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Title: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COVER CROP GROWTH, WEED SUPPRESSION, AND YIELD OF NO-TILLAGE BROCCOLI (BRASSICA OLERACEAE L. VAR. ITALICA)

Author
item MORSE, RONALD - VA POLYTECH INST/VSU
item Abdul Baki, Aref

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 1997, no-till fall broccoli was grown at the Kentland Agricultural Research Farm (KARF), Blacksburg, VA, and the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), MD, to determine supplemental N requirements above the N contribution from legume in situ mulches. Treatments were tillage systems [CT = conventional tillage, bare soil, tilled prior to transplanting; NT-BS = untilled bare soil; NT-SB = soybean (Glycine max L) cover crop; and NT-CP = cowpea (Vigna sinensis Endl.) Cover crop; and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 84 and 168 at KARF, and 0, 56, 112 and 168 kg.ha-1 at BARC). Soybean and cowpea biomass was 6.1 and 4.3 at KARF and 4.8 and 3.5 t.ha-1 at BARC. In N-unfertilized plots at both sites, average broccoli yield was higher in NT-SB and NT-CP than CT and NT-BS. The N contribution from the legume mulches was inadequate to meet total crop demand. In N-fertilized plots, broccoli yield was similar among tillage treatments at KARF where weed problems were not severe; however, at BARC, yield in CT was higher than in all no-till treatments. Two conclusions can be drawn: a) no-till systems are a viable option for production of broccoli when weeds are adequately controlled; and b) uniformly distributed, high-residue levels are required for weed suppression.