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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #150568
Title: IMPROVED ROLLER TECHNOLOGY FOR COVER CROP MANAGEMENT

Author
item Price, Andrew
item SIMIONESCU, PETRU - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Kornecki, Ted
item Raper, Randy
item Reeves, Donald

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/11/2003
Publication Date: 8/11/2003
Citation: Price, A. J., P. A. Simionescu, T. S. Kornecki, R. L. Raper, and D. W. Reeves. 2003. Improved roller technology for cover crop management. Proceedings: II World Congress on Conservation Agriculture. pp. 322-325.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cover crops have been shown to provide bendficial results for crop production and environmental protection; however, they can interfere with proper cash crop establishment and growth. Cover crops must be properly killed prior to planting to conserve moisture for cash crops. Cover crops rollers provide an easy alternative for this purpose. However, when machines developed in South America have been used in the U.S., producers have reported excessive amounts of vibration resulting from traveling at normal U.S. field speeds. A series of experiments were performed to modify the blade system used to crimp the residue without sacrificing the ability to kill the cover crop. Results showed that reduced vibration and equivalent percentages of cover crops were killed with the modified blade systems were used.