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Conservation tillage issues: Cover crop-based organic rotational no-till grain production in the mid-Atlantic region, USA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2012

Steven B. Mirsky ,
Matthew R. Ryan ,
William S. Curran ,
John R. Teasdale ,
Jude Maul ,
John T. Spargo ,
Jeff Moyer ,
Alison M. Grantham ,
Donald Weber  and
Thomas R. Way
...Show all authors
Steven B. Mirsky*
Affiliation:
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
Matthew R. Ryan
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
William S. Curran
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
John R. Teasdale
Affiliation:
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
Jude Maul
Affiliation:
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
John T. Spargo
Affiliation:
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
Jeff Moyer
Affiliation:
The Rodale Institute, Kutztown, PA 19530, USA.
Alison M. Grantham
Affiliation:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Donald Weber
Affiliation:
Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
Thomas R. Way
Affiliation:
National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Auburn, AL 36832, USA.
Gustavo G. Camargo
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: steven.mirsky@ars.usda.gov
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Abstract

Organic producers in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA are interested in reducing tillage, labor and time requirements for grain production. Cover crop-based, organic rotational no-till grain production is one approach to accomplish these goals. This approach is becoming more viable with advancements in a system for planting crops into cover crop residue flattened by a roller–crimper. However, inability to consistently control weeds, particularly perennial weeds, is a major constraint. Cover crop biomass can be increased by manipulating seeding rate, timing of planting and fertility to achieve levels (>8000 kg ha−1) necessary for suppressing summer annual weeds. However, while cover crops are multi-functional tools, when enhancing performance for a given function there are trade-off with other functions. While cover crop management is required for optimal system performance, integration into a crop rotation becomes a critical challenge to the overall success of the production system. Further, high levels of cover crop biomass can constrain crop establishment by reducing optimal seed placement, creating suitable habitat for seed- and seedling-feeding herbivores, and impeding placement of supplemental fertilizers. Multi-institutional and -disciplinary teams have been working in the mid-Atlantic region to address system constraints and management trade-off challenges. Here, we report on past and current research on cover crop-based organic rotational no-till grain production conducted in the mid-Atlantic region.

Keywords

cover cropsorganic no-tillhigh-residue cultivationsubsurface bandingrotational no-till
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 27 , Issue 1: Special Issue: Conservation Tillage Strategies in Organic Management Systems , March 2012 , pp. 31 - 40
Creative Commons
This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012. This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.

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