Impact of cover crop in pre-plant of apple orchards: relationship between crop health, root inhabiting fungi and rhizospheric bacteria

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 947-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Manici ◽  
M. Kelderer ◽  
F. Caputo ◽  
F. Nicoletti ◽  
F. De Luca Picione ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Apple Orchard ◽  
Infection Frequency ◽  
Apple Orchards ◽  
Rhizospheric Bacteria ◽  
Replant Disease ◽  
Crop Health

Manici, L. M., Kelderer, M., Caputo, F., Nicoletti, F., De Luca Picione, F. and Topp A. R. 2015. Impact of cover crop in pre-plant of apple orchards: relationship between crop health, root inhabiting fungi and rhizospheric bacteria. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 947–958. Replant disease of fruit tree orchards has a multifactorial etiology, mainly due to the decline in soil biodiversity along with an increase in root rot pathogens, which can be principally countered with appropriate cropping practices. Therefore, a study on the impact of cover crops on plant health of young fruit trees in long-term orchards was performed. Bioassays were performed over two consecutive growing cycles using soil from a multigeneration apple orchard affected by replant disease. First, a cycle was performed with three cover crops (alfalfa, barley, marigold) and apple rootstock plantlets; at the end, the above-ground part of the plant was removed and root residues left in the soil. In the second cycle, an apple orchard planting was simulated upon the first experimental design. Changes of diversity and composition of root inhabiting fungi and rhizospheric bacteria were evaluated as well as apple plant growth response to the pre-plant treatments. Results suggest that one cycle with alternate plants was sufficient to induce changes at the rhizosphere level, despite soil microbial resilience caused by the same long-term soil management. Rhizospheric bacteria were generally affected by plant genotype. Findings suggest that all three different cover crops can harbor almost all fungal species that colonize apple in replanted orchards (Fusarium spp., Pythum spp., binucleate Rhizoctonia sp., Cylindrocarpon-like-fungi and a several nonpathogenic saprophytic fungi named “other”), but their infection frequency varied according to the host plant. A single pre-plant break treatment did not overall differ significantly in plant growth of subsequent apple tree; however, break with marigold, which increased abundance of nonpathogenic root inhabiting fungi more than other cover crops, gave significantly higher plant growth than obtained after barley. This study provides evidence about cover-crop potential to increase soil diversity in long-term permanent cropping systems and to manipulate root colonizing fungi involved in crop health.

scholarly journals Temporal Change of Soil Carbon on a Long-Term Experimental Site with Variable Crop Rotations and Tillage Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Laamrani ◽  
Paul R. Voroney ◽  
Aaron A. Berg ◽  
Adam W. Gillespie ◽  
Michael March ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Carbon ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
No Till

The impacts of tillage practices and crop rotations are fundamental factors influencing changes in the soil carbon, and thus the sustainability of agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to compare soil carbon status and temporal changes in topsoil from different 4 year rotations and tillage treatments (i.e., no-till and conventional tillage). Rotation systems were primarily corn and soy-based and included cereal and alfalfa phases along with red clover cover crops. In 2018, soil samples were collected from a silty-loam topsoil (0–15 cm) from the 36 year long-term experiment site in southern Ontario, Canada. Total carbon (TC) contents of each sample were determined in the laboratory using combustion methods and comparisons were made between treatments using current and archived samples (i.e., 20 year and 9 year change, respectively) for selected crop rotations. Overall, TC concentrations were significantly higher for no-till compared with conventional tillage practices, regardless of the crop rotations employed. With regard to crop rotation, the highest TC concentrations were recorded in corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations with red clover cover crop in both cereal phases. TC contents were, in descending order, found in corn–corn–alfalfa–alfalfa (CCAA), corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) with 1 year of seeded red clover, and corn–corn–corn–corn (CCCC). The lowest TC concentrations were observed in the corn–corn–soybean–soybean (CCSS) and corn–corn–oats–barley (CCOB) rotations without use of cover crops, and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We found that (i) crop rotation varieties that include two consecutive years of soybean had consistently lower TC concentrations compared with the remaining rotations; (ii) TC for all the investigated plots (no-till and/or tilled) increased over the 9 year and 20 year period; (iii) the no-tilled CCOB rotation with 2 years of cover crop showed the highest increase of TC content over the 20 year change period time; and (iv) interestingly, the no-till continuous corn (CCCC) rotation had higher TC than the soybean–soybean–corn–corn (SSCC) and corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW). We concluded that conservation tillage (i.e., no-till) and incorporation of a cover crop into crop rotations had a positive effect in the accumulation of TC topsoil concentrations and could be suitable management practices to promote soil fertility and sustainability in our agricultural soils.

Plant Growth Regulators Suppress Established Orchard Sod and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Population

1989 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-321
Author(s):  
Stephen S. Miller ◽  
B. Joe Eldridge
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Plant Growth Regulators ◽  
Growth Regulators ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Apple Orchard ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Grass Growth

Several plant growth regulators applied to established sod driveways in an apple orchard suppressed growth of the ground cover sufficiently to eliminate one to three mowings. MH at 4.5 or 6.7 kg ai/ha applied spring and fall reduced the growth of a single species sod cover crop, ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue, the year after treatment. MH at both rates also reduced the dandelion population growing in the mixed species orchard sod. Paclobutrazol or EPTC applied in the spring before or during initial grass growth reduced dry matter production in the fescue sod cover crop and the number of mowings compared to the mowed and non-mowed control plots.

scholarly journals 578 How Much Cover Crop Affects Plant Growth and Yield Components in `Selva' and `Totem' Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) in the Establishment Year

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 546C-546
Author(s):  
Braja B. Datta ◽  
Ray D. William
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Treatment Comparison ◽  
Significant Difference

Field experiment on production systems of `Selva' day-neutral and `Totem' June-bearing strawberry was established in 1995 on the spring-killed cover crop mulched plots using randomized complete-block design. Seven soil cover treatments consisted of `Wheeler' rye (Secale cereale) and `Micah' and `Steptoe' barley (Hordium vulgare), `Micah' residue applied on soil surface, a wedge of perlite (artificial medium) placed next to strawberry row, perlite with `Wheeler' rye, and no treatment were used. During the early summer, cover crops were replanted between strawberry rows and mowed down after 6 weeks. In both cultivars, plant growth doubled during mid-summer, and `Micah'on surface produced better growth than the growth in other treatments. No significant difference was found on CO2 assimilation rate (mmol·m–2·s–1), leaflet length, and number of leaves and runners among treatments (P ≥ 0.1). Yield of `Totem' was ignored during the establishment year. In `Selva', `Micah' residue on surface produced 36% more crowns per plant and the greatest total yield than that of any other treatment. `Micah' on surface produced 50% more shoot biomass and 45% greater yield compared to `Micah' barley planted in the plot. Total `Selva' yield was 61% greater in perlite treatment than the yield in perlite with `Wheeler' rye and 31% greater than the control treatment. Comparison of `Selva' strawberry total yield and average fruit production between cover crops vs. control treatment using non-orthogonal contrast indicated no significant difference might suggests no detrimental interaction between cover crops and strawberry.

scholarly journals Mustard and Other Cover Crop Effects Vary on Lettuce Drop Caused by Sclerotinia minor and on Weeds

Plant Disease ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 1019-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany A. Bensen ◽  
Richard F. Smith ◽  
Krishna V. Subbarao ◽  
Steven T. Koike ◽  
Steven A. Fennimore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Seed Viability ◽  
Weed Seed ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sclerotinia Minor ◽  
Cover Cropping ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Lettuce Drop

Mustard cover crops have been suggested as a potential biofumigant for managing soilborne agricultural pests and weeds. We conducted several experiments in commercial lettuce fields in the Salinas Valley, CA, to evaluate the effects of mustard cover crops on lettuce drop caused by Sclerotinia minor and on weed density and seed viability. In a long-term study, we measured the effects of white and Indian mustard cover crops on the density of S. minor sclerotia in soil, lettuce drop incidence, weed densities, weed seed viability, and crop yield in head lettuce. We also tested broccoli and rye cover crop treatments and a fallow control. Across several short-term studies, we evaluated the density of S. minor sclerotia in soil, lettuce drop incidence, weed densities, and weed seed viability following cover cropping with a mustard species blend. Numbers of sclerotia in soil were low in most experimental locations and were not affected by cover cropping. Mustard cover crops did not reduce disease incidence in the long-term experiment but the incidence of lettuce drop was lower in mustard-cover-cropped plots across the short-term experiments. With the exception of common purslane and hairy nightshade, weed densities and weed seed viability were not significantly reduced by cover cropping with mustard. Head lettuce yield was significantly higher in mustard-cover-cropped plots compared with a fallow control. Glucosinolate content in the two mustard species was similar to those measured in other studies but, when converted to an equivalent of a commercial fumigant, the concentrations were much lower than the labeled rate for lettuce production. Although mustard cover cropping resulted in yield benefits in this study, there was little to no disease or weed suppression.

scholarly journals Effects of Long-Term Cover Cropping on Weed Seedbanks

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Nichols ◽  
Lydia English ◽  
Sarah Carlson ◽  
Stefan Gailans ◽  
Matt Liebman
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Cover Cropping ◽  
Crop Biomass

Cool-season cover crops have been shown to reduce soil erosion and nutrient discharge from maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production systems. However, their effects on long-term weed dynamics are not well-understood. We utilized five long-term research trials in Iowa to quantify germinable weed seedbank densities and compositions after 10+ years of cover cropping treatments. All five trials consisted of zero-tillage maize-soybean rotations managed with and without the inclusion of a yearly winter rye (Secale cereal L.) cover crop. Seedbank sampling was conducted in the early spring before crop planting at all locations, with three of the five trials having grown a soybean crop the preceding year, and two a maize crop. Two of the trials (both previously soybean) showed significant and biologically relevant decreases (4,070 and 927 seeds m−2, respectively) in seedbank densities in cover crop treatments compared to controls. In another two trials, one previously maize and one previously soybean, no difference was detected in seedbank densities. In the fifth trial (previously maize), there was a significant, but biologically unimportant increase of 349 seeds m−2. All five trials' weed communities were dominated by common waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.)], and changes in seedbank composition from cover-cropping were driven by changes in this species. Although previous studies have shown that increases in cover crop biomass are strongly correlated with weed suppression, in our study we did not find a relationship between seedbank changes and the mean amount of cover crop biomass produced over a 10-years period (experiment means ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 Mg ha−1 yr−1), the stability of the cover crop biomass production, nor the amount produced going into the previous crop's growing season. We conclude that long-term use of a winter rye cover crop in a maize-soybean system has the potential to meaningfully reduce the size of weed seedbanks compared to winter fallows. However, identifying the mechanisms by which this occurs requires further research into processes such as seed predation and seed decay in cover cropped systems.

The influence of a long-term black medic (Medicago lupulina cv. George) cover crop on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization and nutrient uptake in flax (Linum usitatissimum) under zero-tillage management

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 1071-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Turmel ◽  
M. H. Entz ◽  
M. Tenuta ◽  
W. E. May ◽  
G. P. LaFond
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Linum Usitatissimum ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Fungal Colonization ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Medicago Lupulina ◽  
Micronutrient Uptake

Turmel, M. S., Entz, M. H., Tenuta, H., May, W. E. and LaFond, G. P. 2011. The influence of a long-term black medic ( Medicago lupulina cv. George) cover crop on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization and nutrient uptake in flax ( Linum usitatissimum ) under zero-tillage management. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 1071–1076. Leguminous cover crops are becoming a popular way to increase the sustainability of agricultural systems. Previously, cover crops have been found to increase colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphorus and micronutrient uptake. Long-term field studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that self-regenerating black medic (Medicago lupulina cv. George) cover crops increase AMF colonization and early nutrient uptake in flax (Linum usitatissimum). Field experiments were established in 2000 (Manitoba) and 2002 (Saskatchewan) using a flax–wheat (Triticum aestivum)–oat (Avena sativa) rotation. In a second experiment, intact soil cores were harvested from the plots in spring and tested for soil disturbance and cover crop effects under controlled environment conditions (CEC). Both seedling flax crops sampled from the field in 2005 and 2006 and flax growth in CEC showed high levels of AMF root colonization, but no significant influence of the cover crop on AMF colonization by arbuscules or hyphal structures was detected. The AMF enhancing practices used in the experiments (i.e., zero-tillage and inclusion of mycorrhizal crops) may have contributed to the lack of cover crop effect on AMF colonization. The cover crop had no effect on macro- or micronutrient uptake by flax except during drought conditions (Winnipeg 2006), where flax biomass was reduced by 38% and the total uptake of N, P, Zn and Cu was decreased by 34, 30, 31 and 35%, respectively, in the medic treatment.

scholarly journals The Endophytic Strain Trichoderma asperellum 6S-2: An Efficient Biocontrol Agent against Apple Replant Disease in China and a Potential Plant-Growth-Promoting Fungus

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 1050
Author(s):  
Haiyan Wang ◽  
Rong Zhang ◽  
Yanan Duan ◽  
Weitao Jiang ◽  
Xuesen Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Malus Domestica ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Apple Orchard ◽  
Fusarium Proliferatum ◽  
Trichoderma Asperellum ◽  
Apple Replant Disease ◽  
Volatile Substances ◽  
Replant Disease

A study was conducted for endophytic antagonistic fungi obtained from the roots of healthy apple trees growing in nine replanted orchards in Shandong Province, China. The fungi were assessed for their ability to inhibit Fusarium proliferatum f. sp. malus domestica MR5, a fungal strain associated with apple replant disease (ARD). An effective endophyte, designated as strain 6S-2, was isolated and identified as Trichoderma asperellum. Strain 6S-2 demonstrated protease, amylase, cellulase, and laccase activities, which are important for the parasitic and antagonistic functions of pathogenic fungi. The inhibition rate of 6S-2 against Fusarium proliferatum f. sp. malus domestica MR5 was 52.41%. Strain 6S-2 also secreted iron carriers, auxin, ammonia and was able to solubilize phosphorus. Its fermentation extract and volatile substances inhibited the growth of MR5, causing its hyphae to twist, shrink, swell, and rupture. The antifungal activity of the 6S-2 fermentation extract increased with increasing concentrations. It promoted the production and elongation of Arabidopsis thaliana lateral roots, and the strongest effects were seen at a concentration of 50 mg/mL. A GC-MS analysis of the 6S-2 fermentation extract and volatile substances showed that they comprised mainly alkanes, alcohols, and furanones, as well as the specific volatile substance 6-PP. The application of 6S-2 spore suspension to replanted apple orchard soils reduced plant oxidative damage and promoted plant growth in a pot experiment. Therefore, the endophytic strain T. asperellum 6S-2 has the potential to serve as an effective biocontrol fungus for the prevention of ARD in China, and appears to promote plant growth.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF COVER CROP USE ON A CONTINUOUS SOYBEAN SEQUENCE IN THE PAMPEAN SEMIARID REGION

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-49
Author(s):  
Romina Fernández ◽  
◽  
Cristian Osvaldo Alvarez ◽  
Elias Reinaldo Eggmann Owen ◽  
Alberto Raul Quiroga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Cumulative Effect ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Term Trial ◽  
Pampa Region

The objectives were to quantify its effect on the yield of the successor summer crop, to evaluate the dynamics of the decomposition of rye residues from a fertilized and unfertilized cover crop (CC), and to evaluate the cumulative effect of 5 years of rye CC in a rotation with a high incidence of soybean on the soil organic matter contents. The study was carried out on a petrocalcic Paleustoll, located in the Southern Plain of the Semiarid Pampa Region. The experiment was part of a long-term trial where in 2010 two treatments for soybean management were installed, continuous soybean without CC and soybeans in rotation with CC. In 2018 an experimental design was established where plots were arranged in completely randomized blocks and 4 management treatments for soybean cultivation were established: continuous soybean without CC, soybean in rotation with CC without fertilization, fertilized with 60 kg N .ha-1, and with 120 kg N.ha-1. Nitrogen fertilization in the CC improved the capture rate of both carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed that 40% carbon, 60% nitrogen, and 61% phosphorus contained in above-ground biomass were lost from the CC from drying to soybean harvest. The highest soybean yields were recorded in the rotation with fertilized CC, due to a positive effect between the higher soil water content in the early stages of cultivation due to a greater amount of residues, and also by the contribution of different nutrients during the soybean crop-cycle. The long-term trial showed that after 5 years of cover crops in the soybean rotation there was no effect on the organic matter contents.

scholarly journals Soil organic matter as affected by management systems, phosphate fertilization, and cover crops

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 1668-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Géssica Pereira de Souza ◽  
Cícero Célio de Figueiredo ◽  
Djalma Martinhão Gomes de Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Phosphate Fertilization ◽  
Humic Fractions

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of soil management systems, cover crops, and phosphate fertilization on soil humic fractions in a long-term experiment. The treatments consisted of conventional tillage and no-tillage with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) or velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima) as cover crops, at two doses of phosphorous: 0 and 100 kg ha-1 P2O5 per year. Soil samples were taken 11 years after the establishment of the experiment and analyzed for soil total organic carbon and carbon content of humic fractions at 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20-m depths. The humic fractions are sensitive to soil management, except free fulvic acid, which was the only one that did not reduce its carbon contents on the surface layer (0.00-0.05 m) with conventional tillage. The main changes occurred on the soil surface layer, in which the no-tillage system with pearl millet as a cover crop provided the highest carbon levels in humic fractions. Long-term phosphate fertilization under no-tillage, with pearl millet as a cover crop, promotes the accumulation of organic carbon in soil humic fractions.

Simulated Effects of Winter Wheat Cover Crop on Cotton Production Systems of the Texas Rolling Plains

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 2083-2096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradip Adhikari ◽  
Nina Omani ◽  
Srinivasulu Ale ◽  
Paul B. DeLaune ◽  
Kelly R. Thorp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Crop Yield ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Cotton Yield ◽  
Seed Cotton ◽  
Seed Cotton Yield ◽  
Rolling Plains

Abstract. Interest in cover crops has been increasing in the Texas Rolling Plains (TRP) region, mainly to improve soil health. However, there are concerns that cover crops could potentially reduce soil water and thereby affect the yield of subsequent cash crops. Previous field studies from this region have demonstrated mixed results, with some showing a reduction in cash crop yield due to cover crops and others indicating no significant impact of cover crops on subsequent cotton fiber yield. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the CROPGRO-Cotton and CERES-Wheat modules within the cropping system model (CSM) of the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) for the TRP region, and (2) use the evaluated model to assess the long-term effects of growing winter wheat as a cover crop on water balances and seed cotton yield under irrigated and dryland conditions. The two DSSAT crop modules were calibrated using measured data on soil water and crop yield from four treatments: (1) irrigated cotton without a cover crop (CwoC-I), (2) irrigated cotton with winter wheat as a cover crop (CwC-I), (3) dryland cotton without a cover crop (CwoC-D), and (4) dryland cotton with a winter wheat cover crop (CwC-D) at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Station at Chillicothe from 2011 to 2015. The average percent error (PE) between the CSM-CROPGRO-Cotton simulated and measured seed cotton yield was -10.1% and -1.0% during the calibration and evaluation periods, respectively, and the percent root mean square error (%RMSE) was 11.9% during calibration and 27.6% during evaluation. For simulation of aboveground biomass by the CSM-CERES-Wheat model, the PE and %RMSE were 8.9% and 9.1%, respectively, during calibration and -0.9% and 21.8%, respectively, during evaluation. Results from the long-term (2001-2015) simulations indicated that there was no substantial reduction in average seed cotton yield and soil water due to growing winter wheat as a cover crop. Keywords: CERES-Wheat, Cover crop, Crop simulation model, CROPGRO-Cotton, DSSAT, Seed cotton yield, Soil water.

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