Review
Plant Sciences
Margaret Fernando, Anil Shrestha
Summary: Cover crops play a crucial role in integrated weed management programs due to their ability to suppress weeds. They can reduce weed biomass and seed production, as well as inhibit weed seedling emergence through allelopathic effects or shading. However, the success of cover crops in weed suppression varies and is influenced by factors such as species, planting time, density, biomass, termination time, cash crop rotation, and climate. Studies have shown that planting date and using a mixture of cover crop species can improve weed suppression. Nonetheless, cover crops alone may not be sufficient and should be combined with other weed management tools. Nevertheless, cover crops are an important component in the toolbox for integrated weed management.
Article
Agronomy
Ted S. Kornecki, Corey M. Kichler
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of a new roller/crimper in terminating summer cover crops. The findings showed that multiple rolling resulted in higher termination rates for the cover crops, but rainfall and drought conditions can affect termination effectiveness and crop biomass. Rolling provided better soil-water conservation, but changes in soil strength were dependent on soil moisture content.
Article
Agronomy
Nelly Centurion, Ignacio Mariscal-Sancho, Mariela Navas, Jose Luis Gabriel, Kelly Ulcuango, Miguel Angel Ibanez, Ana Moliner, Chiquinquira Hontoria
Summary: Legumes provide important benefits in crop rotations. Interseeding cover crops (CCs) allows for additional legume CCs in case of a short window after the main crop. However, the level and management of legume input can modify the expected benefits.
Article
Agronomy
Silvia Fogliatto, Lorenzo Patrucco, Fernando De Palo, Barbara Moretti, Marco Milan, Francesco Vidotto
Summary: The study showed that using cover crops as green mulching can significantly reduce weed density and improve rice yield. However, it alone is not able to completely prevent weed growth. Critical factors such as the establishment of cover crop and biomass production need to be considered.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Hence Duncan, Jacob Eicher, Weston M. Bracey, Virginia R. Sykes, Christopher N. Boyer, Frank Yin, Gary E. Bates, David M. Butler, Alison R. Willette
Summary: Winter cover crops can improve soil moisture retention and reduce erosion, but their impact on profits is still debatable. Harvesting cover crops for hay could potentially increase profits. This study compared net returns from different cover crop species when planted before corn and soybeans. The results showed that planting cover crops did not reduce profits for both crops. The breakeven prices for harvesting cover crops suggested that it might not be profitable for corn, but could be profitable for soybeans depending on labor availability and local demand for hay.
Article
Plant Sciences
Haoran Fu, Hong Chen, Qingxu Ma, Kefeng Han, Shaofu Wu, Lianghuan Wu
Summary: This study found that planting and mowing forage crops as livestock feed in orchards can improve pear yield and quality based on a 4-year field experiment. However, it may also lead to a decline in soil quality and have uncertain effects on crop production. Therefore, caution should be exercised when implementing this practice in orchards.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Gabriela Inveninato Carmona, Emily Robinson, Alexandre Tonon Rosa, Christopher A. Proctor, Anthony Justin McMechan
Summary: Adding a cover crop can increase plant diversity and protect predatory arthropods. This study investigated the effects of cover crop planting and termination dates on arthropods in subsequent corn, and found that planting a cover crop in mid- or late-September and terminating it at corn planting is the best strategy to maximize cover crop biomass and predator activity.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vipin Kumar, Vijay Singh, Michael L. Flessner, Joseph Haymaker, Mark S. Reiter, Steven B. Mirsky
Summary: Efficient termination of cover crops is crucial for their management. This study found that tankmixing 2,4-D or glufosinate with glyphosate was more effective in terminating crops compared to using glyphosate alone, and this method was suitable for broadleaf cover crops including rapeseed.
Article
Agronomy
Ricardo St Aime, Enoch Noh, William C. Bridges, Sruthi Narayanan
Summary: The effects of drill and broadcast planting methods on cover crop biomass production vary depending on the species, with crimson clover responding well to drilling and hairy vetch showing no significant difference between drilling and broadcasting.
Article
Agronomy
Alicia Rouge, Guillaume Adeux, Hugues Busset, Rodolphe Hugard, Juliette Martin, Annick Matejicek, Delphine Moreau, Jean-Philippe Guillemin, Stephane Cordeau
Summary: This study explored the impact of cover crop management on weed biomass and crop productivity in subsequent crops, finding that the composition of cover crops, termination methods, and soil resource availability all played a role.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
M. B. Samuelson, E. Reid, R. Drijber, E. Jeske, H. Blanco-Canqui, M. Mamo, I Kadoma, S. E. Wortman
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether organic soil management practices could accelerate the degradation rate of two potential biobased and biodegradable mulches. The results showed that the application of management treatments seasonally influenced the soil properties, but had no effect on mulch degradation. Instead, mulch degradation was driven by the interaction of location and mulch type.
RENEWABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Review
Horticulture
Mohammad Amdadul Haque, Siti Zaharah Sakimin
Summary: The planting density has a significant impact on the yield and quality of fruit crops. The yield per unit area is the product of fruit yield per plant and the number of plants per unit area. Fruit size increases with decreasing planting density, while total yield increases with increasing density up to a certain level. However, fruit quality decreases with increasing planting density.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Sheng-Han-Erin Chang, Y. Xiao-yan, Johannes Sauer, Y. I. N. Chang-bin, L. Fu-duo
Summary: The adoption rate of green manure cover crops (GMCCs) in China is low due to farmers' preference for improving irrigation facilities and using organic fertilizers, lack of awareness of government policies on GMCCs, and insufficient financial support from the government.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Tommaso Cerioli, Thanos Gentimis, Steven D. Linscombe, Adam N. Famoso
Summary: Planting date has a significant impact on rice yield, milling yield, days to heading, and days to seedling emergence, with choosing the optimal planting time maximizing grain and milling yield in Southwest Louisiana.
Article
Agronomy
Nelly Centurion, Kelly Ulcuango, Mariela Navas, Ignacio Mariscal-Sancho, Miguel A. Ibanez, Ana Moliner, Chiquinquira Hontoria
Summary: Cover crop termination methods can affect soil microorganisms, and water levels regulate this effect. The legacy effects of termination methods on soil microbial attributes are notable and evolve over time. Mowing and residue incorporation (INC) method showed the best microbial response.