Paul Yoxon
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Quantitative Method ◽  
Logistic Regression Model ◽  
High Water ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Isle Of Skye ◽  
Positive Effect

A survey of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) along the Skye coastline revealed a variation in distribution on different coastal types. Factors like geology, width of the intertidal zone, intertidal makeup, slope of coastline, inland vegetation, and number of freshwater pools could influence otter distribution. A quantitative method based on a logistic regression model is applied to take into account three scalable and four categorical environmental variables which may or may not affect otter distribution. Otter presence or absence in 500 m coastal sections was compared with binary dependent variables and a set of independent variables on 622 coastal sites. Analysis shows that this method can be used to characterise combinations of factors to predict if otters are likely to occur on a particular coastline. Geology, height 25 m above High Water Mark (indicating slope of coastline), and number of freshwater pools all affect otter utilisation of the coastal zone. Coastlines with Torridonian and Mesozoic rocks and the Landslip area show a positive effect on otters, while all other coastlines have a negative effect. Although primarily of theoretical importance, the model could be used as a tool to locate coastlines elsewhere which are of potential conservation importance for otters.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting the Establishment and Growth of Cover Crops Intersown into Maize (Zea mays L.)

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 712
Author(s):  
Mattie B. Schmitt ◽  
Marisol Berti ◽  
Dulan Samarappuli ◽  
Joel K. Ransom
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
The North ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Planting Method ◽  
Favorable Weather

In the North Central USA, intersowing cover crops into standing maize (Zea mays L.) is required to establish plants large enough to afford the benefits of a cover since there is limited favorable weather for cover crop growth after maize harvest. The objective of this study was to quantify the impacts of the planting method and time of planting of three cover crop species when grown with or without maize competition on their establishment. Experiments were conducted in three environments during 2018 and 2019. Experiments consisted of a factorial combination of timing of cover crop planting (V7 and R4 growth stage of maize), cover crop species (camelina (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz), rye (Secale cereale L.), or radish (Raphanus sativus L.), method of sowing (drilled or broadcast), and maize removal. Initial cover crop populations were similar regardless of maize removal or stage of maize when sown, but intersown cover crops produced only 3% of the fall biomass, compared with treatments with maize-removed when sown at the V7 stage of maize and 14% when sown at the R4 stage. Limited light intensity (less than 20%) under the maize canopy was the main factor affecting interseeded cover crop development. Radish was more sensitive to shading than the other cover crops. Camelina and rye sown at the R4 stage of corn produced similar spring biomass as earlier-sown cover crops. Intersown cover crops had no negative effect on maize grain yield.

scholarly journals Study on Competition Characteristics of a Land Cover Crop Arachis pintoito Growth of Cocoa

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bako Baon ◽  
Yunita Anugrina ◽  
Cahya Ismayadi
Keyword(s):  
Growth Medium ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Root Weight ◽  
Limited Growth ◽  
Arachis Pintoi ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Cocoa Farm

The existence of ground cover crop, such as Arachis pintoiin cocoa farm may enhance physical, chemistry and biological fertility of soil. Nevertheless, the presence of those cover crops potentially increase the competition with main crop in various means. The primary objective of this study was to investigate kinds of competition raised when cocoa plants cultivated with ground cover crop of A. pintoi. This study consisted of three experiments. The first experiment aimed to study possible allelopatic competition using root exudates solution of A. Pintoi as well as Leucaena leucocephalaand Adenanthera microsperma as check for being used for watering cocoa plants. The second experiment aimed to study the competition between A. pintoiand cocoa plants in field condition with 1) cover crop fully overlay ground surrounding cocoa basal trunk, 2) no cover crop overlay ground surrounding cocoa basal trunk in a distance of 40 cm in diameter, and 3) no cover crop as check. Third experiment aimed to study the competition between A. pintoiand cocoa plants in limited growth medium (pot), using 10 cm stolon shoots each 4, 2 and 0 shoots per pot. Results showed that A. Pintoidid not produce alleopatic exudates to restrict cocoa growth. Population of A. Pintoi had negative effect on cocoa plant growth in the field by reducing fresh trunk weight and dry root weight, even greater negative effect found in cocoa plant grown in limited growth medium by also reducing dry leaf and trunk weight and leaf area. Key words: Theobroma cacao, Arachis pintoi, allelopathy, competition, denantheramicrosperma, Leucaena leucocephala

A comparison of six cover crop types in terms of nitrogen uptake and effect on response to nitrogen by a subsequent spring barley crop

1996 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 441-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Richards ◽  
P. A. Wallace ◽  
I. D. S. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Barley Crop ◽  
Late Sowing

SUMMARYA field experiment was conducted at nine sites in England (1991–94) to compare six sown species of cover crop and natural regeneration in terms of nitrogen uptake and effect on response to applied N by a subsequent spring barley crop. The success and extent of cover crop establishment varied among sites and was insignificant in two. This may be associated with the relatively late sowing of the cover crops, the earliest site being sown on 27 August and the latest on 19 October. Dry matter (DM) yield of the sown cover crop at time of incorporation was related to sowing date, earlier sowing giving the higher yields. Maximum total DM yield and N uptake by the above-ground portion of cover crops were 1280kgDM/ha and 38 kg N/ha respectively. The extent of N uptake by the cover crops appeared to be related to the success of establishment rather than to the level of soil nitrate-N at the time of their sowing. Effects of cover crop incorporation on the subsequent spring barley were small. There was no evidence for any positive effect of the cover crop on N supply to the barley. In one trial, incorporation of forage rye significantly reduced grain yield of the barley by 0·7–1·2 t/ha compared to other cover crop species.

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