Fall-seeded cover crops after dry bean and potato in Southern Alberta

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. E. Blackshaw

Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) usually provide insufficient plant residue cover after harvest to protect the soil from wind erosion. Experiments were conducted at the Lethbridge Research Centre to determine the potential beneficial effects of planting cereal cover crops after Russett Burbank potato, which is harvested in late September or October, and dry bean, which is harvested in mid- to late September at Lethbridge, Alberta. Annual cereals planted after potato provided insufficient ground cover to protect the soil from erosion in the fall or spring. Winter annual cereals after potato and dry bean and annual cereals after dry bean usually provided enough residue in the spring (> 30% ground cover). However, winter cereals killed with glyphosate just before seeding spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) consistently reduced wheat yield. Reductions in available N and soil moisture due to winter annual cereals were small, and likely did not reduce wheat yield. None of the cover crops provided enough ground cover to reduce weed density. Additional research is required to assess the benefits of seeding annual cereals after early-maturing potato varieties and after dry bean, which matures earlier at lower elevations in southern Alberta, with more heat units. Key words: Fall rye, ground cover, soil erosion, winter triticale

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 776-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis J. Larney ◽  
Jennifer J. Nitschelm ◽  
Peter J. Regitnig ◽  
Drusilla C. Pearson ◽  
Robert E. Blackshaw ◽  
...  

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has a long history as an option for irrigated crop rotations in southern Alberta. A 12-yr (2000–2011) study compared conservation (CONS) and conventional (CONV) management for sugar beet in 4- to 6-yr rotations which also included dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), and soft white spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Oat (Avena sativa L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were included in the longest 6-yr rotation. Conservation management incorporated reduced tillage, cover crops, feedlot manure compost addition, and solid-seeded dry bean. Compared with a 4-yr CONV rotation (52.2 Mg ha−1), sugar beet root yield (averaged over the second 6 yr of the study, 2006–2011) was significantly higher, by 11%, on 4- and 5-yr CONS rotations (57.7–57.9 Mg ha−1), and by 8% on a 6-yr CONS rotation (56.1 Mg ha−1). Sugar beet impurity parameters were significantly affected by rotation in, at most, 3 of 12 yr. However, averaged over the final 6 yr of the study (2006–2011), a significantly higher K concentration (impurity) was found with CONS (2108 mg kg−1) vs. CONV (1958 mg kg−1) management. Integrating CONS management practices into sugar beet rotations led to significant yield benefits while effects on sugar beet quality were minimal.


2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. McKenzie ◽  
A. B. Middleton ◽  
K. W. Seward ◽  
R. Gaudiel ◽  
C. Wildschut ◽  
...  

Previous reports suggest that the response of dry bean to N fertilizer is often dependent on bean cultivar. In addition to N, commercial producers of dry bean in southern Alberta frequently apply P, K and Zn, even though soil test levels of these nutrients are often high. To evaluate the fertilizer responses of commercial dry bean cultivars in southern Alberta, three experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, the response of GN 1140 great northern bean, NW-63 small red bean, Othello pinto bean, and Viva pink bean to N fertilizer rates and rhizobia inoculation was determined at three sites each year from 1994 through 1996. The second experiment was conducted at the same sites to determine the response of these cultivars to P and K fertilizer. The third experiment was conducted at the same sites in 1995 and 1996 to determine the response of the same four cultivars and OAC Seaforth navy bean to soil-applied and foliar Zn application. The four cultivars responded similarly to N in the first experiment. Seed yields ranged from 81 to 100% of maximum yields when available N levels (fertilizer-N plus nitrate-N to 30 cm just prior to seeding) were less than 80 kg N ha–1, but were always greater than 90% of maximum yields when available N levels were greater than 80 kg N ha–1. Rhizobia inoculation did not significantly increase seed yields or reduce the response to N fertilizer, although early-season plant growth was frequently improved by inoculation. Seed yield was only increased by application of P fertilizer at one site and by application of K fertilizer at one site, while application of Zn did not increase seed yield at any of the sites. The critical soil test levels for responses to P, K or Zn were consistent with levels reported for other crops or regions, but further validation of these levels is required due to the lack of sites with low nutrient availability. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris, fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli, rhizobia inoculation


2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 735-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. E. Blackshaw ◽  
R. C. Doram ◽  
H. C. Huang ◽  
T. Entz

Field experiments were established in 1998, 1999 and 2000 at the Lethbridge Research Centre to examine the effect of preceding annual crops and accompanying recommended herbicides on weed infestations in following winter and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Seven crops and fallow were established in year 1 with and without herbicides for weed control. In year 2, spring and winter wheat were grown without herbicides and with minimal fertilizer inputs to measure the effect of the previous crop and herbicides on weed and crop growth, available N and P, and available soil moisture. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) as a previous crop provided an environment that promoted wheat growth but not weed growth. In contrast, mustard (Brassica juncea L.) as a previous crop inhibited spring and winter wheat growth, but did not inhibit total weed biomass production in year 2. The beneficial effects of lentil and the detrimental effects of mustard were partially explained by available soil moisture and soil N for the second crop but additional factors, such as allelopathic chemicals or changes in soil biology, must be involved to cause the large differences in weed and wheat growth that were observed in year 2. The lack of herbicides with some crops led to dense weed populations in year 2. In addition, N, P, moisture utilization, and possible additional changes in soil biology or chemistry caused by uncontrolled weeds affected wheat yield after lentil and fallow. Key words: Available soil moisture, available soil nitrogen, crop rotation, lentil, mustard, weed density


2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 973-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
R. E. Blackshaw ◽  
H. C. Huang

There is a renewed interest, especially among organic growers, in using either white sweetclover (Melilotus alba Desr.) or yellow sweetclover [M. officinalis (L.) Lam.] as cover crops. Sweetclover cultivars and tillage practices have changed since these crops were widely used as cover crops in the first half of the 20th century. Experiments were initiated in 1999, 2000, and 2002 to compare the effect of high- and low-coumarin cultivars and crop termination methods on weed suppression, available soil N, moisture conservation and following crop yield. Weed suppression was usually more effective when sweetclover residues were left on the surface than when removed as hay. Sweetclover termination at 70% bloom was often more effective in suppressing weeds than termination at the bud stage. In the summer and fall after termination, surface residues of Yukon, a high-coumarin and drought-tolerant cultivar, reduced lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium album L.) density by > 80% compared with the no sweetclover check and essentially eliminated flixweed [Descurainia Sophia (L). Webb]. In the following spring, Yukon reduced kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.] density by > 80% and wild oat (Avena fatua L.) biomass by > 30% compared with the no sweetclover check. There was no difference in available N for a following crop between treatments with surface residue and cultivated fallow. Available soil moisture was about 10 mm less after the highest yielding sweetclover cultivars than after cultivated fallow, but subsequent wheat yield was not reduced. Maximum wheat yields were obtained after Yukon and Arctic sweetclover were grown as cover crops. It may be possible for organic growers to manage weeds with sweetclover in a reduced tillage system that leaves most of the plant residues on the soil surface. Key words: Cover crop, weed suppression, allelopathy, nitrogen, soil moisture


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1295
Author(s):  
Ahossi Patrice Koua ◽  
Mirza Majid Baig ◽  
Benedict Chijioke Oyiga ◽  
Jens Léon ◽  
Agim Ballvora

Nitrogen (N) is a vital component of crop production. Wheat yield varies significantly under different soil available N. Knowing how wheat responds to or interacts with N to produce grains is essential in the selection of N use efficient cultivars. We assessed in this study variations among wheat genotypes for productivity-related traits under three cropping systems (CS), high-nitrogen with fungicide (HN-WF), high-nitrogen without fungicide (HN-NF) and low-nitrogen without fungicide (LN-NF) in the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons. ANOVA results showed genotypes, CS, and their interactions significantly affected agronomic traits. Grain yield (GY) increased with higher leaf chlorophyll content, importantly under CS without N and fungicide supply. Yellow rust disease reduced the GY by 20% and 28% in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Moreover, averaged over growing seasons, GY was increased by 23.78% under CS with N supply, while it was greatly increased, by 52.84%, under CS with both N and fungicide application, indicating a synergistic effect of N and fungicide on GY. Fungicide supply greatly improved the crop ability to accumulate N during grain filling, and hence the grain protein content. Recently released cultivars outperformed the older ones in most agronomic traits including GY. Genotype performance and stability analysis for GY production showed differences in their stability levels under the three CS. The synergistic effect of nitrogen and fungicide on grain yield (GY) and the differences in yield stability levels of recently released wheat cultivars across three CS found in this study suggest that resource use efficiency can be improved via cultivar selection for targeted CS.


Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Gabriella Möller ◽  
Tamar Keasar ◽  
Idan Shapira ◽  
Daniella Möller ◽  
Marco Ferrante ◽  
...  

Enriching agroecosystems with non-crop vegetation is a popular strategy for conservation biocontrol. In vineyards, the effects of specific seeded or planted cover crops on natural enemies are well-studied, whereas conserving spontaneously developing weeds received less attention. We compared parasitoid communities between matched pairs of vineyard plots in northern Israel, differing in weed management practices: “herbicide”, repeated herbicide applications vs. “ground cover”, maintaining resident weeds and trimming them when needed. Using suction sampling, we assessed the parasitoids’ abundance, richness, and composition during three grape-growing seasons. Ground cover plots had greater parasitoid abundances and cumulative species richness than herbicide-treated plots, possibly because of their higher vegetation cover and richness. Dominant parasitoid species varied in their magnitude and direction of response to weed management. Their responses seem to combine tracking of host distributions with attraction to additional vegetation-provided resources. Parasitoid community composition was mildly yet significantly influenced by weed management, while season, year, and habitat (weeds vs. vine) had stronger effects. Vineyard weeds thus support local biocontrol agents and provide additional previously demonstrated benefits (e.g., soil conservation, lower agrochemical exposure) but might also attract some crop pests. When the benefits outweigh this risk, weed conservation seems a promising step towards more sustainable agricultural management.


1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-274
Author(s):  
Linnell M. Edwards ◽  
John M. Sadler

Winter rye was broadcast into a potato crop just after topkilling with the object of avoiding post-harvest delays in establishing a winter ground cover. Rye treatments were interseeded (i) at intervals of 1 d for up to 10 d before potato digging, without post-harvest tillage and (ii) just after digging and preparatory seedbed tillage as a comparative standard. Generally, cover performance of rye, measured as plant count, tiller count or dry mass of plants showed significant (P < 0.05) increase with decreasing days to potato digging up to 3 or 4 d before digging. There was no sacrifice of rye cover using this inter-seeding approach compared with traditional post-(potato) harvest seeding in a prepared seedbed. Seeding 3–4 d before potato harvest is recommended on the basis of superior fall plant count, spring tiller count and shoot dry mass, and winter survival indices on either of these days.Key words: Cover crops, winter rye, winter survival, companion cropping


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-659
Author(s):  
MAHS Jahan ◽  
MAR Sarkar ◽  
NCD Barma ◽  
MNA Mondal ◽  
MNS Ferdousi

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Wheat Research Centre of the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur for 2 consecutive years during 2006-07 and 2007-08. The objectives were to find out the optimum nutrient management practice on tuber yield, nutrient balance and economics of potato cultivation. Twelve nutrient management treatments were tested in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Treatments were T1=HYG (0-198-44-194-24-6-1.2), T2=MYG (0-140-34-138-18-4.5-0.9), T3=IPNS (10000-168-38-170-18-6-1.2), T4=STB (0-171-40-164-22-5-1), T5=FP (0-97-16-91-0-0-0), T6=CON (0-0-0-0-0-0-0), T7=HYG+CRI, T8=MYG+CRI, T9=IPNS+CRI, T10=STB+CRI, T11=FP+CRI, T12=CON+CRI kg ha-1 CDNPKSZnB for potato. The highest tuber yield of potato was obtained from STB+CRI (27.64 t ha-1) followed by IPNS+CRI (27.35 t ha-1), STB (27.10 t ha-1), IPNS (26.83 t ha-1), HYG+CRI (26.52 t ha-1) and HYG (26.10 t ha-1) in 2006- 07. Similar trend was found in 2007-08. The highest tuber yield and yield contributing parameters were noticed in CRI plots than without CRI. Except N, remaining nutrient balance like P K S Zn and B were found positive in case of HYG, MYG, IPNS and STB along with or without CRI nutrient managements. The balance was found almost negative in case of FP and CON. The highest BCR was observed in STB+CRI (3.96) followed by STB (3.93), IPNS+CRI (3.76), and IPNS (3.74). The higher gross return (Tk. 283331 ha-1) and also gross margin (Tk. 211761 ha-1) was observed from the same treatment. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjar.v39i4.22544 Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 39(4): 641-659, December 2014


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 107
Author(s):  
Doohong Min ◽  
Iryna McDonald

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of planting alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with- and without cover crops on forage dry matter yield and nutritive values of alfalfa in Kansas, USA. In the first production year 2014, dry matter yield of mono-culture alfalfa appears to be compatible or even higher than planting with certain species of winter annual forages as a cover crop. Alfalfa planted with a combination of four different multi-species winter annual forages such as oats (Avena sativa L.), oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorumL.), and turnip (Brassica rapa L.) had the highest dry matter yield of alfalfa in 2014.Dry matter yield of alfalfa in 2nd production year 2015 was similar to alfalfa + oats and alfalfa + oats + oilseed radish + annual ryegrass + turnip or significantly higher than alfalfa planted with annual ryegrass, oilseed radish, and turnip together. Based on two year of data in 2014 and 2015, the highest alfalfa yield occurred when alfalfa was planted with a combination of oats, oilseed radish, annual ryegrass, and turnip. The lowest dry matter yield of alfalfa occurred when alfalfa was planted with annual ryegrass.No significant differences in crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were found when comparing alfalfa monoculture with alfalfa + oats, alfalfa + oilseed radish, alfalfa + oats + oilseed radish + annual ryegrass + turnip, and alfalfa + turnip treatments. When considering both dry matter and nutritive values of alfalfa, planting alfalfa with cover crops appears to be compatible or better practice than planting alfalfa monoculture.


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