The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crop mixture diversity on cover crop function. Specifically, this study evaluated the effect of cover crop species and functional richness on aboveground biomass productivity, weed suppression, soil nutrient retention, soil microbial community characteristics, and performance stability. Twenty to forty cover crop treatments were re...

background and objectives: suitable tillage methods and planting cover crops are such factors in sustainable agricultural systems, which play an important role in the sustainability of agricultural production systems. minimum and no-tillage systems methods that leave instead of usually more than 30 percent of crop residue on the soil surface, are used to reduce soil erosion, improve soil physic...

This research aimed to determine the effects of different cover crops and application ofbio-fertilizer on dynamic of nitrogen in the soil and sweet maize yield. Also, we evaluated theeffect of fall–winter species (common vetch, field pea, winter oats, fodder kale) and a mixtureof vetch and field pea with oats used as cover crops, as such as dead organic mulch andtraditional variant, without cov...

Cover crops provide a variety of important agroecological services within cropping systems. Typically these crops are grown as monocultures or simple graminoid-legume bicultures; however, ecological theory and empirical evidence suggest that agroecosystem services could be enhanced by growing cover crops in species-rich mixtures. We examined cover crop productivity, weed suppression, stability,...

to evaluate the effect of cover crops, tillage systems and nitrogen (n) application rates on yield of forage sorghum (cv. kfs3), a factorial–spilt plot arrangement based on randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out at the research farms college of agriculture and natural resources, university of tehran, karaj, during the growing seasons of years 2005 and 2006. comb...

Effects of winter cover crop management on nematode densities associated with a subsequent corn (Zea mays) crop were examined in five sites in north Florida. Two sites had received winter cover crops of lupine (Lupinus angustifolius), and one site each had rye (Secale cereale), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum). In each site, five different management regime...

Multiple Brassica species commonly grown in Georgia were evaluated as a potential alternative to methyl bromide for management of root-knot nematode in vegetables. Brassica species produce general biocides called glucosinolates and were grown as cover crops and incorporated as green manures prior to transplanting of vegetable crop. Nematicidal activity of the Brassica species was based on net c...

Maize stover is beginning to be used as a cellulosic biofuel feedstock in the Midwestern United States; however, there are concerns that stover removal could result in increased soil erosion and loss of soil organic matter. Use of a winter cover crop following maize harvest has the potential to mitigate these impacts and may have additional benefits by providing continuous living cover in annua...