• Authors:
    • Lang, C.
    • Rios, E.
    • Moraes, A.
    • Carvalho, P.
    • Medrado, R.
    • Lopes, E.
  • Source: Scientia Agraria
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the decomposition of the residual dry mass and the initial release of nitrogen from different coverages winter for the subsequent cultivation of maize. The work was conducted in Major Vieira, SC, on a family property. The experimental design was a randomized block, with five treatments (alternative soil cover) and three replications. The treatments: (a) consortium of oat ( Avena strigosa)+ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum)+vetch ( Vicia spp.)+vesiculoso clover ( Trifolium vesiculosum), with grazing and nitrogen fertilization (100 kg of N); (b) Grassland of black oat+ryegrass+vetch+clover vesiculoso, with grazing and without nitrogen fertilization; (c) coverage (oat+ryegrass+vetch+vesiculoso clover), without grazing and without nitrogen fertilization; (d) forage turnip ( Raphanus sativus), without grazing and without nitrogen fertilization, and (e) fallow (control). The rate of decay was measured through pockets of decomposition (litter bags), collected in seven seasons during the corn crop. The turnip forage was the treatment that was more difficult to decompose according to their chemical characteristics. This limited the supply of nitrogen for the corn crop. Treatment coverage consortium made rapid initial release of N and thus was considered the most appropriate for use in succession with the corn crop. The grazing influenced the release of nitrogen, mainly by the lower amount of total dry mass produced. The grain yield of maize was not influenced by soil cover.
  • Authors:
    • Muchaonyerwa, P.
    • Chiduza, C.
    • Murungu, F. S.
    • Mnkeni, P. N. S.
  • Source: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Volume: 89
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Increasing land degradation has prompted interest in conservation agriculture which includes growing cover crops. Besides providing soil cover, decaying cover crops may release substantial amounts of nutrients. Decomposition, N and P release from winter cover crops [grazing vetch ( Vicia darsycarpa), forage peas ( Pisum sativum) and oats ( Avena sativa)] were assessed for suitability in a cropping system found in the smallholder irrigation sector of South Africa. Nitrogen and P contribution to maize growth by cover crop residues was also estimated. Decrease in mass of cover crop residues was highest in grazing vetch (7% remaining mass after 124 days) followed by forage peas (16%) and lastly oats (40%). Maximum net mineralized N and P were higher for grazing vetch (84.8 mg N/kg; 3.6 mg P/kg) than for forage peas (66.3 mg N/kg; 2.7 mg P/ha) and oats (13.7 mg N/kg; 2.8 mg P/kg). Grazing vetch and forage pea residues resulted in higher N contribution to maize stover than oat residues. Farmers may use grazing vetch for improvement of soil mineral N while oats may result in enhancement of soil organic matter and reduction land degradation because of their slow decomposition. Terminating legume cover crops a month before planting summer crops synchronizes nutrient release from winter-grown legume cover crops and uptake by summer crops.
  • Authors:
    • Muchaonyerwa, P.
    • Chiduza, C.
    • Murungu, F. S.
    • Mnkeni, P. N. S.
  • Source: Soil & Tillage Research
  • Volume: 112
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Low soil fertility and weeds reduce maize yields on most smallholder (SH) irrigation schemes in South Africa (SA). While cover cropping can increase maize productivity, benefits from different types of mulch are not well understood, leading to challenges in selecting the most appropriate cover crop species to grow. Field experiments investigating the effects of oat ( Avena sativa), grazing vetch ( Vicia dasycarpa), faba bean ( Vicia faba), Lupin ( Lupinus angustifolius) and forage pea ( Pisum sativum) mulch on maize grown at two fertilizer levels (0 and 60 kg N/ha) were undertaken in the 2007/08 and 2008/09 seasons. Plots where maize was grown without mulch were included as controls. Treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. Grazing vetch and forage pea mulch significantly ( P
  • Authors:
    • Konopinski, M.
    • Patkowska, E.
  • Source: ACTA SCIENTIARUM POLONORUM-HORTORUM CULTUS
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Salsify has a remarkable taste and nutritious values. It is a rich source of inulin - a glycoside which has a positive effect on human and animal organisms. The paper presents studies on the species composition of soil-borne fungi infecting the roots of Tragopogon porrifolius var. sativus cultivated with the use of oats, tansy phacelia and spring vetch as cover crops. In a field experiment the cover crops formed abundant green mass before winter and it constituted a natural mulch on the surface of the plough land. It was managed in two ways: (1) mixed with the soil as a result of spring ploughing, or (2) mixed with the soil as a result of pre-winter ploughing. The conventional cultivation of salsify, i.e. without cover crops, constituted the control. The studies established the number and health status of four-week-old salsify seedlings and roots with necrotic signs. A laboratory mycological analysis made it possible to determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of fungi infecting the underground parts of Tragopogon porrifolius var. sativus. The emergences and the proportion of infected salsify seedlings varied and depended on the species of the mulching plant. The smallest number of infected seedlings was obtained after the mulch with oats, slightly more after the application of spring vetch or tansy phacelia as cover crops, and the most in the control. Regardless of the species of the mulching plant, the following were frequently isolated from the diseased seedlings and roots of salsify: Alternaria alternata, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium spp., Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum proved to be the most harmful towards the roots of salsify. The system of cultivation, i.e. performing spring or pre-winter ploughing, had no significant effect on the total population of fungi.
  • Authors:
    • Dias, T.
    • Correa, M.
    • Alves, P.
    • Pereira, R.
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The success in weed control by using straw depends on the management time, straw quality and quantity. The objective of this research was to evaluate the suppressor effect of black-oats and millet straw cover on the incidence of weeds and on the productivity of the soybean crop. The experiment was carried out during the years 2006 and 2007, in an area from the Farm of Education, Research and Produtcion of FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal Campus, in a completely randomized block design, with four replications. Treatments consisted of different types of black oats and pearl millet straw management before soybean seeding (without management, obtained by machine cut, desiccated using glyphosate desiccation and with paraquat) and different periods of straw deposition (0, 15, 30 e 60 days before soybean seeding). The weed population and the characteristics of soybean growth and production were evaluated. The deposition of black oats and pearl millet straw provided reductions in weed density and dry mass, and this effect was more effective when the deposition occurred until 15 days prior to soybean seeding. The suppressor effect of black oats straw was more pronounced than that of pearl millet straw, regardless of the drying method, although the millet had a greater dry matter production. No significant differences were found between the drying methods and the straw effectiveness.
  • Authors:
    • Shabalina, E. V.
    • Korobitsyn, S. L.
    • Platunov, A. A.
  • Source: Kormoproizvodstvo
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Productivity and fodder value of perennial legume and legume-grass mixtures under cover of vetch-oat mixture were studied in 2009-2010 in Kirov Region, Russia. Cover mixture consisted of spring vetch cv. Orlovskaya 4 and oat cv. Ulov with sowing rate of 0.12 and 0.06 t/ha, respectively. Red clover cv. Kirovskii 159, birds-foot trefoil cv. Solnyshko and cooksfoot cv. Khlynovskaya were used as undercrop mixture in following combinations: (1) red clover, (2) red clover + birds-foot trefoil, (3) birds-foot trefoil, (4) red clover + cooksfoot, (5) red clover + birds-foot trefoil + cooksfoot. Data on dry mass yield and number of fodder units per kg of dry mass for cover mixture and unvercover crops, as well as crude protein and cellulose content for unvercover crops are summarized in 2 tables. Productivity of cover mixture and unvercover crops varied from 3.81 to 4.18 t/ha, and from 3.86 and to 4.80 t/ha respectively with no significant difference between variants. The highest crude protein content of 17.2% was achieved in variant (3), but again with no significant difference between variants. Authors concluded that further work will be needed to achieve the high and balanced yield of cover and unvercover crops.
  • Authors:
    • Robles, A. B.
    • Garcia, P. A.
    • Altieri, M. A.
    • Ramos, M. E.
  • Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Volume: 35
  • Issue: 7
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: We evaluate the forage yield and quality, species composition, and carrying capacity of oats and oat-vetch as fodder-cover crops, grown in almond orchards, under mineral or organic fertilizer and three harvesting regimes ("grazing," "hay," and "grain plus straw"). Also, we show preliminary results of almond yield. Differences in yield due to mineral and organic fertilization were only 9%. The carrying capacity was similar for all treatments. The almond yield was greater when the cover crop was removed early as "grazing." Therefore, oats and oat-vetch could be used as cover crops in almond orchards if removed early by livestock grazing.
  • Authors:
    • Zwirtes, A. L.
    • Baronio, C. A.
    • Rigon, J. P. G.
    • Capuani, S.
  • Source: Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the influences of different plants covering on the agronomic characteristics of beans. The experiment was conducted on Red Latossol alumino-ferric, using randomized block design with four repetitions, being the data submitted to the Tukey test and compared by orthogonal contrasts. Treatments consisted of covering plants, carrying its growth in single system, as well as some consortia, across species: Flaxseed ( Linum usitatissimum); Ryegrass ( Lollium multiflorum), Black and White Oats ( Avena stringosa and A. sativa), vetch ( Vicia sativa), wild radish ( Raphanus sativus) and Triticale ( Triticum secale). The agronomic attributes evaluated of bean were: the 1000 seeds per pod, length and number of pods per plant and plot, plant population and yield. Direct and different influence was verified on the components yield of beans, vegetables and the number of the larger relationship with productivity beans. Among the plants used predecessor, the Vetch and Turnip provided larger productive increment, differently of Ryegrass, as well as flaxseed, which resulted in lower yields beans.
  • Authors:
    • Dopieraa, U.
    • Rosada, J.
    • ukaszyk, J.
  • Source: Progress in Plant Protection
  • Volume: 51
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: Total concentration of copper was determined by means of AAS in soil and cereal samples collected from the region influenced by air and dust emission from Copper Smelter GOGOW. Studies covered the agricultural area of 6 600 hectares (former protective zone + external belt). The studies revealed that copper, either accumulated in the soils or coming from the current emission, did not cause the phytotoxic effect on cultivated cereals. The obtained results revealed the effectiveness of eco-friendly activities taken by the Smelter for the safety's sake of the neighboring agricultural environment.
  • Authors:
    • Pimentel, I.
    • Gabardo, J.
    • Brondani, G.
    • Dionisio, J.
    • Motta, A.
    • Roveda, L.
    • Cuquel, F.
  • Source: Revista Brasileira de Agrociencia
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2011
  • Summary: The reuse of industrial waste with low potential contaminant in agriculture is an important option for final disposal. To evaluate the agronomic potential of waste liquid from the production of enzymes (WLPE), set up an experiment in a Cambissoil cultivated under no tillage. There were two treatments (with and without the addition of 50 m 3 of WLPE). It was evaluated in soil pH CaCl 2, (H+Al), P, K, Ca, Mg and V% in 4 depths and in three samples of soil. The effects of three successive crops on the yield and nutrient content in the tissue: black bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris), a consortium of oat ( Avena strigosa)+forage turnip ( Raphanus sativus) and maize ( Zea mays L.). Increases in soil available P were observed, there were no changes in pH, (H+Al), K, Ca, Mg and V% using RLPE, and this provided no change in productivity in beans and corn, but a large increase in productivity and cycling of nutrients in plant cover (oat+turnip forage) were observed. There was no change in the concentration of nutrients in plant tissue of beans and oats+turnip indicating changes in nutritional status. The RLPE presented as an alternative for the supply of P, growth and cycling of nutrients in oats+turnip.