Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T05:21:35.413Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cover crops and living mulches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Nathan L. Hartwig  and
Hans Ulrich Ammon
Hans Ulrich Ammon
Affiliation:
Trottenstr. 34, CH-8180 Buelach, Switzerland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Cover crops and living mulches bring many benefits to crop production. Interest in winter annual cover crops such as winter rye and hairy vetch for ground cover and soil erosion control has been increasing in the last 30 yr in some areas. The integration of cover crops into a cropping system by relay cropping, overseeding, interseeding, and double cropping may serve to provide and conserve nitrogen for grain crops, reduce soil erosion, reduce weed pressure, and increase soil organic matter content (Hartwig and Hoffman 1975). Hairy vetch has increased availability of nitrogen to succeeding crops, increased soil organic matter, improved soil structure and water infiltration, decreased water runoff, reduced surface soil temperature and water evaporation, improved weed control, and increased soil productivity (Frye et al. 1988). More recent research with perennial living mulches, such as crownvetch (Hartwig 1983), flatpea, birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover (Ammon et al. 1995), has added a new dimension to the use of ground covers that eliminates the need to reseed each year. Cropping systems with the use of ground covers have been worked out for vineyards, orchards, and common agronomic crops, such as corn, small grains, and forages. Legume cover crops have the potential for fixing nitrogen, a portion of which will be available for high-nitrogen–requiring crops such as corn. In areas where excess nitrogen is already a problem, the use of ground covers may provide a sink to tie up some of this excess nitrogen and hold it until the next growing season, when a crop that can make use of it might be planted (Hooda et al. 1998). Even legumes tend to use soil nitrogen rather than fixing their own, if it is available. It is these possibilities that provide the incentive for looking at the effect of various kinds of cover crops on soil erosion, nitrogen budgets, weed control, and other pest management and environmental problems.

Keywords

Crownvetch, Coronilla varia L. ‘Penngift’birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus L.corn, Zea mays L.flatpea, Lathrus sylvestrus L.hairy vetch, Vicia villosa Rothwhite clover, Trifolium repens L.winter rye, Secale cereale L.Catch cropcover croperosion controlliving mulchnutrient managementvegetation management
Type
50th Anniversary–Invited Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 50 , Issue 6 , December 2002 , pp. 688 - 699
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

Allison, F. E. 1955. The enigma of soil nitrogen balance sheets. Adv. Agron. 7:213–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ammon, H. U. 1996. Concepts of ecologically improved cropping systems with genetically-modified herbicide-resistant crops. Pages 499–504 In Proceedings of the 2nd International Weed Control Congress. Slagelse, Denmark: Department of Weed Control and Pesticide Ecology Flak-kebjerg.Google Scholar
Ammon, H. U., Garibay, S., and Bohren, C. 1995. The use of dead or living mulch in maize and its suppression with herbicides. Pages 527–534 In Proceedings 9th European Weed Research Society Symposium; Budapest, Hungary. Wageningen, The Netherlands: European Weed Research Society Proceedings Symposia.Google Scholar
Ammon, H. U. and Scherrer, C. 1996. Streifenfrässaat von Mais in Leguminosen und Grasbestände und gezielte Regulation der Bodenbedeckung mit Glyphosat und Glufosinat. Z. Pflanzenkr. Pflanzenschutz Sonderh. 15:275–280.Google Scholar
Ashley, R. A., DeGregorio, R. E., and Lindgren, C. B. 1987. A management system for production of snap beans in live mulch. Hortscience 22:382.Google Scholar
Baumann, D. T. and Imhof, T. 1996. Untersaaten in Gemusekulturen. Pages 23–24 In Proceedings 14th Tagung uber Unkrautbekämfpung. Reckenholz, Schweiz.Google Scholar
Baumann, D. T., Kropff, J. J., and Bastiaans, L. 2000. Intercropping leeks to suppress weeds. Weed Res. 2000:359–374.Google Scholar
Bellinder, R. R., Rajalahti, R., and Colquhoun, J. B. 1996. Using cultivation and interseeded cover crops to control weeds in transplanted cabbage. Pages 343–348 In 10th International Symposium on Weed Biology. Paris, France: Association Nationale pour la Protection des Plants.Google Scholar
Beuret, E. 1984. Mechanismen der Herbizid-Reistenz. Mitt. Schweiz. Landw. 1–7.Google Scholar
Bigler, F., Waldburger, M., and Frei, G. 1995a. Vier Maisanbauverfahren: Krankheiten und Schädlinge. Agraforschung 2:380–382.Google Scholar
Bigler, F., Waldburger, M., and Frei, G. 1995b. Insekten u. Spinnen als Nützlinge. Agrarforschung 2:383–386.Google Scholar
Boller, E., Gut, D., and Remund, U. 1997. Biodiversity in three trophic levels of the agro-ecosystem vineyard in Northern Switzerland. Pages 299–318 In Dettner, K., Bauer, G., and Völkl, W., eds. Vertical Food Web Interactions. Evolutionary Patterns and Driving Forces. Ecological Studies. Volume 130. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bosch, J. 1987. Der Einfluss einiger dominanter Ackerunkräuter auf Nutz-und Schadarthropoden in einem Zuckerrübenfeld. Z. Pflanzenkr. Pflanzenschutz 94:398–408.Google Scholar
Breland, T. A. 1996. Green manuring with clover and ryegrass catch crops undersown in small grains: crop development and yields. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Soil and Plant Science (Section B) 46:30–40.Google Scholar
Bulson, H.A.J., Snaydon, R. W., and Stopes, C. E. 1997. Effects of plant density on intercropped wheat and field beans in an organic farming system. J. Agric. Sci. 128:59–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cardina, J. and Hartwig, N. L. 1981. Influence of nitrogen and corn population on no-tillage corn yield with and without crownvetch. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 35:27–31.Google Scholar
Chichester, F. W. and Smith, S. J. 1978. Disposition of N15-labeled fertilizer nitrate applied during corn culture in field lysimeters. J. Environ. Qual. 7:227–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clements, B. and Donaldson, G. 1997. Clover and cereals—low input bicropping. Farming Conserv. 12–14.Google Scholar
Corak, S. J., Frye, W. W., and Smith, M. S. 1991. Legume mulch and nitrogen fertilizer effects on soil water and corn production. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 55:1395–1400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Danso, S. K., Labandera, C., Pastorini, D., and Curbelo, S. 1991. Herbage yield and nitrogen fixation in a triple species mixed sward of white clover, lotus and fescue. Soil Biol. Biochem. 23:65–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DeGregorio, R. E. and Ashley, R. A. 1985. Screening living mulches and cover crops for weed suppression in no-till sweet corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 39:80–84.Google Scholar
DeGregorio, R. E. and Ashley, R. A. 1986. Screening living mulches/cover crops for no-till snap beans. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 40:87–91.Google Scholar
DeGregorio, R. E. and Ashley, R. A. 1987. Comparison of residual effects of hairy vetch and rye cover crops on no-till sweet corn. Prog. Rep. Clovers Spec. Purpose Legumes Res. 19:19–21.Google Scholar
Dubois, D., Häni, A., Ammon, H. U., and Keller, S. 1993. Einfluss der Unkrautbekämpfung auf Ertrag und Virusbefall von Zuckerrüben. Landwirtschaft Schweiz 6:133–138.Google Scholar
Ebelhar, S. A., Frye, W. W., and Blevins, R. L. 1984. Nitrogen from legume cover crops for no-tillage corn. Agron. J. 76:51–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eberlein, C. V., Sheaffer, C. C., and Oliveira, V. F. 1992. Corn growth and yield in an alfalfa living mulch system. J. Prod. Agric. 5:332–339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Echtenkamp, G. W. and Moomaw, R. S. 1989. No-till corn production in a living mulch system. Weed Technol. 3:261–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El Titi, A. 1986. Zum ökonomischen Nutzen von Ackerunkräutern im integrierten Pflanzenschutz, dargestellt am Zuckerrübenbau. Pages 209–216 In Proceedings of the European Weed Research Society Symposium: Economic Weed Control. Wageningen, The Netherlands: European Weed Research Society Proceedings Symposia.Google Scholar
Elliot, L. F., Papendick, R. I., and Bezedicek, D. F. 1987. Cropping practices using legumes with conservation tillage and soil benefits. Pages 81–89 In Power, J. F., ed. The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Proceedings of a National Conference, University of Georgia; April 27-29, 1987; Athens, GA. Ankeny, IA: Soil Conservation Society of America.Google Scholar
Else, M. J. and Ilnicki, R. D. 1989. Crops and mulch systems effect upon weeds in corn. Abstr. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. 29:68.Google Scholar
Enache, A. J. and Ilnicki, R. D. 1990. Weed control by subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) used as a living mulch. Weed Technol. 4:534–538.Google Scholar
Feil, B. 2001. Pflanzenproduktion in lebenden Mulchen—eine Uebersicht. Pflanzenbauwiss 5:15–23.Google Scholar
Fischer, A. J. 1988. Intra and interspecific interference between sweet corn (Zea mays L.) and a living mulch of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). . Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. 151 p.Google Scholar
Fox, R. H. and Piekielek, W. P. 1988. Fertilizer nitrogen equivalence of alfalfa, BFT and red clover for succeeding corn crops. J. Prod. Agric. 4:313–317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fox, R. H., Roth, G. W., Iversen, K. V., and Piekielek, W. P. 1989. Soil and tissue nitrate tests compared for predicting soil nitrogen availability to corn. Agron. J. 81:971–974.Google Scholar
Fribourg, H. A. and Johnson, I. J. 1955. Dry matter and N yield of legume tops and roots in the fall of the seeding year. Agron. J. 47:73–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frye, W. W. 1986. Economics of legume cover crops. Soil Sci. News Views Coop. Ext. Serv. Univ. Ky. Coll. Agric. Dep. Agron. 7:2.Google Scholar
Frye, W. W., Blevins, B. L., Smith, M. S., Corak, S. J., and Varco, J. J. 1988. Role of annual legume cover crops in efficient use of water and nitrogen. Pages 129–153 In Hargrove, W. L., ed. Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen. Madison, WI: ASA Special Publication No. 51.Google Scholar
Frye, W. W., Smith, W. G., and Williams, R. J. 1985. Economics of winter cover crops as a source of nitrogen for no-till corn. J. Soil Water Conserv. 40:246–249.Google Scholar
Garibay, S. V., Stamp, P., Ammon, H. U., and Feil, B. 1997. Yield and quality components of silage maize in killed and live cover crop sods. Eur. J. Agron. 6:179–190.Google Scholar
Griffin, G. F. and Laine, A. F. 1983. Nitrogen mineralization in soils previously amended with organic wastes. Agron. J. 75:124–129.Google Scholar
Gut, D. 2002. Obst, Wein, Hopfen. Pages 346–348 In Zwerger, P. and Ammon, H. U., eds. Unkraut—Oekologie und Bekämpfung. Stuttgart: Ulmer. In press.Google Scholar
Gut, D., Holzgang, O., and Gigon, A. 1996. Weed control methods to improve plant species richness in vineyards. Pages 987–992 In Proceedings of the 2nd International Weed Control Congress. Slagelse, Denmark: Department of Weed Control and Pesticide Ecology Flak-kebjerg.Google Scholar
Gut, D., Huber, Y., and Barben, E. 1997. Weed management in orchards: impacts of winter groundcover on apple tree performance and soil microbial biomass and activity. Proc. Eur. Weed Res. Soc. 10:97.Google Scholar
Hall, J. K. and Hartwig, N. L. 1990. Triazine herbicide fate in a no-tillage corn (Zea Mays L.)-crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.) “living mulch” system. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 30:281–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, J. K., Hartwig, N. L., and Hoffman, L. D. 1984. Cyanazine losses in runoff from no-tillage corn in “living mulch” and dead mulches vs. unmulched conventional tillage. J. Environ. Qual. 13:105–110.Google Scholar
Häni, A., Ammon, H. U., and Keller, S. 1990. Vom Nutzen der Unkräuter. Landwirtschaft Schweiz 3:217–221.Google Scholar
Hargrove, W. L. 1986. Winter legumes as a nitrogen source for no-till grain sorghum. Agron. J. 78:70–74.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. 1977. Nutsedge control in no-tillage corn with and without a crownvetch cover crop. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 31:20–23.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. 1983. Crownvetch—a perennial legume “living mulch” for no-tillage crop production. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 37 (Suppl.): 28–38.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. 1987. Cropping practices using crownvetch in conservation tillage. Pages 109–110 In Power, J. F., ed. The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Proceedings of a National Conference, University of Georgia; April 27-29, 1987; Athens, GA. Soil Conservation Society of America.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. 1988. Crownvetch and min- or no-tillage crop production for soil erosion control. Abstr. Weed Sci. Soc. Am. 28:98.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. 1989. Influence of crownvetch living mulch on dandelion invasion in corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 43:25–28.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N. L. and Hoffman, L. D. 1975. Suppression of perennial legume and grass cover crops for no-tillage corn. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 29:82–88.Google Scholar
Haystead, A. and Marriott, C. 1978. Fixation and transfer of nitrogen in a white clover-grass sward under hill conditions. Ann. Appl. Biol. 88:453–457.Google Scholar
Hofstetter, B. 1988. Cover Crop Guide. The New Farm. 10:17–30. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.Google Scholar
Holderbaum, J. F., Decker, A. M., Meisinger, J. J., Mulford, F. R., and Vough, L. R. 1990. Fall seeded legume cover crops for no-tillage corn in the humid East. Agron. J. 82:117–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hooda, P. S., Moynagh, N., Svoboda, I. F., and Anderson, H. A. 1998. A comparitive study of nitrate leaching form intensively managed monoculture grass and grass-clover pastures. J. Agric. Sci. 131:267–275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoyt, G. D. 1987. Legumes as a green manure in conservation tillage. Pages 96–98 In Power, J. F., ed. The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Proceedings of a National Conference, University of Georgia; April 27-29, 1987; Athens, GA. Ankeny, IA: Soil Conservation Society of America.Google Scholar
Jäggi, E., Oberholzer, H. R., and Waldburger, M. 1995. Vier Maisanbauverfahren: Auswirkungen auf das Bodenleben. Agrarforschung 2:361–364.Google Scholar
Kleinhenz, V., Schnitzler, W. H., and Midmore, D. J. 1997. Effects of legume live-mulch on crop performance, soil available nitrogen and crop N status in intensive tropical vegetable production. Biol. Agric. Hortic. 14:261–278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kroontje, W. and Kehr, W. R. 1956. Legume top and root yields in the year of seeding and subsequent barley yields. Agron J. 48:127–131.Google Scholar
Kundu, A. L. 1994. Studies on the inter and mixed cropping of cereals. Adv. Plant Sci. 2:223–227.Google Scholar
Langdale, G. W. 1983. Legumes in Cropping Systems-Water Conservation and Use in the Southeast. Workshop Planning Conference on Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems. Abstract No. 76. Lincoln, NE: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.Google Scholar
Langdale, G. W. and Leonard, R. A. 1983. Nutrient and sediment losses associated with conventional and reduced tillage agricultural practices. Pages 457–467 In Lawrence, R. R. et al., eds. Nutrient Cycling in Agricultural Ecosystems. University of Georgia College of Agriculture Special Publication No. 23. Athens, GA.Google Scholar
LaRue, T. A. and Patterson, T. G. 1981. How much nitrogen do legumes fix? Adv. Agron. 34:15–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liebman, M. 1986. Ecological suppression of weeds in intercropping systems: experiments with barley, pea and mustard. . University of California, Berkeley, CA. 184 p.Google Scholar
Madsen, K. H. and Jensen, J. E. 1995. Weed control in glyphosate-tolerant sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.). Weed Res. 35:105–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magdoff, F. R., Ross, D., and Amadon, J. 1984. A soil test for nitrogen availability to corn. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:1301–1304.Google Scholar
Maina, J. M., Drennan, D.S.H., and Chwya, J. A. 1996. Effects of intercropping on weeds and weed management. Pages 749–761 In Proceedings of the 2nd International Weed Control Congress. Slagelse, Denmark: Department of Weed Control and Pesticide Ecology Flak-kebjerg.Google Scholar
Mayer, J. B. and Hartwig, N. L. 1986. Corn yields in crownvetch relative to dead mulches. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 40:34–35.Google Scholar
Mitchell, W. H. and Teel, M. R. 1977. Winter annual cover crops for no-tillage corn production. Agron. J. 69:569–573.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, M. F., Jacobson, H.G.M., and LeCompte, S. B. Jr. 1942. Drainage water losses from a sandy soil as affected by cropping and cover crops. Conn. Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 466:731–759.Google Scholar
Nelson, M. 1944. Effect of the Use of Winter Legumes on Yields of Cotton, Corn and Rice. Fayettville, AR: Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Bull. 451. 32 p.Google Scholar
Odell, R. T., Melsted, S. W., and Walker, W. M. 1984. Changes in organic carbon and nitrogen of Morrow Plot soils under different treatments, 1904–1973. Soil Sci. 137:160–171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Paine, L. J. and Harrison, H. 1993. The historical roots of living mulch and related practices. Horttechnology 3:137–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pimentel, D., Harvey, C., Resosudarmo, P., et al. 1995. Environmental and economic costs of soil erosion and conservation benefits. Science 267:1117–1122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rajalahti, R. M. and Bellinder, R. R. 1996. Potential of interseeded legume and cereal cover crops to control weeds in potatoes. Pages 349–354 In 10th International Symposium on Weed Biology. Paris, France: Association Nationale pour la Protection des Plantes.Google Scholar
Remund, U., Gut, D., and Boller, E. F. 1992. Beziehungen zwischen Begleitflora und Arthropodenfauna in Ostschweizer Rebbergen Enfluss der botanischen Vielfalt auf oekologische Gleichgewichte. Schweiz. Z. Obst- Weinbau 128:528–540.Google Scholar
Renard, K. G., Foster, G. R., Weesies, G. A., McCool, D. K., and Yoder, D. C., coordinators. 1997. Predicting Soil Erosion by Water: A Guide to Conservation Planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Agriculture Handbook Number 703. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 12 p.Google Scholar
Ruby, T. P. and Griffin, G. F. 1985. Nitrogen availability to corn in soils previously amended with organic wastes. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 16:569–581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rüttimann, M. 2001. Boden-, Herbizid-, und Nährstoffverluste durch Abschwemmung bei konservierender Bodenbearbeitung und Mulschsaat von Silomais. Physiogeographika, Basel 30:1–238.Google Scholar
Schäufele, W. R. and Harms, H. 1998. Modellversuche zum Einsatz des nicht selektiven Herbizids BASTA in Zuckerrüben. Z. Pflanzenkr. Pflanzenschutz Sonderh. 16:435–442.Google Scholar
Stalder, L., Potter, C. A., and Barben, E. 1977. Neue Erfahrungen mit integrierten Massnahmen zurBekämpfung der Acker- und Zaunwinde (Convolvulus arvensis, C. sepium) im Weinbau. Pages 221–228 In Proceedings of the European Weed Research Society Symposium. Wageningen, The Netherlands: European Weed Research Society Proceedings Symposia.Google Scholar
Stanford, G. 1973. Rationale for optimum nitrogen fertilization in corn production. J. Environ. Qual. 2:159–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teasdale, J. R. 1988. Weed suppression by hairy vetch residue. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 42:73.Google Scholar
Teasdale, J. R. 1993. Reduced-herbicide weed management systems for no-tillage corn (Zea mays) in a hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop. Weed Technol. 7:879–883.Google Scholar
Theunissen, J. 1994. Intercropping in field vegetable crops. Pest management by agrosystem diversification: an overview. Pestic. Sci. 42:65–68.Google Scholar
Vrabel, T. E., Minotti, P. L., and Sweet, R. D. 1982. Suppression of legume sods in sweet corn living mulch systems. Proc. Northeast. Weed Sci. Soc. 36:108–109.Google Scholar
Wellmann, A. and Märländer, B. 1996. Einfluss zeitlich differenzierter Verunkrautung auf die Konkurrenz zwischen Zuckerrübe und Weissem Gänsefuss (Chenopodium album L.)—erste Ergebnisse. Zuckerindustrie 8:595–600.Google Scholar
Whitney, S. J. and Pierce, L. C. 1983. Interplant competition of bush winter squash and green pepper under strip tillage cultural systems. Page 4 In Proceedings of the American Society of Horticultural Science (Northeast Section). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire.Google Scholar
Willey, R. W. 1979. Intercropping: its importance and research needs, competition and field advantages. Field Crops Abstr. 32:1–10.Google Scholar
William, R. D. 1986. Living mulches in Oregon: an assessment since the 1982 workshop. Pacific Northwest Living Mulch News 4:3–4.Google Scholar