Articles
EVALUATION OF ANNUAL WARM-SEASON COVER CROPS FOR WEED MANAGEMENT IN ORGANIC CITRUS
Article number
873_25
Pages
235 – 242
Language
English
Abstract
The effectiveness of summer cover crops (CC) in suppressing weeds in a recently planted organic orange grove at a Certified Organic Research Site in Citra, Florida was evaluated between 2002 and 2005. In order to quantify the effectiveness of summer CC to suppress weeds, a cover crop/weed index (CC/WI) was also developed, which expresses the ratio of CC biomass production relative to that of weeds.
Average biomass accumulation (Mg ha-1) was 10.1, 8.0, 5.8, 3.5, 2.6 and 1.7 for sunnhemp, hairy indigo, pigeon pea, cowpea, alyce clover and velvet bean, respectively.
Corresponding N accumulation (kg N ha-1) was 173, 140, 120, 58, 44 and 52, while CC/WI values were 37.1, 10.1, 2.7, 27.0, 13.6 and 1.2. Sunnhemp, cowpea and alyce clover were more effective in suppressing weeds compared to tillage fallow.
Sunnhemp was superior in terms of accumulating biomass and N but due to its height (>2 m), its use in young groves may be less desirable compared with more compact CC (e.g., alyce clover or cowpea).
Average biomass accumulation (Mg ha-1) was 10.1, 8.0, 5.8, 3.5, 2.6 and 1.7 for sunnhemp, hairy indigo, pigeon pea, cowpea, alyce clover and velvet bean, respectively.
Corresponding N accumulation (kg N ha-1) was 173, 140, 120, 58, 44 and 52, while CC/WI values were 37.1, 10.1, 2.7, 27.0, 13.6 and 1.2. Sunnhemp, cowpea and alyce clover were more effective in suppressing weeds compared to tillage fallow.
Sunnhemp was superior in terms of accumulating biomass and N but due to its height (>2 m), its use in young groves may be less desirable compared with more compact CC (e.g., alyce clover or cowpea).
Publication
Authors
J. Linares, J.M.S. Scholberg, C. Chase, R. McSorley
Keywords
summer cover crops, weed suppression, cover crop weed index, sunnhemp, hairy indigo, cowpea, alyceclover
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