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Alternative methods for terminating green manures in organic grain systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2021

Margaret Pickoff Open the ORCID record for Margaret Pickoff [Opens in a new window] ,
Ellen B. Mallory Open the ORCID record for Ellen B. Mallory [Opens in a new window]  and
Thomas Molloy
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Abstract

Legume green manures (GM) are a vital source of nitrogen (N) for many organic grain systems. A common practice among organic growers is to undersow clover into a small grain, harvest the grain crop and terminate the clover stand in late fall by moldboard plowing in preparation for a cash crop the following spring. While fall plowing offers excellent clover kill, growers increasingly seek an alternative termination method that reduces tillage intensity and bare winter soil. This study, performed at two sites in Maine, evaluates three clover termination methods for kill efficacy, winter soil cover, spring soil conditions and N uptake and grain yield and protein of a subsequent test crop of hard red spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., var. Glenn). Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) was intercropped with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and terminated in late fall by moldboard plowing (PL), skim plowing (SK) or undercutting (UC). A control treatment received no clover and was fall plowed. An additional treatment, winterkilled field peas (WK), was evaluated at one site. SK, UC and WK increased soil cover relative to PL, though UC resulted in low clover kill efficacy in a wet spring and is in need of improved design. Grain yield was higher following red clover compared to the no-clover control at one site, but was unaffected by termination method. At one site, grain crude protein was higher following PL than the other treatments, indicating the possibility for more favorable timing of N availability associated with PL.

Keywords

Cover crop terminationlegume green manurenitrogenorganic farmingsmall grains
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 178 - 186
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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