Article
Plant Sciences
J. Acharya, T. B. Moorman, T. C. Kaspar, A. W. Lenssen, S. Gailans, A. E. Robertson
Summary: In Iowa, cold temperatures and frequent precipitation can prevent farmers from terminating winter cereal rye cover crops before planting corn and sometimes force them to plant corn while the rye plants are still green, known as planting green. Our study found that planting green increased corn seedling root disease and led to reduced corn yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ella R. Reeves, James P. Kerns, Christina Cowger, Barbara B. Shew
Summary: Annual double-crop rotation systems incorporating winter wheat, clary sage, or cover crops are common in eastern North Carolina. Pythium species are significant causal agents of stunting and root rot in clary sage, rye, rapeseed, and winter pea in this region. Different Pythium species exhibit varying pathogenicity towards different crops, with P. irregulare and Pythium sp. cluster B2A being the most frequently isolated species across all hosts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sarah M. Kurtz, Jyotsna Acharya, Thomas C. Kaspar, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: The study suggests that physical separation between winter rye cover crop and corn can reduce the risk of seedling disease caused by Pythium spp. In addition, a higher abundance of Pythium clade B was found in corn grown near the terminated winter rye plants, while no significant effect was observed for Pythium clade F.
Review
Plant Sciences
Jay Ram Lamichhane, Lionel Alletto
Summary: Crops that provide ecosystem services beyond crop production are gaining attention and interest. Cover crops, grown either as the sole crop or in mixtures, contribute to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals by providing multiple ecosystem services. However, it is not known to what extent the ecosystem services provided by cover crops are affected by interactions between genotype, environment, and management. Understanding these interactions can help maximize the ecosystem services of cover crops while minimizing their impact on ecosystems. Therefore, a paradigm shift in defining, managing, and utilizing cover crops is proposed.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Inderjot Chahal, Laura L. Van Eerd
Summary: Cover crops have variable effects on subsequent crop yield, with legume cover crops significantly increasing yield by 14% compared to grass, nonlegume broadleaves, and mixtures. Incorporation of cover crop residue into soil results in a 15% increase in crop yield compared to leaving the residue on the surface. Grass and legume cover crops improve crop yield by 14% and 19%, respectively, in non-organic vegetable cropping systems. Legume cover crops also lead to higher crop yield in coarse and medium textured soil and under high precipitation conditions. Cover crops have a positive impact on vegetable crop yields but decrease silage corn yield, with no significant effect on grain corn, soybean, and winter wheat yield. Adoption of cover crops in no-tillage and plow tillage systems increases crop yield. Considering pedo-climatic conditions and agronomic factors can enhance the robustness of crop yield response to cover crops.
Article
Agronomy
Kelly Ulcuango, Mariela Navas, Nelly Centurion, Miguel A. Ibanez, Chiquinquira Hontoria, Ignacio Mariscal-Sancho
Summary: The research found that different cover crop planting methods have different effects on soil microbial community structure and crop yield, and there are differences in the effects of mixed planting and single planting. Planting a mixture of barley and vetch can increase wheat yield, but has a smaller effect on maize.
Article
Plant Sciences
Krishna Acharya, Guiping Yan, Addison Plaisance
Summary: Microplot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of cover crops on population reduction of soybean cyst nematode in 2016 and 2017. The results showed that most cover crops had better SCN population reduction effects compared to fallow over two years, with annual ryegrass and daikon radish performing the best.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio, Lauri Jauhiainen
Summary: Cover crops play an important role in providing ecosystem services in Finnish agriculture, and there is increasing interest among farmers in their cultivation. The allocation of cover crops is influenced by factors such as farm size, expertise in specific crops, proximity to waterways, and crop rotation history. Cover crops benefit farmers by increasing spatial diversity, reducing environmental impact, and improving soil health.
Article
Agronomy
Sailesh Sigdel, Amitava Chatterjee, Marisol Berti, Abbey Wick, Caley Gasch
Summary: The study indicates that interseeding cover crops in sugar beet production systems can protect the soil from erosion without negatively impacting sugar beet yield or quality. Cover crop biomass accumulation varied depending on rainfall distribution, with early interseeding producing more biomass than late interseeding. Different cover crop species and planting times affected the growth and cover provided by the cover crops.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Lionel Alletto, Ana Cassigneul, Apolline Duchalais, Simon Giuliano, Julie Brechemier, Eric Justes
Summary: The study found that implementing conservation tillage and cover crops in maize monoculture systems can reduce environmental impacts and improve agronomic performance. The specific cover crop species and termination dates can affect soil water content, and leaving the soil bare can decrease maize yields.
FIELD CROPS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio, Lauri Jauhiainen, Juuso Joona, Tuomas Mattila, Tony Hyden, Hannu Kaenkaenen
Summary: This survey examines the challenges and management strategies of Finnish farmers in cultivating under-sown cover crops. The results indicate that farmers often consider factors related to under-sown cover crops, particularly focusing on adjusting planting measures and seeding rates. Some farmers have made investments to facilitate sowing. Fertilizer rates are usually adjusted based on the cash crop's needs. Early harvesting of cash crops is deemed important by 58% of farmers to prevent interference from cover crops. There are mixed views on whether cover crops impact the quality of cash crops. Subsidized farmers who invest are more inclined towards the benefits provided by cover crops' ecosystem services.
Article
Agronomy
Michael Merkle, Matthias Schumacher, Roland Gerhards
Summary: This study conducted a field experiment to test different methods and species of cover crops. The results showed that early establishment of cover crops, specifically direct sowing or sowing 10 days before harvest, had a positive impact on biomass formation and weed suppression. The performance of cover crops varied depending on the species, sowing date, and weather conditions, but a diverse cover crop mixture showed more stable performance under variable weather conditions.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY
(2024)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chelsea J. Harbach, Elizabeth Wlezien, Gregory L. Tylka
Summary: The study found that crimson clover may act as a trap crop for soybean cyst nematodes, with other cover crops having relatively smaller effects. Root exudates and soil leachates from different cover crop plants may influence the hatching and chemotaxis of SCN. Cover crop plants may affect SCN biology in ways other than those investigated in these experiments.
Article
Soil Science
Jianying Qi, Johannes L. Jensen, Bent T. Christensen, Lars J. Munkholm
Summary: Maintaining good soil structural stability is crucial for agricultural sustainability. Incorporation of cereal straw and use of cover crops can improve soil structural stability, increasing soil organic carbon content. Root biomass is marginally greater when cover crops are included, suggesting their potential benefits for soil stability.
Article
Agricultural Economics & Policy
Gary D. Schnitkey, Sarah C. Sellars, Laura F. Gentry
Summary: Cover crops have various environmental benefits, but farmers often do not receive enough benefits to justify planting them. Therefore, public policies supporting cover crop use should be established.
APPLIED ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVES AND POLICY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Elizabeth R. Lerch-Olson, Anne E. Dorrance, Alison E. Robertson
Article
Plant Sciences
J. Acharya, T. C. Kaspar, A. E. Robertson
Summary: MBOA inhibits mycelial growth of Pythium species and reduces corn radicle length, but does not cause root rot. However, greater root rot severity can be observed under certain conditions when MBOA is present.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sarah M. Kurtz, Jyotsna Acharya, Thomas C. Kaspar, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: The study suggests that physical separation between winter rye cover crop and corn can reduce the risk of seedling disease caused by Pythium spp. In addition, a higher abundance of Pythium clade B was found in corn grown near the terminated winter rye plants, while no significant effect was observed for Pythium clade F.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rashelle L. Matthiesen, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: Pythium spp. is the most common pathogen associated with soybean damping-off in the United States, with aggressiveness and fungicide sensitivity varying geographically and with temperature. This suggests that management of soybean damping-off should target local Pythium populations.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kyujung Van, William Rolling, Ruslan M. Biyashev, Rashelle L. Matthiesen, Nilwala S. Abeysekara, Alison E. Robertson, Deloris J. Veney, Anne E. Dorrance, Leah K. McHale, M. A. Saghai Maroof
Summary: This study identified numerous novel Rps loci through GWA analysis, which is crucial for developing new soybean varieties resistant to diverse populations of Phytophthora sojae.
Article
Plant Sciences
Sarah M. Kurtz, Jyotsna Acharya, Thomas C. Kaspar, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: This study found that increasing the distance between corn crops and winter rye cover crops can reduce seedling disease and increase corn yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
J. Acharya, T. B. Moorman, T. C. Kaspar, A. W. Lenssen, S. Gailans, A. E. Robertson
Summary: In Iowa, cold temperatures and frequent precipitation can prevent farmers from terminating winter cereal rye cover crops before planting corn and sometimes force them to plant corn while the rye plants are still green, known as planting green. Our study found that planting green increased corn seedling root disease and led to reduced corn yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rashelle L. Matthiesen, Clarice Schmidt, Vinicius C. Garnica, Loren J. Giesler, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: The study revealed that the majority of P. sojae isolates were virulent on Rps 1a, Rps 1c, and Rps 1k, suggesting that soybean cultivars with these genes may not provide effective protection against Phytophthora stem and root rot.
PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rashelle L. Matthiesen, Clarice Schmidt, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: Comparing the leaf disc method and the seedling method for baiting Phytophthora sojae, it was found that the leaf disc method recovered more isolates and detected more pathotypes, with differences in diversity indices. However, the percent of isolates causing disease on each Rps gene did not differ between the two methods. Both methods could be used to provide data for deployment of Rps genes in soybean cultivars.
PLANT HEALTH PROGRESS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mirian F. Pimentel, Erika Arnao, Amanda J. Warner, Leonardo F. Rocha, Arjun Subedi, Nariman Elsharif, Martin Chilvers, Rashelle Matthiesen, Alison E. Robertson, Carl A. Bradley, Danilo L. Neves, Dianne K. Pedersen, Ursula Reuter-Carlson, Jonathan Lacey, Jason P. Bond, Ahmad M. Fakhoury
Summary: This study investigated the antagonistic activity of potential biological control agents (BCAs) native to the U.S. Midwest against Pythium spp. In vitro screening and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed inhibitory activity and mycoparasitic characteristics of certain BCAs against Pythium spp. Under field conditions, selected BCAs protected soybean seedlings from Pythium spp. infection and could be used in combination with fungicide seed treatments.
Article
Plant Sciences
Renata Belisario, Alison E. Robertson, Lisa J. Vaillancourt
Summary: Anthracnose stalk rot (ASR) of maize causes significant economic losses annually in the United States. Current management strategies focus on host resistance and reducing plant stressors. Future management may rely more heavily on host resistance, though effective sources are limited.
Article
Agronomy
Fernando M. Marcos, Jyotsna Acharya, Md. Rasel Parvej, Alison E. Robertson, Mark A. Licht
Summary: Cover crops, such as cereal rye, are commonly used in high-input cropping systems to reduce nutrient leaching and improve soil quality. However, the field management of cereal rye and its effects on corn yields are still not fully understood, leading to slower adoption by farmers. This study found that the seeding method and termination timing of cereal rye had significant impacts on its biomass and corn growth, with broadcast seeding and late termination resulting in higher biomass but lower corn yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rashelle L. Matthiesen, Alison E. Robertson
Summary: The severity of soybean seedling disease caused by Pythium spp. is influenced by infection timing and cold stress. Greater root rot is likely to occur if infection happens at early germination stages before seedling emergence.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
A. Plastina, J. Acharya, F. M. Marcos, M. R. Parvej, M. A. Licht, A. E. Robertson
Summary: This study evaluated the short-term private net returns to cereal rye cover crop in a corn-soybean rotation in the Midwest United States. The findings suggest that without grazing, cereal rye cover crop resulted in negative net returns for the majority of scenarios. Early-broadcast cereal rye had higher biomass and cost savings in the livestock enterprise, but also caused a decrease in corn yield.
RENEWABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
(2023)
