Evaluating cover crop mulches for no-till organic production of onions
2010
A:PS
Details
Title
Evaluating cover crop mulches for no-till organic production of onions
Publication Date
2010
Call Number
A:PS
Summary
Cover crops of foxtail millet 'German Strain R' [Setaria ita/ica (L.) Beauv.] and cowpea 'Iron & Clay' [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] were grown as monocrops (MIL, COW) and mixtures and compared with a bare ground control (BG) for weed suppression and nitrogen (N) contribution when followed by organically managed no-till bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) production. Experiments in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 were each conducted on first-year transitional land. Mixtures consisted of cowpea with high, middle, and low seeding rates of millet (MIX- 70, MIX-50, MIX-30). During onion production, each cover crop treatment had three N rate subplots (0,105, and 210 kg N/ha) ofsurface-applied soybean meal [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Cover crop treatments COW and BG had the greatest total marketable onion yield both years. Where supplemental baled millet was applied in 2006-2007, onion mortality was over 50% in MIL and MIX and was attributed to the thickness of the millet mulch. Nitrogen rates of 105 and 210 kg N/ha increased soil mineral N (NO3 - and NH4 +) on BG plots 2 weeks after surface application of soybean meal each year, but stopped having an effect on soil mineral N by February or March. Split applications of soybean meal could be an important im\-provement in N management to better meet increased demand for N uptake during bulb initiation and growth in the spring.
Journal Citation
v.45(1):61-70, HORTSCIENCE
Contact Information
harvest@worldveg.org
Record Appears in
Research > Published Articles