Benefits of winter legume cover crops require early sowing

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 1156 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Gselman ◽  
B. Kramberger
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Legume Cover Crops ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

Winter cover crops are beneficial, especially legumes that can supply nitrogen (N) to the next crop. The purpose of this study, involving separate experiments carried out at 2 different locations in north-eastern Slovenia, was to determine the most appropriate sowing time (early, early autumn SD1; late, mid autumn SD2; very late, late autumn SD3) for winter legumes (Trifolium subterraneum L., T. incarnatum L., T. pratense L., and Vicia villosa Roth) for the optimal yield of beneficial dry matter and soil N cycling. The control treatment used Lolium multiflorum Lam. For legume cover crops in SD1, from 915.0 (T. subterraneum) to 2495.0 (V. villosa) kg herbage dry matter yield (HDMY)/ha, 52.3 (T. pratense) to 148.4 (T. incarnatum) kg accumulated N (AN)/ha, and 14.5 (T. pratense) to 114.5 (T. incarnatum) kg symbiotically fixed N (Nsymb)/ha was obtained to the end of autumn. Until the spring ploughing-in, which was before maize sowing, legume cover crops in SD1 yielded 1065.0 (T. subterraneum) to 4440.0 (T. incarnatum) kg HDMY/ha, 74.9 (T. subterraneum) to 193.0 (V. villosa) kg AN/ha, and 4.7 (T. subterraneum) to 179.0 (V. villosa) kg Nsymb/ha. All parameters in SD2 were significantly lower than in SD1, whereas the SD3 sowing was not suitable for the legumes. The benefits of legume winter cover crops with regard to symbiotic N fixation were achieved only by early sowing; however, the amount of soil mineral N in late autumn and in early spring was decreased under L. multiflorum more than under the legumes.

Effects of the timing of ploughing-in temporary leguminous pastures and two winter cover crops on nitrogen mineralization, nitrate leaching and spring wheat growth

1995 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Francis ◽  
R. J. Haynes ◽  
P. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Spring Wheat ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
First Year ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
Second Year

SUMMARYTwo field experiments at Canterbury, New Zealand during 1991–93 investigated the effect of the timing of ploughing a 4-year-old ryegrass/white clover pasture and the effect of two winter cover crops on subsequent N mineralization, nitrate leaching and growth and N uptake of the following wheat crops.Net N mineralization of organic N (of plant and soil origin) increased with increased fallow period between ploughing and leaching. The total amount of N accumulated in the profile by the start of winter ranged from 107 to 131 and from 42 to 45 kg N/ha for fallow treatments started in March and May respectively. Winter wheat (planted in May) had no effect on mineral N contents by the start of winter, whereas greenfeed (GF) oats (planted in March) significantly reduced the mineral N content in one year.Cumulative leaching losses over the first winter after ploughing-in pasture varied markedly between years in relation to rainfall amount and distribution. Leaching losses were greater from the March fallow (72–106 kg N/ha) than the May fallow treatments (8–52 kg N/ha). Winter wheat did not reduce leaching losses in either year. GF oats did not reduce losses in 1991/92, but losses in 1992/93, when major drainage events occurred late in the winter, were only c. 40% of those under fallow.Incorporation of a large amount (> 7 t/ha dry matter) of pasture or GF oat residue in spring depressed yield and total N uptake of the following spring wheat, largely due to net N immobilization which could be overcome by the application of fertilizer N.First-year treatments had very little residual effect in the second year. Leaching losses over the second winter (mean 142 kg N/ha) were largely unaffected by the extent of first year leaching losses. Second year leaching losses were greater than first year losses, probably due to the greater amount of mineral N at depth in the soil before the start of the second winter.

Can legumes provide greater benefits than millet as a spring cover crop in southern Queensland farming systems?

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 746
Author(s):  
E. M. Wunsch ◽  
L. W. Bell ◽  
M. J. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Legume Cover Crops ◽  
Chemical Fallow

Cover crops grown during fallows can increase organic matter inputs, improve soil surface cover to reduce erosion risk, and enhance rainfall infiltration. An experiment compared a chemical fallow control with six different cover crops terminated at either 60 or 90 days after sowing. The commercial choice of millet (Echinochloa esculenta) was compared with two summer legumes (lablab (Lablab purpureus) and soybean (Glycine max)), and three winter legumes (field pea (Pisum sativum), faba bean (Vicia faba) and common vetch (Vicia sativa)). Cover crop biomass growth, atmospheric nitrogen (N) fixation, surface residue cover, and soil water and mineral N dynamics during the growth period and subsequent fallow were measured. Soil water and N availability and yield of wheat crops following the experimental treatments were simulated over a 100-year climate record using APSIM. Both experiments and simulations found the legumes inferior to millet as spring-sown cover crops, because they were slower to accumulate biomass, required later termination and provided groundcover that was less persistent, resulting in lower soil water at the end of the fallow. After 90 days of growth, the summer legumes, lablab and soybean, produced the most biomass and fixed more N (up to 25 kg N/ha) but also extracted the most soil water and mineral N. Legume N fixation was low because of high soil mineral N status (>100 kg N/ha) and occurred only when this had been depleted. At the end of the subsequent fallow in April, soil water was 30–60 mm less and soil mineral N 80–100 kg/ha less after both millet and 90-day terminated summer legume cover crops than the chemical fallow control. Simulations predicted soil-water deficits following legume cover crops to be >50 mm in the majority of years, but soil mineral N was predicted to be lower (median 80 kg N/ha) after millet cover crops. In conclusion, monoculture legume cover crops did not provide advantages over the current commercial standard of millet, owing to less effective provision of groundcover, low N fixation and possibly delayed release of N from residues. Further work could explore how legumes might be more effectively used as cover crops to provide N inputs and soil protection in subtropical farming systems.

scholarly journals WINTER COVER CROPS SOWING SYSTEMS FOR PLANTING LETTUCE

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-178
Author(s):  
Lidiane Fernandes Colombari ◽  
Vitor Massami Imaizumi ◽  
Luiz Felipe Guedes Baldini ◽  
Prínscilla Pâmela Nunes Chaves ◽  
Rumy Goto
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Lupinus Albus ◽  
Shoot Height ◽  
Head Diameter ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
White Lupine ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
Lettuce Cultivar

The sowing system, as well as the species used as covercrops, may interfere with the production of straw and the development of further crops. The objective of this research was to evaluate sowing systems for black oat (Avena strigosaSchreb) and white lupine (Lupinus albus) as cover crops, the dry matter production of these plants and their influence on Americana and Curly lettuces yield. Two experiments were performed, one for each lettuce cultivar. The experimental design was composed of 8 treatments (factorial 4x2), evaluated in randomized blocks, with five replications. The first factor is related to four soil coverages (black oat, white lupine, black oat + white lupine and weed) and the second one is the sowing system (handand mechanized in line). The cover plants drying was performed 47 days after planting and the amount of dry matter produced in the area (straw) was then measured. After 30 days from drying, varieties of Curly and Americana lettuce were planted under straw. The lettuce cultivars were evaluated for fresh mass, shoot height and head diameter. For both lettuces, the benefit ofgreen manure was higher using black oat only or combinedwith white lupine, either handor mechanized sowed.

scholarly journals Muskmelon and Sweet Corn Production with Legume Cover Crops

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1222-1225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harbans L. Bhardwaj
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
Lupinus Albus ◽  
White Lupin ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Specialty Crops ◽  
Legume Cover Crops ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
And Control

Winter legume cover crops have been successfully used to meet N needs of many summer crops, but they are not being used extensively in Virginia and the mid-Atlantic region, especially for specialty crops such as muskmelon and sweet corn. The objective of these studies was to determine the potential of winter legume cover crops in meeting N needs of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.). Comparisons of performances of muskmelon and sweet corn, grown after lupin (Lupinus albus L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.), Austrian winter pea ([AWP] Pisum arvense L.), and control fertilized with 112 kg N ha–1, and unfertilized control were made during 1999, 2000, and 2001. The interactions between cover crop treatments and years were, generally, significant. The muskmelon fruit yields were 53.6, 45.0, 23.1, 13.0, and 5.6 Mg·ha–1 during 1999; 27.8, 26.3, 8.6, 5.8, and 2.2 Mg·ha–1 during 2000; and 41.1, 39.9, 25.5, 21.4, and 2.1 Mg·ha–1 during 2001 respectively for lupin, hairy vetch, AWP, 112 kg N ha–1, and control. Similar results were obtained for number and size of muskmelon fruits. The sweet corn ear yields (Mg·ha–1) were 8.5, 5.6, 3.1, 1.5, and 0.7 during 1999; 5.2, 3.9, 4.0, 4.8, and 1.2 during 2000; and 2.6, 2.4, 1.9, 2.0, and 0.9 during 2001, respectively for lupin, hairy vetch, AWP, 112 kg N ha–1, and control. White lupin and hairy vetch, as winter cover crops, were superior than AWP and 112 kg N ha–1 for sweet corn ear number and size, and plant height. These results demonstrated that winter legume crops, especially lupin and hairy vetch, can be excellent winter cover crops for meeting N needs of muskmelon and sweet corn.

scholarly journals Biomass and nutrient cycling by winter cover crops

Revista CERES ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 816-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Koefender ◽  
André Schoffel ◽  
Candida Elisa Manfio ◽  
Diego Pascoal Golle
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Oilseed Radish ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Subsequent Crop ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops ◽  
Cycling Of Nutrients

ABSTRACT Cover crops are of fundamental importance for the sustainability of the no-tillage system, to ensure soil coverage and to provide benefits for the subsequent crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of biomass and the content and accumulation of nutrients by winter cover crops. The experimental design used in the experiment was a randomized complete block with four replications and six treatments: oilseed radish, vetch, black oats, vetch + black oats, vetch + oilseed radish and fallow. Black oat, oilseed radish in single cultivation and black oat + vetch and vetch + oilseed radish intercroppings showed higher dry matter production. Vetch + oilseed radish intercropping demonstrates higher performance regarding cycling of nutrients, with higher accumulations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Zn, Fe, Na and B.

scholarly journals Alternative Crop-growing Strategies: Use of Winter Cover Crops on Bell Pepper Production

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 465A-465
Author(s):  
N.K.D. Ranwala ◽  
K. Brock ◽  
C.L. Ray ◽  
K. Greene ◽  
D.R. Decoteau
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Marketable Yield ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
Alternative Crop ◽  
Bell Peppers ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

The effects of two winter cover crops, rye and crimson clover, on bell pepper yield were studied. Cover crops were planted in fall and incorporated into the soil prior to bell pepper planting. Both cover crops increased the marketable number and weight of bell peppers, and reduced the cull number of bell peppers compared to fallow (control) treatment. Delaying the harvest increased the marketable yield in both cover crops. Since there was no difference in bell pepper yield between two cover crops, both cover crops can be used effectively for bell pepper production. Use of cover crops may reduce the production costs and harmful effects on the environment by reducing chemical dependency, and increase the crop yield.

scholarly journals Environmental advantages of binary mixtures of Trifolium incarnatum and Lolium multiflorum over individual pure stands

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 22-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Kramberger ◽  
A. Gselman ◽  
M. Podvršnik ◽  
J. Kristl ◽  
M. Lešnik
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Trifolium Incarnatum ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

To investigate the environmental advantages of using grass-clover binary mixtures over pure stands as winter cover crops, a serial of five field experiments (each designed as randomized complete blocks with four replicates) was carried out in eastern Slovenia. Trifolium incarnatum L. and Lolium multiflorum Lam. were sown in late summer as pure stands and binary mixtures. Pooled data calculated from all the experiments revealed that the soil mineral N in spring and accumulation of N by plants decreased with decreasing proportion of T. incarnatum in the binary mixtures, while the C:N ratio of cover crop organic matter increased. C accumulation was the highest when the seeding ratio of the binary mixture of T. incarnatum and L. multiflorum was 50:50. In the C and N environmentally sustainable management efficiency coefficients, three important traits of winter cover crops for environmental pro-tection were given equal importance (low soil mineral N content in spring, high C accumulation in plants, and high N accumulation in plants). The coefficient was higher for binary mixtures of T. incarnatum and L. multiflorum than for pure stands of these crops, proving the complex environmental advantages of binary mixtures over pure stands.

scholarly journals WINTER COVER CROPS ON WEED INFESTATION AND MAIZE YIELD

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 885-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUAN CUTTI ◽  
FABIANE PINTO LAMEGO ◽  
ADALIN CEZAR MORAES DE AGUIAR ◽  
TIAGO EDU KASPARY ◽  
CARLOS ALBERTO GONSIORKIEWICZ RIGON
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Cyperus Rotundus ◽  
Morning Glory ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Full Flowering ◽  
Weed Infestation ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

ABSTRACT The establishment of commercial crops in succession to winter cover crops that leaves a dense straw layer provides significantly suppression of weeds. The objective of this work was to evaluate the suppressive potential of winter cover crops on weed infestation in maize and its effect on the yield of the maize sown in succession. The experiment was conducted in the 2012/2013 crop season, in an area of the UFSM Campus Frederico Westphalen, State of Rio Grande do Sul. Four different species of cover crops (black oat, ryegrass, vetch and forage radish) were seeded and a fallow area was used as control. Evaluations to quantify the dry matter and chemical desiccation were performed at the full flowering period of the cover crops. Maize was sown in no-tillage system, in succession to the cover crops. The incidence and shoot dry matter of weeds (g 0.25 m-2) was evaluated 15 days after the maize emergence. The main weed species in the area were: morning-glory (Ipomoea grandifolia), wild poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla), large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) and purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus). In general, vetch and ryegrass were the winter cover crops that better suppressed the weeds evaluated. The best maize yield was found in the area previously covered with ryegrass, inferring a relation between the cover crop and suppression of weeds and crop yield.

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