Cover Crops

Cover crops are considered to be beneficial for multiple ecosystem services, and they have been widely promoted through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the EU and Farm Bill Conservation Title Programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), in the USA. However, it can be difficult to decide whether the beneficial effects of cover crops on some ecosystem services are likely to outweigh their harmful effects on other services, and thus to decide whether they should be promoted by agricultural policy in specific situations. We used meta-analysis to quantify the effects of cover crops on five ecosystem services (food production, climate regulation, soil and water regulation, and weed control) in arable farmland in California and the Mediterranean, based on 326 experiments reported in 57 publications. In plots with cover crops, there was 13% less water, 9% more organic matter and 41% more microbial biomass in the soil, 27% fewer weeds, and 15% higher carbon dioxide emissions (but also more carbon stored in soil organic matter), compared to control plots with bare soils or winter fallows. Cash crop yields were 16% higher in plots that had legumes as cover crops (compared to controls) but 7% lower in plots that had non-legumes as cover crops. Soil nitrogen content was 41% lower, and nitrate leaching was 53% lower, in plots that had non-legume cover crops (compared to controls) but not significantly different in plots that had legumes. We did not find enough data to quantify the effects of cover crops on biodiversity conservation, pollination, or pest regulation. These gaps in the evidence need to be closed if cover crops continue to be widely promoted. We suggest that this novel combination of multiple meta-analyses for multiple ecosystem services could be used to support multi-criteria decision making about agri-environmental policy.

Industrial Revolution resulted in serious environmental pollutions such as heavy metals and other dangerous waste pollution in the soil and water. Heavy metals pollution has become one of the most serious environmental problems. The effects of heavy metals on human health can cause serious diseases and even lead to death. Phytoremediation is one of the bioremediation techniques can be used as an alternative solution for heavy metal remediation process in heavy metal polluted areas. Phytoremediation technology based on the use of metal-accumulating plants. The selection of plant types for phytoremediation becomes an important consideration to make the remediation process more effective and efficient as well as to prevent the plants from being consumed. The use of non-edible and non-commercial fast growing with high biomass plants as remediating plants can be an alternative solution and cover crops that have characteristics that meet with this purpose. This short review tries to give some information about the potential use of cover crops for the heavy metal remediation process from the soils. Previous studies showed that several non-edible plants that can be used as cover crops are potential for phytoremediation process of heavy metals contaminated soils.

A cover crop is a plant that is grown (in large quantities) for preventing soil erotion of the lands such as the ones laid bare after mining. The cover crop currently used are commonly Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides, Pueraria javanica and Mucuna sp. these plants whose characteristics are climbing and twisting may affect the growth of other plants in their surroundings. Therefore it is necessary to find alternative cover crops which will not affect such other plants. The purpose of this research is to obtain information about the best ratio of soil and compost medium in multiplying D. heterophyllum through a graft method and also information about the growth of D. heterophyllum in the land that was once a silicate mine. The 1:2 ratio of soil and compost is clearly the best media as it has produced growth in length of main stem which is 15.4 cm under observation for 4 weeks. The Duncan analysis indicates that the proportion of such factors as cultivating hole, loosening of the soil and the use of compost has caused the most significant effect on the growth of the average length of main stem of D. heterophyllum cultivated in the land that was once a silicate mine.
Keyword: compost, cultivating hole, D. heterophyllum, graft

Introducing livestock into traditional croplands can improve nutrient cycling, soil health and provide economic benefits. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impacts of integrated crop livestock systems on soils properties. The study treatments included grazing and nongrazing beef cattle under corn-soybean rye
and cover crops rotation. The diverse cover crop mixture was used in this study which can provide increased biomass on the surface that can alleviate the compaction created by cattle. The cover crops were grazed in this study. The soil samples were collected from 05, 510, 1015 and 1530 cm depth before the grazing and similar samples were collected after the grazing. Water infiltration was also conducted in these treatments. In addition, intact core samples were taken from two depths 05 and 510 cm depths for measuring bulk density. The data from this study showed that short-term grazing did not impact the soils, however, a detailed analysis of the soil parameters yet to be analyzed. The future work will be conducted that will assess the grazing impacts on the following corn yield.

Background Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient in many agroecosystems and costly fertilizer inputs can cause negative environmental impacts. Cover crops constitute a promising management option for sustainable intensification of agriculture. However, their interactions with the soil microbial community, which is a key driver of P cycling, and their effects on the following crop, have not yet been systematically assessed. Scope We conducted a meta-analysis of published field studies on cover crops and P cycling, focusing on plant-microbe interactions. Conclusions We describe several distinct, simultaneous mechanisms of P benefits for the main crop. Decomposition dynamics, governed by P concentration, are critical for the transfer of P from cover crop residues to the main crop. Cover crops may enhance the soil microbial community by providing a legacy of increased mycorrhizal abundance, microbial biomass P, and phosphatase activity. Cover crops are generally most effective in systems low in available P, and may access 'unavailable' P pools. However, their effects on P availability are difficult to detect by standard soil P tests, except for increases after the use of Lupinus sp. Agricultural management (i.e. cover crop species selection, tillage, fertilization) can improve cover crop effects. In summary, cover cropping has the potential to tighten nutrient cycling in agricultural systems under different conditions, increasing crop P nutrition and yield.

This report describes outcome of the RADARSAT-2 Announcement of opportunity (A.O.) project for exploiting potentials of SAR polarimetry for target
parameter retrieval. Experiment was conducted for target parameter retrieval over farmer’s fields using RADARSAT-2 fully polarimetric SAR
data acquired over 9 months. A significant outcome of the project is that it provides a comparative evaluation of parameter retrieval using fully polarimetry, hybrid polarimetry (that is now available from RISAT-1 SAR) and QuadPol-SAR backscatter alone (i.e. without polarimetric information).

Mulch can be used for land conservation and weeds control on agricultural lands. Beside plastic and straw that are often used as mulch, cover crops or biomulch are also widely used because of its adventage in crop cultivation, especially in upland agriculture. The objectives of this research were to study growth and development of A. pintoi, to study the effectiveness of A. pintoi for land conservation and weeds control and to study the effect of A. pintoi as biomulch on maize growth and production.
Two experiments were conducted at Cikabayan Farm, Dramaga, Bogor from August 2013 until May 2014. The first experiment was study of growth and development of A. pintoi and the second one was study of effectiveness of A. pintoi for land conservation and weeds control on maize cultivation. On first experiment, observation was done every week up to 12 weeks, each observation used ten plants. Stolons of A. pintoi with 4 internodes were used and planted 1 stolon for each
0.25 m2. The second experiment used nested-randomized block design with the first factor was slopes of land consisted of 2 levels (flat and sloped land) and the second factor was the types of mulch consisted of 5 levels (without mulch without weeding, without mulch with weeding, plastic mulch, straw mulch and
A. pintoi biomulch). Types of mulch nested on slope factor. Each experimental unit was replicated three times.
The results of fisrt experiment showed that root initiation of A. pintoi occured at 3 weeks after planting (wap) and produced 42.4 roots with average of root lenght was 17.10 cm on 12 wap. A. pintoi had slow growth and development rate with average of nett assimilation rate was 0.0023 g cm-2 day-1 and relative growth rate was 0.052 g day-1. With this growth rate, A. pintoi covered 58% of land and produced biomass 10.08 g plant-1 at 12 wap. A. pintoi produced flowers at 4 wap and pods at 7 wap. A. pintoi could produce root nodules through mutualism symbiosis with local Rhizobium.
The second experiment showed that A. pintoi reduced erosion more than 70% compared to without mulch with weeding treatment. A. pintoi could increas soil phosphor (P) but could not increase other soil macronutrients. Use of A. pintoi could also suppress weeds more than 58% compared to without mulch without weeding treatment. In addition, A. pintoi effectively suppressed sedges and broadleaves weeds but did not suppress grasses. The results also showed that
A. pintoi biomulch on first season maize cultivation supressed growth and yield of maize compared to without mulch with weeding treatment (control).

Forage and grazing (FG) systems can store a substantial amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) under appropriate land use management and reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Increasing SOC levels along with many interlinked ecosystem services are essential for increased productivity and sustainability of FG lands (FGLs). Although adoption of improved management practices (MPs) that support SOC sequestration (SOCq) is necessary, clear understandings of challenges and opportunities which are sometimes unique to individual FGLs, are also important for implementation of MPs. The objective of this forum paper is to explore the latest scientific knowledge on opportunities to address major challenges for increasing SOCq in FGLs. In intensively managed FGLs where the goal is often to maximize yields, lands are heavily fertilized and thus, usually drive towards SOC loss. Diversifications of both forage and grazing species along with strategic grazing plans have been proven as effective MPs for increasing SOCq. However, challenge of maintaining productivity levels still remains. Implementing improved grazing for nutrient cycling and integrating forage diversification for increased biodiversity are found to improve soil health attributes, which are critical for SOCq. However, to achieve this, we also need to consider site- and soil- specific factors. Extreme climatic events which often lead to decline in soil fertility status, SOCq and overall productivity of FGL systems. To address these challenges, uses of models to simulate the FGL systems and have definite choices of suitable MPs are helpful. However, we must be able to have access of wide range of datasets to develop system-level adaption-strategies which are effective to mitigate these adverse effects. Ultimately, participatory researches with novel views and improved perceptions based on the value of SOCq and long-term benefits of implementation of best MPs, developing education and outreach materials to enrich the producers’ knowledge gaps are helpful for climate resilient FGL systems.

Agriculture in the Mediterranean basin is currently contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and in the future is expected to be strongly affected by climate change. Increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) via soil organic matter (SOM) improvement is widely regarded as a way to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. Using as a case study the Mediterranean coastal area in Spain, which is regarded as one of the most intensively managed areas in Europe for orchards and horticultural cropping, we analyzed the potential for climate change mitigation of introducing different practices that are expected to increase SOC. We selected both as a single measure and in combination, cover cropping and application to the soil of the available underutilized exogenous organic matter (EOM), treated (e.g. composted or digested) or non-treated. These practices were compared against a baseline scenario that intended to reflect the current practices in the area (e.g. all livestock manure produced in the area is applied to the agricultural soil). We carried out a modelling exercise at the regional scale using the agricultural activity data and current climatic conditions as inputs. Modelling runs were performed coupling a widely used dynamic model of SOC turnover (RothC) with a model to simulate the GHG emissions from EOM processing or storage prior to soil application (SIMS WASTE). Results indicate that the most promising practice, considered as a single measure and with respect to the baseline, was introducing cover crops in woody cropping systems. This practice resulted in an increase of 0.44 Mg C ha À1 yr À1 during the first 20 years (range 0.41–0.52 Mg C ha À1 yr À1) and led to a total SOC accumulation of about 30 Tg C after 100 years. Amendment of all agricultural land with available underutilized EOM resulted in an increase of up to 0.09 Mg C ha À1 yr À1 (range 0.07–0.16 Mg C ha À1 yr À1) as a single measure (urban waste) and 0.13 Mg C ha À1 yr À1 (range 0.11–0.21 Mg C ha À1 yr À1) as a combined measure (urban waste and composted agroindustry by-products), leading to a total SOC accumulation of about 7 Tg C (urban waste) and 10 Tg C (urban waste and composted agroindustry by-products) after 100 years. Manure anaerobic digestion or composting as a single measure did not result in significant SOC changes but, if GHG emissions and savings from manure storage and processing management stages are considered, they could help to reduce about 4.3 (anaerobic digestion) or 1.1 Tg CO 2 eq yr À1 (composting) in the study area, which represents a significant amount compared with total agricultural emissions in Spain.

The effect of an irrigated buckwheat cover crop on populations of beneficial insects and grape pests, vine growth, grape yield, and berry quality was investigated over 1 year in a commercial organic vineyard in southern California, USA. Buckwheat was grown in the spring and summer with additional irrigation that supplemented prevailing vine watering regimens. Treatments replicated four, three and six times respectively were: (1) buckwheat cover crop with supplemental irrigation between vine rows; (2) supplemental irrigation with no buckwheat cover crop; and (3) control plots with no buckwheat cover crop or supplemental irrigation. Flowering buckwheat was extremely attractive to beneficial insects at the beginning of the trial, resulting in 27 times more insects captured from shake sampling, compared with grape foliage in control plots. Results from sticky trap and visual count data indicated that buckwheat may enhance the abundance of generalist predators at certain times. However, densities of pestiferous leafhoppers on grape leaves in August was significantly higher (129–240% greater) in irrigated buckwheat and irrigated plots lacking buckwheat when compared with control plots. This increase in leafhopper density may be attributed to these pests preferring well-irrigated, vigorously growing vines. Mean cane weight was 222% and 170% greater for vines in irrigated buckwheat and irrigated plots lacking buckwheat, respectively, compared with controls indicating that vine vigor increased with supplemental irrigation. An irrigated buckwheat cover crop increased berry size, on average, by 0.67 mm for berries harvested on the side of the row that contained buckwheat, and reduced sugar content of berries by 3.2` Brix, compared with non-irrigated controls. Additionally, the buckwheat cover crop was associated with reduced berry quality because of insect feeding damage. Under drought conditions and water shortages, supplemental irrigation to support cover crops may result in water use penalties. Irrigated cover cropping during summer months may not be a viable pest management option for grape growers in southern California.

Intensive agricultural practices implemented to secure increased crop yields have potentially negative environmental effects due to the generation of sediment and nutrients from agricultural fields. The monsoon climate and current agricultural practices on mountainous landscapes of the Haean catchment in South Korea have significantly affected water quality by transporting sediment and nutrients to downstream water bodies. The aim of this study is to suggest strategies for a permanent reduction of sediment and nitrate from this catchment through an efficient application of best management practices (BMPs). We applied three BMPs; split fertilizer application (SF), winter cover crop cultivation (CC), and a combination of the two (SFCC) to major dryland crops (cabbage, potato, radish and soybean) in order to investigate their effectiveness at the catchment scale through the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. We found that the SF scenario reduced nitrate pollution while sediment and crop yield did not change relative to the baseline (BL) scenario. The application of the CC scenario reduces both sediment and nitrate load while crop yields increased. The combination of split fertilization and cover cropping (SFCC) showed the highest positive effect on reducing sediment and nitrate and increasing crop yields compared to a single application. We estimated the variability in the effectiveness of BMPs for major crop types and could demonstrate that specific sites and crop types, such as soybean, were less influential in reducing sediment and nitrate loads. Those sites and crops could be considered for additional BMP measures to mitigate water deterioration by target pollutants. Recommendations for BMP applications should also consider minor crops and other land use types in order to reduce overall water pollution and efficiently improve crop yields in this catchment.

THIS IS JUST THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON!
Phosphorus (P) constitutes an essential but non-renewable resource, limiting plant growth in many environments. Organic P constitutes a major pool in the soil, but little is known about its forms and dynamics. In order to reduce unnecessary inputs and associated environmental pollution, alternative management strategies have to be developed 3,4, as cover crops and reduced tillage, a promising bundle of techniques with additional benefits for the agroecosystem 5. The present work aims to study the influence of these techniques on the soil microbial community, the associated P dynamics and the subsequent effects on the P nutrition status of the crops.
One of the keystones is the assessment of inositol, a P storage compound accounting for the majority of soil organic P, which is characterized by Turner et al. 3 as the greatest gap in our understanding of the global P cycle. The development of a method for the quantification of the activity of phytase, the unique enzymes capable of the degradation of inositol would be a major step forward.
The samples will proceed from the project “Konservierender Ackerbau” (HfWU), along with laboratory, pot and field experiments of other sites. The soil microbial community abundance, diversity and activity under different cover crop management options will be assessed, with an emphasis on the components involved in the P cycle.
The results of this thesis will support our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the P cycle, supporting farmers to manage the limited P resources more efficiently using advanced sustainable farming techniques.

Rollers crimpers have been used in conservation agriculture to terminate cover crops; however, excessive vibration generated by the original straight-bar roller design has delayed adoption of this technology in the United States. To avoid excessive vibration, producers generally reduce operating speeds that increase the time needed to perform the field operation. The objectives of this research were to identify roller crimper designs that terminated rye cover crops consistently, resulted in soil moisture conservation after use, and minimized vibrations when operated in the field. Six different roller types were developed and tested at 3.2 and 6.4 km h−1in Alabama field experiments during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. All roller types were used alone and one also in combination with glyphosate. Rye mortalities were evaluated 1, 2 and 3 weeks after rolling and compared with the check (non-rolled standing rye). Soil volumetric moisture content (VMC) was measured at the day o...

The potential of upland for agriculture in Indonesia is very high which is about 76.2 million hectares. Upland consists of flat land (< 3%) and sloping land (slope > 3%). Most of the upland is sloping land i.e. range 77% while only 23% of the land is flat. The total upland area on the slopes of Java Island and Sumatra Island is 10.8 million and 33.7 million hectares respectively. The potential danger of erosion and land degradation is high on the area since the average rainfall is more than 2000 mm year-1. For sustainable farming, great efforts on land conservations need to be reduced and prevented the danger of erosion and land degradation. One of the technologies that can be used as a sloping upland conservation is the use of legume cover crop (LCC). Arachis pintoi is legume plant that propagated by stem, creeping growth, does not twist the main plant, and able to cover the ground or soil surface perfectly. Basic research on the bio-ecology and agronomic characters, particularly related to its use as a biomulch. Include analysis of growth and development, the time needed to covering soil surface, their effectiveness in suppressing erosion, suppress weeds and improve the soil fertility as well as the nature of their interaction towards plant cultivation has not much reported. A series of studies have been carried out to study the characteristics of the growth and development of plants of A.pintoi, effectiveness in suppressing the rate of soil erosion, weed growth emphasis, improvement of physical and chemical properties of soil and its application as biomulch on the minimum tillage system. The results showed that A.pintoi has slow growth at the beginning, but cover the soil surface perfectly at 10 weeks after planting (WAP) so effectively suppress erosion, reduce evaporation from the soil, maintaining the availability of groundwater, soil organic matter, provides increased availability of nutrient N and P as well as suppressing the growth of weeds. The combination of minimum tillage and biomulch A. pintoi can be used as a method to be applied to different types of cultivation in tropical upland.

Aims An essential task of agricultural systems is to improve internal phosphorus (P) recycling. Cover crops and tillage reduction can increase sustainability, but it is not known whether stimulation of the soil microbial community can increase the availability of soil organic P pools. Methods In a field experiment in southwest Germany, the effects of a winter cover crop mixture (vs. bare fallow) and no-till (vs. non-inversion tillage) on microbial P-cycling were assessed with soybean as the main crop. Microbial biomass, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), P cycling enzymes, and carbon-substrate use capacity were linked for the first time with the lability of organic P pools measured by enzyme addition assays (using phosphodiesterase, non-phytase-phosphomonoesterase and fungal phytase). Results Microbial phosphorus, phosphatase, and fatty acids increased under cover crops, indicating an enhanced potential for organic P cycling. Enzyme-stable organic P shifted towards enzyme-labile orga...

El objetivo del trabajo, en lo relativo al efecto sobre el suelo, es evaluar los efectos del cultivos de servicio asociado al maíz sobre la calidad del suelo y el rendimiento del cultivo dentro de un planteo hortícola intensivo.
En el contexto de estudio de distintas estrategias de manejo hacia una transición agroecológica en la producción hortícola, se plantea la discusión sobre el uso de los cultivos de servicio en planteos intensivos y sus posibles aportes al sostenimiento de la calidad del suelo. Particularmente en la comarca andina del paralelo 42, algunos productores abordan el uso de cultivos acompañantes como una alternativa que aporte a la reposición de carbono y nitrógeno al suelo. En el presente trabajo se muestran datos preliminares de un estudio de caso sobre la asociación de un cultivo de maíz dulce para choclo con vicia (Vicia villosa) en un planteo hortícola intensivo sobre suelos Andisoles ubicado en la zona periurbana de El Bolsón (Río Negro) al noroeste de la Patagonia argentina. Luego de un cultivo de servicio invernal en dos lotes diferentes un productor local implantó maíz, en uno de los lotes la vicia llegó a semillar y como resultado se instaló entre las plantas de maíz por lo cual decidió dejar el cultivo de servicio adventicio, maíz más vicia (MV) mientras que en el otro lote manejó el cultivo de manera convencional con control de malezas inicial (MS).

The influence of different ground cover management systems on the development of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), was evaluated in a commercial vineyard (cv. Carignano) in north-western Sardinia within an ongoing multi-year project. In this paper, preliminary results of the first year of observations are reported. The field trial was arranged in a randomized block design, comparing traditional tillage and three different cover crops: natural self-regenerating (legume-grass mixture), grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and legume (Trifolium yanninicum Katzn. & Morley). In each treatment, some life parameters of the vine mealybug (survival, development time from egg to ovipositing female and fecundity) and the nitrogen content of grapevines, measured by a SPAD meter, were recorded. The ground cover management systems affected the vegetative growth of grapevines. In fact, the SPAD values were significantly higher on tillage and legume cover crop, whi...

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of interaction seed to seed between corn (Zea mays L.)
with some of volunteer species like sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa var. subinermis.), black cumin (Nigella sativa
L.), bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.), proso (Panicum miliaceum L.) and jimpson-weed datura (Datura
stramonium L.) on seed and seedling growth factors. Results showed that O. sativa had inhibitory effect on Z.
mays seedling growth, as shoot and root length and fresh weight of Z. mays by beside of this specie was
significantly inhibited. In contrast, V. ervilia and P. miliaceum had stimulatory effect on seedling growth factors
of Z. mays, as shoot and root length and fresh weight of Z. mays in the presence of these species was
significantly increased. Seedling of P. miliaceum by beside of Z. mays had more germination percentage, shoot
fresh weight and root dry weight in comparison with control. Less germination rate of Z. mays by beside of N.
sativa was caused the reducing of shoot and root fresh and dry weight of this specie. Our results suggested that
the seedling growth is suitable for potential testing of the allelopathic effect of the studied seed to seed
interaction under laboratory conditions. In addition, the choice of vigorous seeds can be useful to alleviation of
possible allelopathic risks.

Conservation management practices such as reduced tillage, fertilizer management, and buffer strips are well-established means by which to control erosion and nutrient losses from fields planted in annual row crops. However, agricultural systems which include perennial plant cover, such as the perennial forages found in grazing systems, may represent an alternative way to reduce these losses. In this study, management intensive rotational grazing (MIRG) was tested as a means by which to improve water quality on highly vulnerable row crop land, compared to more traditional conservation management schemes in the south branch of the Root River Watershed (a karst-influenced watershed in Southeastern Minnesota). The effects of both sets of alternative scenarios were evaluated with a watershed-based modeling approach using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool. Alternative conservation management practices included conservation tillage, cover crops, and filter strips. Conversion of row crop production to management-intensive rotational grazing of beef cattle was selected to occur on 2.6% of the total watershed area. Both the conservation management practices and land use changes were targeted to reduce contributions of sediment and phosphorus (P) loads from cropped upland areas. Watershed-wide implementation of all conservation management practices resulted in the greatest reductions in sediment (52%) and total P (28%) loads from upland crop areas, but had the largest land area requirements to achieve these results. Cover crops or filter strips on areas of high slope also showed large cumulative reductions across the watershed and also had the greatest reductions per-unit treated area of all conservation management practices. However, changing land use from row crop production to pasture for grazing was most effective at reducing total sediment and P loads on those acres changed, reducing sediment and P by greater than 85% on targeted areas. Simulation results indicate that utilizing alternative conservation management practices or MIRG, when targeted to areas of steeper slope (greater than 4%), could appreciably reduce sediment and P loads in this watershed, with limited reductions in row crop agriculture acreage.

Aims: An essential task of agricultural systems is to improve internal phosphorus (P) recycling. Cover crops and tillage reduction can increase sustainability, but it is not known whether stimulation of the soil microbial community can increase the availability of soil organic P pools.
Methods: In a field experiment in southwest Germany, the effects of a winter cover crop mixture (vs. bare fallow) and no-till (vs. non-inversion tillage) on microbial P-cycling were assessed with soybean as the main crop. Microbial biomass, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), P cycling enzymes, and carbon-substrate use capacity were linked for the first time with the lability of organic P pools measured by enzyme addition assays (using phosphodi-esterase, non-phytase-phosphomonoesterase and fungal phytase).
Results: Microbial phosphorus, phosphatase, and fatty acids increased under cover crops, indicating an enhanced potential for organic P cycling. Enzyme-stable organic P shifted towards enzyme-labile organic P pools. Effects of no-till were weaker, and a synergy with cover crops was not evident.
Conclusions: In this experiment, cover crops were able to increase the microbially mediated internal P cycling in a non-P-limited, temperate agroecosystems.

Intercropping constitutes the traditional farming system practice used in various forms for maize production in the Yucatan peninsula. Although practiced for centuries, problems persist with competition for water, nutrients and light between crop species in traditional farming systems. Furthermore, little is known about farmers’ perceptions regarding changes to traditional maize-legume intercropping systems and their interest in novel crop adoption to increase yields in the system while maintaining the practice. The objective of this study was to investigate the maize-based traditional cropping system by assessing the underlying motives and concepts of farmers to practice intercropping in the Yucatan Peninsula and to examine the association between farmers’ level of knowledge about legumes and decisions to adopt intercropping and related practices therein. Farmer surveys were conducted in nine different regions of the Yucatan Peninsula. We selected Xoy, Euan, Muna, Mama, Tahdziú (Yu...

The intensification of agriculture has resulted in the loss of species diversity in agroecosystems. Crop diversification not only improves ecosystem functions but increases agroecosystem resilience to climate change. Cover crops (CC) are used in the crop rotation to increase plant diversity and provide continuous living roots and soil cover. Previous studies have focused mainly on pure stands of CC and on binary mixtures. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in multispecies mixtures (>2 species). Here, we review reports from the literature to document the effectiveness of fall-seeded CC mixtures to provide agroecosystem services such as weed suppression, N cycling, soil organic C storage, and crop productivity.We cover both organic and conventional field crop systems in North America and Europe. We found, for both systems, that fall-seeded CC mixtures increased many agroecosystem services compared with a control without CC; however, they had inconsistent effects in comparison with a pure stand. The capacity of mixtures to enhance a given agroecosystem service was found to be dependent on the species functional group. Legume-based mixtures increased soilNand C contents along with crop yield, whereas nonlegume mixtures improved N recycling and weed suppression. Differences in the functional groups within CC mixtures could lead to trade-offs among agroecosystem services. Future research should focus on what drives species-specific contributions to productivity and other ecosystem services when CC are seeded in mixtures. More long-term research is needed to provide better insights into the stability of the ecosystem services provided by CC mixtures.

The soil is essential for many human activities. The soil is utilized by exploiting its functions such as for agricultural productivity, environmental quality, source of raw materials and base for buildings. The inappropriate soil exploitations can also cause damages especially soil erosion. Soil erosion can threaten agricultural productivity, food security, environmental sustainability and lead to the damage or even destruction of infrastructures. Soil erosion caused by water is the biggest soil erosion that occurs in the world, especially in the tropics and areas with high rainfall. The factors controlling soil erosion by water are the erosivity of rainfall, the erodibility of the soil, the slope of the land and plant cover. Plant cover is the most important factor that can affect other factors. The improvement of plant cover on the lands with high erosion risks become important to reduce those risks. The use of cover crops can be taken as a measure for soil plant cover improvement. Cover crops have dense with different depth root systems can help the soil to absorb more water and hold the soil surface. The density of the root system and soil cover of cover crops also can reduce the energy of runoff and the mass movement of soil surface. Previous studies show that some crops used as cover crops reduced the rate of soil erosion caused by water and high potential to be used for soil erosion control.