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Sorghum sudangrass as a summer cover and hay crop for organic fall cabbage production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Denise M. Finney ,
Nancy G. Creamer ,
Jonathan R. Schultheis ,
Michael G. Wagger  and
Cavell Brownie
Denise M. Finney*
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Box 7609, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Nancy G. Creamer
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Box 7609, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Jonathan R. Schultheis
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Box 7609, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Michael G. Wagger
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Box 7619, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Cavell Brownie
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, North Carolina State University, Box 8203, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: denisemfinney@gmail.com
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Abstract

No-tillage (NT) organic vegetable production presents several economic opportunities for growers in the southeastern United States while promoting natural resource conservation. This study was conducted to determine if removal of sorghum sudangrass (SS) cover crop biomass as hay, frequency at which the cover crop is mowed, and tillage affect weed suppression and head weight of transplanted organic cabbage. Sorghum sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench×Sorgum sudanense (Piper) Staph.] was planted in May 2004 at Reidsville and Goldsboro, NC, preceding the planting of organic ‘Bravo’ cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group) in August and September 2004, respectively. SS management systems included: low-frequency mowing with hay removed following the first mowing operation (LFM-H), low-frequency mowing with hay not removed (LFM), high-frequency mowing with hay not removed (HFM) and a no cover crop control. Two tillage treatments were applied within each management system: conventional tillage (CT) and NT. Under NT conditions, SS mulch generated by LFM offered broadleaf weed control in cabbage similar to that achieved under CT, regardless of whether cover crop biomass was removed as hay. Mowing with higher frequency reduced SS cover crop biomass by 18–33% and reduced weed suppression in NT cabbage. Mowing frequency did not influence the quantity of SS that re-grew in the cabbage crop. SS re-growth contributed to lower head weight in NT compared to CT cabbage in Goldsboro, and crop failure of NT cabbage in Reidsville. Cabbage head weight was highest when the crop was not preceded by SS in both CT and NT systems (1.6 as opposed to 1.3–1.4 kg head−1). Our findings suggest that the potential for growers to manage a cover crop also as a hay crop does exist; however, SS may not be a compatible cover crop species for organic fall cabbage production due to high amounts of re-growth.

Keywords

Sorghum bicolor×Sorghum sudanenseBrassica oleraceano-tillageconservation tillageorganic vegetable productioncover croppingweed management
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 225 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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