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Cover Crop Management Affects Weeds and Yield in Organically Managed Sweetpotato Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Danielle D. Treadwell ,
Nancy G. Creamer ,
Jonathan R. Schultheis  and
Greg D. Hoyt
Danielle D. Treadwell*
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, Campus Box 7609, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27529-7609
Nancy G. Creamer
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, Campus Box 7609, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27529-7609
Jonathan R. Schultheis
Affiliation:
Department of Horticultural Science, Campus Box 7609, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27529-7609
Greg D. Hoyt
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, 455 Research Dr., Fletcher, NC 28732
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: ddtreadw@ufl.edu
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Abstract

A 3-yr field experiment was initiated in 2001 to evaluate weed suppression and sweetpotato productivity in three organic sweetpotato production systems. Organic systems were (1) compost and no cover crop with tillage (Org-NC), (2) compost and a cover crop mixture of hairy vetch and rye incorporated before transplanting (Org-CI), and (3) compost and the same cover crop mixture with reduced tillage (Org-RT). A conventional system with tillage and chemical controls (Conv) was included for comparison. Suppression of monocot and dicot weed density and biomass was similar between Org-NC and Org-CI each year, and were frequently similar to Conv. Org-RT was as effective as Org-NC in controlling dicot weed density and biomass each year, but did not suppress monocot weeds. At sweetpotato harvest, an increase in cover crop surface residue biomass in Org-RT was associated with a decrease in cumulative total weed density (R 2 = 0.43, P = 0.0001); however, the amount of that residue was insufficient to suppress late-emerging monocot weeds. Total sweetpotato yield in Org-RT was at least 45% lower than other systems in 2002 and was most likely due to an increase in monocot weed density and biomass concurrent with a decrease in sweetpotato vine biomass. Total sweetpotato yield was similar among all systems in 2001 and 2004; the exception was lowest yields obtained in the Org-RT system in 2002. Organically managed sweetpotato with or without an incorporated cover crop produced sweetpotato yields equal to conventionally managed systems despite difficulties controlling weeds that emerged later in the season.

Keywords

EPTCnapropamidehairy vetch, Vicia villosa Rothrye, Secale cereale L. ‘Wrens Abruzzi’sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. ‘Beauregard’VegetableproductiontillagemulchinterferenceCyperus esculentusSida spinosaSida rhombifoliaMollugo verticullata
Type
Research
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2007 , pp. 1039 - 1048
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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