The Effects of Leguminous Living Mulch Intercropping and Its Growth Management on Organic Cabbage Yield and Biological Nitrogen Fixation

In organic horticulture, living mulches (LM) are used for weed suppression and erosion prevention. addition, leguminous LM can contribute to higher nitrogen (N) import into vegetable cultivation systems via biological N2 fixation (BNF). order investigate the effect of systems, a two- as well three-year field experiment was conducted between 2019 2021 at two locations in Southwest Germany. White cabbage intercropped with different clover varieties (Trifolium repens cv. ‘Rivendel’, regular growth T.repens ‘Pipolina’, micro clover) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne ‘Premium’). Bare soil (with spontaneous vegetation) without intercropping control treatment. The second factor management LM: incorporation by rototilling before planting cabbage, no management, mulching during growing. results show that did not lead weight residues or differences total head yield among treatments management. Intercropping further result reduced compared mulching. ‘Pipolina’ showed competition regular-growing white ‘Rivendel’. Therefore, we conclude regardless achieve high yields sufficient irrigation additional fertilization while increasing inputs N BNF entire cropping system.