USE OF COVER CROPS IN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION

Cover Crops in Sustainable Food Production

Cover crops are important components of sustainable agricultural systems. They increase surface residue and aid in the reduction of soil erosion. They improve the structure and water-holding capacity of the soil and thus increase the effectiveness of applied N fertilizer. Legume cover crops such as hairy vetch and crimson clover fix nitrogen and contribute to the nitrogen requirements of subseq...

Transplant Age in Vegetable Crops

s. Therefore, more information is necessary concerning cauliflower transplant age. CHINESE CABBAGE [Brassica rapa L. SSP. PEKINENSIS (LOUR.)]. Kratky et al. (1982) in Hawaii found no significant differences in time to maturity, individual head weight, and total yield from Chinese cabbage transplants of 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age. RAPE (Brassica napus ssp. OLEIFERA VAR. NAPUS). In a 3-year stud...

Translational genomics of Vegetable Crops

Cover Crops as an Agroecological Practice on Organic Vegetable Farms in Wisconsin, USA

Global agricultural and food systems face the challenge of feeding a growing world population in the face of finite and diminishing resources. To guide the redesign of agricultural systems, farmers and policymakers are increasingly turning to agroecology. Organic agriculture has historically integrated agroecological practices within its regulatory framework; however, questions remain as to the...

Allelopathic Weed Suppression Through the Use of Cover Crops

There has long been observed an inhibitive response by plant species to certain neighboring plants. The Greek philosopher and botanist, Theophrastus, noted this effect from cabbage as early as 300 BC (Willis 1985). Since that time, others have documented similar plant interactions. In 1937, Austrian botanist, Hans Molisch, described this phenomenon as allelopathy, which he determined to be the ...