NO-TILL ALFALFA ESTABLISHMENT AS INFLUENCED BY PREVIOUS COVER CROP

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. D. WOLF ◽  
E. S. HAGOOD Jr. ◽  
M. LENTNER
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Secale Cereale ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Planting Methods ◽  
No Till ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

Conventional tillage was compared with no tillage for establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in the residue of previous cover crops. The influences of planting methods and interim cover crops were studied near Blacksburg, Virginia. Alfalfa was seeded (a) in late March into a rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop, (b) in late April after a rye cover crop was harvested for silage, and (c) in late August into stubble left after removing millet (Setaria italica L.) as hay. Millet for the summer cover crop was planted after a rye cover crop was removed for silage. Alfalfa yields in the year after establishment showed no-till plantings to be equal to conventional planting methods. Previous cover crop did not affect alfalfa yields in the year after establishment. Alfalfa was successfully established into residue from rye and millet. Conditions were ideal for late August plantings after removing Millet for hay. Alfalfa stands were weed-free. These data indicate that alfalfa can be established with no-tillage methods into residue from interim cover crops such as rye and millet and will provide good conservation practices.Key words: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), rye, Secale cereale L., no-till, erosion control

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.

scholarly journals Single- versus Double-Species Cover Crop Effects on Soil Health and Yield in Mississippi Soybean Fields

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2334
Author(s):  
Heather L. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Trifolium Incarnatum ◽  
Crimson Clover ◽  
No Till ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Species Cover

Conservation management practices can improve soil health while minimizing deleterious effects of agriculture on the environment. However, adoption of these practices, particularly cover crops, is not widespread, as they often reduce crop yields compared to traditional management practices. The purpose of the current study was to determine if a two-species cover crop treatment of rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) could increase soil health parameters and maximize soybean (Glycine max L.) yield greater than rye only in tilled and no-till Mississippi field soils. Enhanced microbial biomass and organic matter input from cover crops increased the activities of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and phosphatase in surface soils. Rye plus clover tended to elicit higher activities than rye only in no-till plots. Both cover crop treatments inhibited soybean yield in tilled plots by 11–25%. These results indicate that tillage exacerbates yield inhibition by cover crops in soybean and that double-species cover crop treatments were more consistent in increasing activities linked to nutrient cycling. Further study examining different combinations of cover crops in no-till systems is necessary to gain a better understanding of how they can be implemented to enhance soil health while maximizing crop yield.

scholarly journals Reduced Fungicide Applications and Host Resistance for Managing Three Diseases in Pumpkin Grown on a No-Till Cover Crop

Plant Disease ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 1134-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryne L. Everts
Keyword(s):  
Powdery Mildew ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Black Rot ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Fruit Number ◽  
No Till ◽  
Magic Lantern

Two recent changes in Maryland pumpkin production are (i) planting no-till into a cover crop with soil surface residue (70% of acreage) and (ii) adoption of cultivars with moderate resistance to powdery mildew. Pumpkin cultivar resistance to powdery mildew, planting method (no-till cover crop or conventional tillage bare ground), and fungicide schedules were examined for development of powdery mildew (caused primarily by Podosphaera xanthii), Plectosporium blight (Plectosporium tabacinum), and black rot (Didymella bryoniae), and pumpkin yield and quality. Fungicide application intervals were (i) nontreated, (ii) 7 days, (iii) 14 days, or (iv) 7 days early and 14 days late season. Pumpkin grown no-till on hairy vetch and hairy vetch plus rye cover crops had an average 36% less Plectosporium blight and 50% less black rot than those grown conventional tillage on bare ground. Powdery mildew was less severe on cv. Magic Lantern, which is moderately resistant to this disease, than on susceptible cv. Wizard. Regression equations to describe the impact of disease and treatment on pumpkin fruit number, weight, and peduncle quality (healthy, intact peduncles) were developed using three-stage least squares procedure. Powdery mildew caused the greatest reduction on fruit number, weight, and peduncle quality compared with other diseases. Plectosporium blight reduced fruit number in 1999 and 2000, and fruit weight and peduncle quality in 2000. Hairy vetch and hairy vetch plus rye cover crops resulted in greater fruit number (1,033 and 858 more marketable fruit/ha, respectively) than bare ground in 2000. Powdery mildew resistance (Magic Lantern) combined with pumpkin production on a cover crop resulted in lower levels of powdery mildew (average areas under the disease progress curve 1,474 versus 2,379), Plectosporium blight (average 5 versus 16% severity), and black rot (average 153 versus 217 symptomatic fruit/ha) compared with conventional production (Wizard on bare ground). A reduced fungicide schedule resulted in acceptable disease management, yield, and peduncle quality of Magic Lantern grown on a cover crop; Magic Lantern grown on a cover crop and sprayed every 14 days yielded the same as or more than Wizard grown on bare ground and sprayed weekly.

Combining no-till with rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop mitigates nitrous oxide emissions without decreasing yield

2020 ◽  
Vol 196 ◽  
pp. 104442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fiorini ◽  
Stefania Codruta Maris ◽  
Diego Abalos ◽  
Stefano Amaducci ◽  
Vincenzo Tabaglio
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Secale Cereale ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
No Till ◽  
Secale Cereale L

scholarly journals Phenolic Compounds with Allelopathic Potential of Secale cereale L. and Raphanus sativus L. Grown Under an Agroecological No-Tillage System

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. SOUZA ◽  
J.J. COMIN ◽  
C. KURTZ ◽  
P.E. LOVATO ◽  
A.P. LIMA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Secale Cereale ◽  
Raphanus Sativus ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Allelopathic Potential ◽  
Oilseed Radish ◽  
Raphanus Sativus L ◽  
Secale Cereale L ◽  
Weed Emergence

ABSTRACT: The identification of compounds with allelopathic potential produced by cover crops can assist in selecting species for weed management purposes in no-tillage systems. This study aimed to identify the main phenolic compounds with allelopathic potential in the shoot of rye (Secale cereale L.) and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cover crops, as well as evaluate whether the cultivation system and phenological stage may influence secondary metabolite production and weed emergence. Samples of the shoot of these cover crops were collected at 60, 80, and 100 days after sowing (DAS) and 15 and 30 days after lodging (DAL) under field conditions. Weed emergence was evaluated at 45, 75, and 100 DAL of cover crops. The main compounds in rye were 6-methoxy-2-benzoxazolinone (MBOA) and 2-benzoxazolinone (BOA) under monocropping and intercropping, while flavonoid quercetin was found in oilseed radish at all evaluated times. During the growing cycle, the highest contents of phenolic compounds were found at the elongation stage (60 DAS) of rye under monocropping and intercropping systems (9.33 and 8.22 mg g-1 DM, respectively) and at grain filling stage (100 DAS) for oilseed radish intercropped with rye and black oat (3.24 and 3.83 mg g-1 DM, respectively). No differences were found in the contents of the main compounds when the species was grown under monocropping or intercropping systems. A reduction in the contents of MBOA, BOA, and quercetin was observed after lodging. Weed dry matter production was lower at 45 DAL in all treatments with rye and oilseed radish residues when compared to the control. The intercropping of rye with oilseed radish is an alternative management for weed control in agroecological systems due to the physical barrier created by these species and the presence of phenolic compounds with allelopathic potential.

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.

Relationship Between Cover Crop Growth, Weed Suppression, and Yield of No-tillage Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L. var. italica)

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 495f-496
Author(s):  
Ronald D. Morse ◽  
Aref Abdul-Baki
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
No Till ◽  
Total Crop ◽  
Fertilizer Rates

In 1997, no-till fall broccoli was grown at the Kentland Agricultural Research Farm (KARF), Blacksburg, Va., and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Md., to determine supplemental N requirements above the nitrogen contribution from legume in situ mulches. Treatments were tillage systems [CT = conventional tillage, bare soil, tilled prior to transplanting; NT-BS = untilled bare soil; NT-SB = soybean (Glycine max L.) cover crop; and NT-CP = cowpea (Vigna sinensis Endl.) cover crop; and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 84, and 168 at KARF, and 0, 56, 112, and 168 kg·ha–1 at BARC). All plots at both sites were treated with recommended herbicides and drip irrigated as needed to supplement rainfall. Dry weight soybean and cowpea biomass was 6.1 and 4.3 at KARF and 4.8 and 3.5 t·ha–1 at BARC. In N-unfertilized plots at both sites, average broccoli yield was higher in NT-SB and NT-CP than CT and NT-BS. The N contribution from the legume mulches was inadequate to meet total crop demand, since N fertilizer applications increased broccoli yield in all tillage treatments, including the legume cover crops (soybean and cowpea). In N-fertilized plots, broccoli yield was similar among tillage treatments at KARF where weed problems were not severe; however, at BARC, yield in CT was higher than in all no-till treatments. Weed pressure was considerably lower in CT than in no-till plots at BARC. Based on these data and other related no-till studies, two conclusions can be drawn: a) no-till systems are a viable option for production of broccoli when weeds are adequately controlled; and b) uniformly distributed, high-residue levels are required for weed suppression when weed pressure is high and herbicides are either ineffective or not applied.

scholarly journals 173 Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 472A-472
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on `Merit' sweet corn in 1994, 1995, and 1996. Main plots received tillage or no-tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus inorganic N fertilization. The shoot N contents of vetch and mix cover crops ranged from 100 to 150 kg/ha, whereas N contents of rye were usually <50 kg/ha. In 1994 and 1995, vetch shoot N contents were 150 kg/ha, and corn yields following vetch were not significantly affected by addition of inorganic N fertilizer. In 1996, vetch N contents only equaled 120 kg/ha, and corn yields were significantly increased by addition of inorganic N. Supplemental N was also required to obtain maximum yields following mix and rye cover crops in all years, even though the N contents of vetch and mix cover crops were normally similar. Measurements of corn foliar N and available soil N were in agreement with the yield results. No-tillage did not significantly affect corn yields following vetch. However, no-till corn yields were reduced with rye (1995) and the mix (1995 and 1996) as a result of reduced corn plant population densities. Reliable tillage results were not obtained for 1994. It was concluded that a vetch cover crop could adequately supply N to sweet corn if vetch N content was at least 150 kg/ha. Sweet corn following rye or vetch/rye mix cover crops required additional N for optimal yields. Significant N in the mix cover crop was probably immobilized as the rye component decomposed. No-till sweet corn was grown successfully following vetch, but yields were often reduced with the mix or rye cover crops.

Buckwheat Species as Summer Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in No-Tillage Vegetable Cropping Systems

Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 690-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary T. Saunders Bulan ◽  
David E. Stoltenberg ◽  
Joshua L. Posner
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Tartary Buckwheat ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
N Availability ◽  
No Tillage

Buckwheat is a broadleaved annual species that is often used as a summer cover crop for its quick growth, weed suppressive ability, and ease of management. Tartary buckwheat is a species related to buckwheat, with many of the same traits valued in buckwheat as a cover crop. However, Tartary buckwheat has been reported to grow more vigorously than buckwheat, especially in cool conditions, which might fill a unique niche for vegetable farmers in Wisconsin and other northcentral states. Our research objectives were to determine the effectiveness of Tartary buckwheat relative to buckwheat for weed suppression, both during the cover-cropping phase and after cover-crop termination during cabbage production, and quantify weed suppression, soil compaction, soil nitrogen availability, and cabbage yield in no-tillage (roller-crimped or sickle-bar mowed) and conventional-tillage (rototilled) systems. Across three site-years, we found that buckwheat emerged earlier and produced 64% more shoot dry biomass than Tartary buckwheat. Pretermination weed shoot biomass (predominantlyAmaranthusandSetariaspp.) in Tartary buckwheat treatments was approximately twice that of buckwheat, and did not differ from weed shoot biomass in a control fallow treatment. Cabbage yield did not differ between cover crop species nor did yield differ between conventional-tillage cover cropped and control fallow treatments. However, weed biomass was greater, and cabbage yield was reduced, in no-tillage compared to conventional-tillage treatments. We also found evidence of greater soil compaction and less nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N) availability in no-tillage than conventional-tillage treatments. These results suggest that Tartary buckwheat is not a suitable summer cover crop alternative to buckwheat for weed suppression prior to cabbage production.

Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage on Sweet Corn Production

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 476d-476
Author(s):  
Gary R. Cline ◽  
Anthony F. Silvernail
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Sweet Corn ◽  
N Fertilization ◽  
Winter Rye ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Total N ◽  
No Till ◽  
Winter Cover ◽  
Winter Cover Crops

A split-plot factorial experiment examined effects of tillage and winter cover crops on sweet corn in 1997. Main plots received tillage or no tillage. Cover crops consisted of hairy vetch, winter rye, or a mix, and N treatments consisted of plus or minus N fertilization. Following watermelon not receiving inorganic N, vetch, and mix cover cropsproduced total N yields of ≈90 kg/ha that were more than four times greater than those obtained with rye. However, vetch dry weight yields (2.7 mg/ha) were only about 60% of those obtained in previous years due to winter kill. Following rye winter cover crops, addition of ammonium nitrate to corn greatly increased (P < 0.05) corn yields and foliar N concentrations compared to treatments not receiving N. Following vetch, corn yields obtained in tilled treatments without N fertilization equaled those obtained with N fertilization. However, yields obtained from unfertilized no-till treatments were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than yields of N-fertilized treatments. Available soil N was significantly (P < 0.05) greater following vetch compared to rye after corn planting. No significant effects of tillage on sweet corn plant densities or yields were detected. It was concluded that no-tillage sweet corn was successful, and N fixed by vetch was able to sustain sweet corn production in tilled treatments but not in no-till treatments.In previous years normal, higher-yielding vetch cover crops were able to sustain sweet corn in both tilled and no-till treatments.

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