HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Brennan, E. B. Articles by Foster, P. PubMed Articles by Brennan, E. B. Articles by Foster, P. Agricola Articles by Brennan, E. B. Articles by Foster, P. Related Collections Weed Management Crop Rotation Systems Intercropping Systems Cover Crops Organic farming Crop Ecology

COVER CROPS

Seeding Rate and Planting Arrangement Effects on Growth and Weed Suppression of a Legume-Oat Cover Crop for Organic Vegetable Systems

^a USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
^b Dep. of Environmental Sci., P.O. Box 550, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, NS, Canada B2N 5E3
^c Univ. of California Cooperative Extension, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas, CA 93901
^d Phil Foster Ranches, P.O. Box 249, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

^* Corresponding author (Eric.Brennan{at}ars.usda.gov).

Winter cover crops can add soil organic matter, improve nutrient cycling, and suppress weeds in organic vegetable systems. A 2-yr study was conducted on organic farms in Salinas and Hollister, CA, to evaluate the effect of seeding rate (SR) and planting arrangement on cover crop density, ground cover, and cover crop and weed dry matter (DM) with a mixed cover crop. The mix contained legumes (35% Vicia faba L., bell bean; 15% Vicia dasycarpa Ten., woolypod vetch; 15% Vicia benghalensis L., purple vetch; and 25% Pisum sativum L., pea) and 10% oat (Avena sativa L.) by seed weight. Three SRs (112, 224, and 336 kg ha^–1) and two planting arrangements (one-way versus grid pattern) were evaluated. Planting arrangement had no effect on the variables measured. When weeds were abundant, weed DM declined linearly with increasing SR from approximately 300 kg ha^–1 at the low SR to <100 kg ha^–1 at the high SR. Increasing SR increased oat and legume DM early in the season, but did not affect final cover crop DM that ranged from 7 to 12 Mg ha^–1. Year affected final cover crop DM production at both sites. The legume DM portion of the total cover crop declined through the season but varied between sites and year, probably due to soil and climatic differences. Higher SRs may be cost effective because weed control is expensive and cover crop seed is a relatively small component of cover cropping costs in this region.

Abbreviations: DAP, days after planting • DM, dry matter • SR, seeding rate

All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Received for publication November 19, 2008.