Articles
EFFECT OF WINTER COVER CROPS AND NO-TILL ON THE YIELD OF ORGANICALLY-GROWN BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.)
Article number
767_25
Pages
243 – 248
Language
English
Abstract
There is limited information on the utilization of no-till methods in organic vegetable production.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cover crop and no-till on weed control and yield of bell pepper.
The experimental design was a split plot with four replications, where tillage (conventional tillage or no-till) was the main plot and cover crop (rye, rye/crimson clover, or barley/crimson clover) the subplot.
The seasonal mean soil moisture content was higher under no-till compared to conventional tillage, and was unaffected by the type of cover crop.
There were no differences in the amount of biomass produced by the cover crops among cover crop or tillage treatments.
Weed density was high in most of the plots, particularly in the no-till plots.
Weed control over the season determined visually was 84% and 27% for the conventional tillage and no-till, respectively.
Insect pests and diseases were not major factors affecting plant growth or fruit yield.
Marketable and total cumulative yields were higher under conventional tillage compared to no-till, while there were no yield differences among the various cover crops.
High weed pressures under no-till likely contributed to the reduced yields.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of cover crop and no-till on weed control and yield of bell pepper.
The experimental design was a split plot with four replications, where tillage (conventional tillage or no-till) was the main plot and cover crop (rye, rye/crimson clover, or barley/crimson clover) the subplot.
The seasonal mean soil moisture content was higher under no-till compared to conventional tillage, and was unaffected by the type of cover crop.
There were no differences in the amount of biomass produced by the cover crops among cover crop or tillage treatments.
Weed density was high in most of the plots, particularly in the no-till plots.
Weed control over the season determined visually was 84% and 27% for the conventional tillage and no-till, respectively.
Insect pests and diseases were not major factors affecting plant growth or fruit yield.
Marketable and total cumulative yields were higher under conventional tillage compared to no-till, while there were no yield differences among the various cover crops.
High weed pressures under no-till likely contributed to the reduced yields.
Authors
J.C. Díaz-Pérez, J. Silvoy, S.C. Phatak, J. Ruberson, R. Morse
Keywords
Conservation tillage, sustainable agriculture, weed control, organic agriculture, Secale cereale, Hordeum vulgare, Trifolium incarnatum
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