Cover-Crop Management Influences Residue Biomass and Subsequent Weed Suppression in a Conservation Agriculture Corn and Cotton Rotation

Integrated weed management tactics are necessary to develop cropping systems that enhance soil quality using conservation tillage and reduced herbicide or organic weed management. In this study, we varied planting and termination date of two cereal rye cultivars (‘Aroostook’ and ‘Wheeler’) and a rye/hairy vetch mixture to evaluate cover-crop biomass production and subsequent weed suppression in no-till planted soybean. Cover crops were killed with a burn-down herbicide and roller-crimper and the weed-suppressive effects of the remaining mulch were studied. Cover-crop biomass increased approximately 2,000 kg ha−1from latest to earliest fall planting dates (August 25–October 15) and for each 10-d incremental delay in spring termination date (May 1–June 1). Biomass accumulation for cereal rye was best estimated using a thermal-based model that separated the effects of fall and spring heat units. Cultivars differed in their total biomass accumulation; however, once established, their growth rates were similar, suggesting the difference was mainly due to the earlier emergence of Aroostook rye. The earlier emergence of Aroostook rye may have explained its greater weed suppression than Wheeler, whereas the rye/hairy vetch mixture was intermediate between the two rye cultivars. Delaying cover-crop termination reduced weed density, especially for early- and late-emerging summer annual weeds in 2006. Yellow nutsedge was not influenced by cover-crop type or the timing of cover-crop management. We found that the degree of synchrony between weed species emergence and accumulated cover-crop biomass played an important role in defining the extent of weed suppression.

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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.

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Cover Crop Management Affects Weeds and Yield in Organically Managed Sweetpotato Systems

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-07-005.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1039-1048 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Danielle D. Treadwell ◽

Nancy G. Creamer ◽

Jonathan R. Schultheis ◽

Greg D. Hoyt

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Production Systems ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

Hairy Vetch ◽

Weed Density ◽

Organic Systems ◽

Residue Biomass ◽

Density And Biomass ◽

Organically Managed

A 3-yr field experiment was initiated in 2001 to evaluate weed suppression and sweetpotato productivity in three organic sweetpotato production systems. Organic systems were (1) compost and no cover crop with tillage (Org-NC), (2) compost and a cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and rye incorporated before transplanting (Org-CI), and (3) compost and the same cover crop mixture with reduced tillage (Org-RT). A conventional system with tillage and chemical controls (Conv) was included for comparison. Suppression of monocot and dicot weed density and biomass was similar between Org-NC and Org-CI each year, and were frequently similar to Conv. Org-RT was as effective as Org-NC in controlling dicot weed density and biomass each year, but did not suppress monocot weeds. At sweetpotato harvest, an increase in cover crop surface residue biomass in Org-RT was associated with a decrease in cumulative total weed density (R2= 0.43, P = 0.0001); however, the amount of that residue was insufficient to suppress late-emerging monocot weeds. Total sweetpotato yield in Org-RT was at least 45% lower than other systems in 2002 and was most likely due to an increase in monocot weed density and biomass concurrent with a decrease in sweetpotato vine biomass. Total sweetpotato yield was similar among all systems in 2001 and 2004; the exception was lowest yields obtained in the Org-RT system in 2002. Organically managed sweetpotato with or without an incorporated cover crop produced sweetpotato yields equal to conventionally managed systems despite difficulties controlling weeds that emerged later in the season.

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The Weed Control Potential of Oat Cultivars

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.15.1.0140 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 140-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Orion P. Grimmer ◽

John B. Masiunas

Keyword(s):

Pisum Sativum ◽

Avena Sativa ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Surface Coverage ◽

Chenopodium Album ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Control Potential ◽

Common Lambsquarters ◽

Oat Cultivars ◽

Residue Biomass

Winter-killed oats (Avena sativa) may have potential for use to suppress weeds in early seeded crops such as pea (Pisum sativum). Residue biomass and surface coverage are generally correlated with weed suppression. Oat residues also contain allelochemicals. Our objective was to determine if oat cultivars vary in residue production and allelopathy. Differences between oat cultivars were observed in residue production, and for effects on emergence of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and shepherd's-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) in the greenhouse, and germination of pea and common lambsquarters in an infusion assay. Two of the oat cultivars producing the greatest biomass, `Blaze' (in the field) and `Classic' (in the greenhouse), interfered minimally with pea germination and were among the best cultivars in inhibiting common lambsquarters and shepherd's-purse. `Blaze' also greatly inhibited common lambsquarters germination in the infusion assay that measured allelopathy. Thus, `Blaze' and `Classic' possess suitable characteristics for use as a cover crop preceding peas.

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Assessment of Cover Crop Management Strategies in Nebraska, US

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture9060124 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Maxwel C. Oliveira ◽

Liberty Butts ◽

Rodrigo Werle

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Crop Management ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Future Research ◽

Weed Species ◽

Crop Species ◽

Seed Corn ◽

Field Corn

Adoption of cover crops has the potential to increase agricultural sustainability in the US and beyond. In 2017, a survey was conducted with Nebraska stakeholders in an attempt to evaluate current cover crop management strategies adopted in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), field corn (Zea mays L.), and seed corn production. Eighty-two Nebraska stakeholders answered the survey, of which 80% identified themselves as growers. Eighty-seven percent of respondents manage cover crops, and the average cover crop ha planted on a per farm basis is 32%. The primary method of establishing cover crops following soybeans and field corn is drilling. In seed corn, interseeding is the main seeding strategy for cover crop establishment. Cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) appeared as the most adopted cover crop species (either alone or in mixtures with radish [Raphanus sativus L.] or hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth]). Over 95% of respondents utilize herbicides for cover crop termination in the spring before crop planting. Glyphosate is used by 100% of survey respondents that use herbicides for cover crop termination. The major observed impacts of incorporating cover crops into a production system according to survey respondents are reduced soil erosion and weed suppression. According to 93% of respondents, cover crops improve weed control by suppressing winter and/or summer annual weed species. The biggest challenge reported by cover crop adopters is planting and establishing a decent stand before winter. According to the results of this survey, there are different management strategies, positive outcomes, and challenges that accompany cover crop adoption in Nebraska. These results will help growers, agronomists, and researchers better guide cover crop adoption, management, and future research and education needs in Nebraska and beyond.

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Weed Community Dynamics and Suppression in Tilled and No-Tillage Transitional Organic Winter Rye–Soybean Systems

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-13-00090.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 125-137 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Emily R. Bernstein ◽

David E. Stoltenberg ◽

Joshua L. Posner ◽

Janet L. Hedtcke

Keyword(s):

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Crop Management ◽

Organic Production ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Winter Rye ◽

No Tillage ◽

Soybean Production ◽

Late Season

Grower adoption of no-tillage (NT) approaches to organic soybean production has been limited, in part because of the perceived risks of ineffective cover crop management and lack of season-long weed suppression. We conducted research in 2008 and 2009 to assess those risks by quantifying the effects of winter rye cover-crop management (tilling, crimping, or mowing), soybean planting date (mid May or early June), and row width (19 or 76 cm) on weed recruitment, emergence patterns, season-long suppression, and late-season weed community composition in transitional organic production systems. The weed plant community consisted largely of summer annual species in each year, with velvetleaf or common lambsquarters as the most abundant species. Seedling recruitment from the soil seedbank varied between years, but velvetleaf recruitment was consistently greater in the tilled rye than in the NT rye treatments. Weed emergence tended to peak early in the season in the tilled rye treatment, but in the NT rye treatments, the peak occurred in mid or late season. More-diverse summer annual and perennial species were associated with the NT rye treatments. Even so, weed suppression (as measured by late-season weed shoot mass) was much greater in crimped or mowed rye NT treatments than it was in the tilled treatment. Weed suppression among NT rye treatments was greater in 19- than in 76-row spacing treatments in each year and was greater for mid May than it was for early June planted soybean in 2009. The NT planting of soybean into standing rye before termination (crimping or mowing) facilitated timely planting of soybean, as well as effective, season-long weed suppression, suggesting that those approaches to rye and weed management are of less risk than those typically perceived by growers. Our results suggest that NT systems in winter rye provide effective weed-management alternatives to the typical tillage-intensive approach for organic soybean production.

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Towards integrated cover crop management: N, P and S release from aboveground and belowground residues

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2021.107392 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 313 ◽

pp. 107392

Author(s):

Veronika Hansen ◽

Jørgen Eriksen ◽

Lars Stoumann Jensen ◽

Kristian Thorup-Kristensen ◽

Jakob Magid

Keyword(s):

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Management

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Tillage and Cover Crop Management Effects on Soil Water and Corn Yield

Soil Science Society of America Journal ◽

10.2136/sssaj1991.03615995005500040031x ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 1081-1085 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

R. P. Ewing ◽

M. G. Wagger ◽

H. P. Denton

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Management ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Management Effects

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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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