Cover crop technology – a way towards conservation agriculture: A review
1133 / 861
Authors
-
VIBHA SINGHAL
ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
-
JYOTIRMOY GHOSH
ICAR-Indian Institute of Resins and Gums, Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand
-
DINESH JINGER
ICAR-Indian Institute of Resins and Gums, Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Keywords:
Competition, Conservation agriculture, Cover crop, Soil erosionAbstract
There is transformation of agriculture from traditional to contemporary to fulfill the growing demand of food grains by mushrooming human population in the past few decades. Contemporary agriculture is completely dependent on external inputs of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Though it increased agricultural yield by many folds, but contributed to environmental degradation significantly including greenhouse forcing. The relevance of conservation agriculture emerged in response to the questions raised on health, environment and sustainability issues. Interest in conservation agriculture revived the traditional practices of cover cropping for soil conservation in the recent past. It is a form of reduced tillage improving soil physico-chemical and biological properties, claiming protection against insect-pests besides suppressing weeds effectively. In the present scenario, the role of cover crops extended to soil carbon sequestration thus combating global warming. Mean annual carbon sequestration potential of cover crop was found to be 0.32 ± 0.08 Mg ha−1 yr−1 to an average maximum increase of 16.7 Mg ha−1. Cover crops control weeds through competition, allelopathy, and/or physical effects due to surface residue, thereby interfering with growth, development and reproduction of weed. Cover crops suppress diseases by extending the length of a crop rotation, improving soil structure, providing a physical barrier and enhancing suppressive effects of soil life therefore disrupting disease cycle phases. Species in the brassicaceae family, such as mustards have been widely known fumigants as they suppress fungal diseases. Despite so many advantages, the issue of competitiveness between cover crop and main crop for resources cannot be ignored and bypassed. Strategic planning, management and manipulation of cover crops system are essential and decisive to reduce competition with the main crop for resources. Though cover crop systems have been in use for centuries, yet environmental concerns raised due to revolutionary inorganic agriculture have paved the way for more exploration and refinement in their use.
Downloads
References
Abrahamson D A, Causarano H J, Williams J R, Norfleet M L and Franzluebbers A J. 2009. Predicting soil organic carbon sequestration in the southeastern United States with EPIC and the soil conditioning index. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 64(2): 134–144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.64.2.134
Ahemad M and Khan M S. 2012. Effect of fungicides on plant growth promoting activities of phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas putida isolated from mustard rhizosphere. Chemosphere 86: 945–950. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.11.013
Ahemad T M and Kibret M. 2014. Mechanisms and applications of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: Current perspective. Journal of King Saud University Science 26(1): 1–20 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2013.05.001
Alletto L, Coquet Y, Benoit P, Heddadj D and Barriuso E. 2010. Tillage management effects on pesticide fate in soils. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 30: 367–400. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/agro/2009018
Altieri M A and Nicholls C I. 2003. Soil fertility management and insect pests; harmonizing soil and plant health in agro-ecosystems. Soil & Tillage Research 72: 203–211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(03)00089-8
Amado T J C, Bayer C, Conceição P C, Spagnollo E, De Campos B H C and Da Veiga M. 2006. Potential of carbon accumulation in no-till soils with intensive use and cover crops in southern Brazil. Journal of Environmental Quality 35(4): 599–1607. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2005.0233
Baligar V C and Fageria N K. 2007. Agronomy and physiology of tropical cover crops. Journal of Plant Nutrition 30:1287–1339. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160701554997
Bangarwa S K, Norsworthy J K, Mattice John D and Gbur Edward E. 2011.Glucosinolate and isothiocyanate production from Brassicaceae cover crops in a plasticulture production system. Weed Science 59(2): 247–254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-D-10-00137.1
Basedow T, Hua L and Aggarwal N. 2006. The infestation of Vicia faba by Aphis fabae (Scop.) under the influence of Lamiaceae (Ocimum basilicum L. and Satureja hortensis L.). Journal of Pest Science 79(3): 149–154. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-006-0128-7
Bayer C, Martin-Neto L, Mielniczuk J, Pillon CN and Sangoi L. 2001.Changes in organic matter fractions under subtropical no-till cropping systems. Soil Science Society of America Journal 65: 1473–147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2001.6551473x
Bayer C, Mielniczuk J, Amado T J C, Martin-Neto L and Fernandes S V. 2000. Organic matter storage in a sandy clay loam Acrisol affected by tillage and cropping systems in southern Brazil. Soil & Tillage Research 54: 101–109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00090-8
Bayer Cimélio, Dieckow Jeferson, Amado Telmo Jorge Carneiro, Eltzc Flávio Luiz Folleto and Vieira, Frederico Costa Beber. 2009. Cover crop effects increasing carbon storage in a subtropical no‐till sandy acrisol. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 40(9-10): 1499–1511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620902820365
Belimov A A, Hontzeas N, Safronova V I, Demchinskaya S V, Piluzza G, Bullitta S and Glick B R. 2005. Cadmium-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria associated with the roots of Indian mustard. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 37: 241–250. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2004.07.033
Bertoldi Claudia, Leo Marinella, Braca Alessandra and Ercoli Laura. 2012. Chemical profile of Festuca arundinacea extract showing allelochemical activity. Chemoecology 22: 13–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-011-0092-4
Buyer J S, Teasdale J R, Roberts D P, Zasada I A and Maul J E. 2010. Factors affecting soil microbial community structure in tomato cropping systems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 42: 831–841. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.01.020
Cantonwine E G, Culbreath A K and Stevenson K L. 2007. Effects of cover crops residue and preplant herbicide on early leaf spot of peanut. Plant Disease 91: 822–827. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-91-7-0822
Celette F, Guadin R and Gary C. 2008. Spatial and temporal changes to the water regime of a mediterranean vineyard due to the adaptation of cover cropping. European Journal of Agronomy 29: 153–162. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2008.04.007
Cherr C M, Scholberg J M S and McSorley R M. 2006. Green manure approaches to crop production: A synthesis. Agronomy Journal 98: 302–319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2005.0035
Czarnota M A, Paul N and Dayan F E. 2001. Mode of action, localization of production, chemical nature and activity of sorgoleone: a potent PSII inhibitor in Sorghum spp. root exudates. Weed Technology 15: 813–825. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/0890-037X(2001)015[0813:MOALOP]2.0.CO;2
Diekow J, Mielniczuk J, Knicker H, Bayer C, Dick D P and Kogel-Knabner I. 2005. Soil C and N stocks as affected by cropping systems and nitrogen fertilization in a Southern Brazil Acrisol managed under no-tillage for 17 years. Soil & Tillage Research 81: 87–95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2004.05.003
Ding G W, Liu X B, Herbert S, Novak J, Amarasiriwardena D and Xing B H. 2006. Effect of cover crop management on soil organic matter. Geoderma 130: 229–239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.01.019
Drinkwater L E and Snapp S S. 2007. Nutrients in agro-ecosystems: rethinking the management paradigm. Advances in Agronomy 92: 163–186. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(04)92003-2
Everts K L. 2002. Reduced fungicide applications and host resistance for managing three diseases in pumpkin grown on a no-till cover crops. Plant Disease 86: 1134–1141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.10.1134
Farina R, Beneduzi A and Ambrosini A. 2012. Diversity of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria communities associated with the stages of canola growth. Applied Soil Ecology 55: 44–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2011.12.011
Franzluebbers A J. 2005. Soil organic carbon sequestration and agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the southeastern USA. Soil and Tillage Research 83: 120–147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2005.02.012
Gavazzi C, Schulz M, Marocco A and Tabaglio V. 2010. Sustainable weed control by allelochemicals from rye cover crops: from the greenhouse to field evidence. Allelopathy Journal 25(1) Online ISSN: 0973-5046.
Gill H K, McSorley R, Goyal G and Webb S E. 2010. Mulch as a potential management strategy for lesser cornstalk borer, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, in bush bean. Florida Entomologist 93(2): 183–190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.093.0206
GiongoA, Beneduzi A and Ambrosini A. 2010. Isolation and characterization of two plant growth-promoting bacteria from the rhizoplane of a legume in sandy soil. Revista Brasileira de Ciênciado Solo 34(2): 361–369. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832010000200009
Gomez-Rodriguez O, Zavaleta-Mejia E, Livera-Munoz M and Cardenas-Soriano E. 2003. Allelopathy and microclimatic modification of intercropping with marigold on tomato early blight disease development. Field Crops Research 83(1): 27–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(03)00053-4
Gutiererez Rojas I R, Perez R and Fones D. 2004.The use of two life legume cover crops and their effects on weeds in citrus fields.III Congreso Sociedad Cubana de Malezologia, Memorias, Jardin Botanico Nacional, Ciudad, Havana, pp 79–82.
Haramoto E R and Gallandt E R. 2005. Brassica cover cropping. Effects on growth and interference of green bean and redroot pigweed. Weed Science 53: 702–708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-04-163R.1
Hooks C R R, and Johnson M W. 2003. Impact of agricultural diversification on the insect community of cruciferous crops. Crop Protection 22: 223–238. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0261-2194(02)00172-2
Jessing Karina K, Cedergreen N and Libous-Bailey L. 2013. Loss of artemisinin produced by Artemisia annua L. to the soil environment. Industrial Crops and Products 43: 132–140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.06.033
Jinger D and Kakade V. 2019. Land degradation and its management through soil and water conservation measures on arable. Kerala Karshakan 7(5): 12–20.
Joseph B, Patra R R and Lawrence R. 2007. Characterization of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria associated with chickpea. International Journal of Plant Production 1(2): 141–152.
Joshi P and Bhatt A B. 2011. Diversity and function of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria associated with wheat rhizosphere in North Himalayan Region. International Journal of Environmental Sciences 1(6): 1135–1143.
Jourand P, Rapior S, Fargette M and Mateille T. 2004. Nematostatic activity of aqueous extracts of West African Crotalaria species. Nematology 6: 765–771. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/1568541042843513
Kabir Z and Koide R T. 2002.Effect of autumn and winter mycorrhizal cover crops on soil properties, nutrient uptake and yield of sweet corn in Pennsylvania, USA. Plant and Soil 238: 205–215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014408723664
Kamo T, Hiradate S and Fujii Y. 2003. First isolation of natural cyanamide as a possible allelochemical from hairy vetch. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29(2): 275–283. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022621709486
Khan Z R, Pickett J A, Van den Berg J, Wadhams L J and Woodcock C M. 2000. Exploiting chemical ecology and species diversity: Stem borer and striga control for maize and sorghum in Africa. Pest Management Science 56: 957–962. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/1526-4998(200011)56:11<957::AID-PS236>3.0.CO;2-T
Kiradoo M M and Srivastava M. 2010. A comparative study on the efficacy of two lamiaceae plants on egg-laying performance by the pulse beetle Callosobruchus chinensis Linn. Journal of Biopesticides 3(3): 590–595. DOI: https://doi.org/10.57182/jbiopestic.3.3.590-595
Kremer Robert J and Ben-Hammouda M. 2009.Allelopathic Plants. 19. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Allelopathy Journal 24(2): 225–242.
Kruidh of H M. 2008. Cover crop-based ecological weed management: exploration and optimization. Dissertation, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 156 p.
Lal R. 2001. World cropland soils as a source or sink for atmospheric carbon. Advances in Agronomy 71: 437–450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2113(01)71014-0
Lal R. 2003. Soil erosion and the global carbon budget. Environment International 29(4): 437–450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-4120(02)00192-7
Larkin R P and Griffin T S. 2007. Control of soil borne potato diseases with Brassica green manures. Crop Protection 26: 1067–1077. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2006.10.004
Larkin R P, Griffin T S and Honeycutt C W. 2010. Rotation and cover crop effects on soil borne potato diseases, tuber yield, and soil microbial communities. Plant Disease 94: 1491–1502. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-03-10-0172
Legutowska H and Kucharczy K H. 2000.A comparison of the number of thrips on leek cultivated in monocrop and intercropping with high and low-growing white clover.Annals of Warsaw Agriculture University– SGGW, Horticult. (Land. Architect.) 21: 3–8.
Lertmongkol S, Sarobol E and Premasthira C U. 2011. Allelopathic effects of mungbean on subsequent crops. Kasetsart Journal - Natural Science 45(5): 773–779.
Linares J C, Scholberg J M S. Boote K J, Chase C A, Ferguson J J and McSorley RM. 2008. Use of the cover crop weed index to evaluate weed suppression by cover crops in organic citrus orchards.Horticulture Science 43: 27–34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.1.27
Manici L M, Caputo F and Babini V. 2004.Effect of green manure on Phytiumpulation and microbial communities in intensive cropping systems. Plant and Soil 263: 133–142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047720.40918.29
Mazzola M. 2004. Assessment and management of soil microbial community structure for disease suppression. Annual Review of Phytopathology 42: 35–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.phyto.42.040803.140408
Metay A, Moreira J A A and Bernoux M. 2006. Storage and forms of organic carbon in a no-tillage under cover crops system on clayey Oxisol in dryland rice production. Soil & Tillage Research 94: 122–132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.07.009
Mills D J, Coffman C B, Teasdale J R, Everts K B and Anderson J D. 2002. Factors associated with foliar disease of staked fresh market tomatoes grown under differing bed strategies. Plant Disease 86: 356–361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS.2002.86.4.356
Mochiah M B, Baidoo P K and Acheampong G. 2012.Effects of mulching materials on agronomic characteristics, pests of pepper and their natural enemies population. Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America3(6): 253–261. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5251/abjna.2012.3.6.253.261
Musyimi D M, Kahihu S W, Buyela D K and Sikuku P A. 2012. Allelopathic effects of Mexican sunflower on germination and growth of spiderplant (Cleome gynandra L.). Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 2(8): 26–35.
Nishihara E, Parvez MM, Araya H, Kawashima S and Fujii Y. 2005. L-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl) alanine an allelochemical exuded from velvetbean roots. Plant Growth Regulation 45(2): 113–120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-005-0610-x
Poeplau C and Don A. 2015. Carbon sequestration in agricultural soils via cultivation of cover crops – A meta-analysis. Agriculture,Ecosystems and Environment 200(1): 33–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.10.024
Prasifka J R, Schmidt N P, Kohler K A, O'Neal M E, Hellmich R L and Singer J W. 2006. Effects of living mulches on predator abundance and sentinel prey on a corn-soybean-forage rotation. Pest Management 35: 1423–1431. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X(2006)35[1423:EOLMOP]2.0.CO;2
Rabary B, Naudin K, Letourmy P and MzeHassani I. 2011. White grubs, Scarabaeidae larvae (Insecta, Coleoptera) control by plants in Conservation Agriculture: effects on macrofauna diversity. 5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, Brisbane, Australia, pp 149–150.
Razavi S M. 2011. Plant coumarins as allelopathic agents. International Journal of Biological Chemistry 5: 86–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ijbc.2011.86.90
Rokhbakhsh-Zamin F, Sachdev D and Kazemi-Pour N. 2011. Characterization of plant-growth-promoting traits of Acinetobacter species isolated from rhizosphere of Pennisetum glaucum. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 21: 556–566. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.1012.12006
Sachdev D P, Chaudhari H G, Kasure V M, Dahavale D D and Chopade B A. 2009. Isolation and characterization of indole acetic acid producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from rhizosphere of wheat and their effect on plant growth. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 47: 993–1000.
Sainju U M, Singh B P and Whitehead W F. 2002. Long-term effects of tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization on organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations in sandy loam soils in Georgia, USA. Soil & Tillage Research 63: 167–179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-1987(01)00244-6
Schmidt N P, O’Neal M E and Singer J W. 2007. Alfalfa living mulch advances biological control of soybean aphid. Environ. Entomology 36: 416–424. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/36.2.416
Selim H M, Zhou L and Zhu H. 2003.Herbicide retention in soil as affected by sugarcane mulch residue. Journal of Environmental DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2003.1445
Quality 32: 1445–1454.
Shelton A M and Badenes-Perez E. 2006. Concepts and applications of trap cropping in pest management. Annual Review of Entomology 51: 285–308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.150959
Singer J W, Kohler K A, Moore K J and Meek D W. 2005. Living mulch forage yield and botanical composition in a corn-soybean-forage rotation.Agronomy Journal 101(5): 1249–1257. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2009.0131
Singh Y, Singh B, Ladha J K, Khind C S, Khera T S and Bueno C S. 2004. Effects of residue decomposition on productivity and soil fertility in rice-wheat rotation. Soil Science Society of America Journal 68: 854–864. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.8540
Singhal V, Ghose J and Bhat S. 2017. Effect of live mulch on soil temperature, moisture, weed biomass and lac yield in Eastern India. International Journal of Tropical Agriculture 35(4): 795–799.
Sperow M, Eve M and Paustian K. 2003. Potential soil C sequestration on U.S. agricultural soils. Climatic Change 57: 319–339. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022888832630
Stone A. 2012. Cover crops for disease suppression. Extension Foundation webinar. Oregon State University, Corvallis, oregon.
Tarŕe R, Macedo R and Cantarutti R B. 2001. The effect of the presence of a forage legume on nitrogen and carbon levels in soils under Brachiaria pastures in the Atlantic forest region of the South of Bahia, Brazil. Plant and Soil 234: 15–26.
Teasdale JR, Brandsaterfi LO, Calegari A and Skora Neto F. 2007. Cover crops and weed management. (In) M K Upadhyaya and R E Blackshaw (Eds.). Non-chemical Weed Management, Principles, Concepts and Technology. CAB International. Biddles Ltd, King’s Lynn, UK, pp 49–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845932909.0049
Tillman G, Schomberg H, Phatak S, Mullinex B, Lachnicht S, Timper P and Olson D. 2004. Influence of cover crops on insect pests and predators in no tillage cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology 97: 1217–1232. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/97.4.1217
Titah H S, Abdullah S R S, Anuar N, Idris M, Basri H and Mukhlisin M. 2011. Isolation and screening of arsenic resistant rhizobacteria of Ludwigia octovalvis. African Journal of Biotechnology 10(81): 18695–18703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJB11.2740
Tiwari M, Paroda S and Dadarwal K R. 2003. Associative diazotrophs of pearl millet from semi-arid region--isolation and characterization. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 41(4): 341–345.
Ulacio-Osorio D, Zavaleta-Mejia E, Martinez-Garza A and Pedroza-Sandoval A. 2006. Strategies for management of Sclerotium cepivorum Berk.in garlic. Journal of Plant Pathology 88: 253–261.
Wang K H, Hooks C R R and Marahatta S P. 2011. Can using a strip-tilled cover cropping system followed by surface mulch practice enhance organisms higher up in the soil food web hierarchy? Applied Soil Ecology 49: 107–117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2011.06.008
West T O and Post W M. 2002. Soil organic carbon sequestration rates by tillage and crop rotation: A global data analysis. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66: 1930–1946. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2002.1930
Yu J Q, Ye S F, Zhang M F and Wen Hai Hu. 2003. Effects of root exudates and aqueous root extracts of cucumber and allelochemicals, on photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes in cucumber. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 31: 129–139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-1978(02)00150-3
Zak D R, Holmes W E, White D C, Peacock A D and Tilman D. 2003. Plant diversity, soil microbial communities, and ecosystem function: are there any links? Ecology 84: 2042– 2050. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1890/02-0433
Zhang Ming-Kui and Fang Li-ping. 2007. Effect of tillage, fertilizer and green manure cropping on soil quality at an abandoned brick making site. Soil & Tillage Research 93: 87–93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.03.016
Zhou X G and Everts K L. 2007. Effects of host resistance and inoculum density on the suppression of Fusarium wilt of watermelon induced by hairy vetch. Plant Disease 91(1): 92–96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PD-91-0092
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2021 The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the articles published in The Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences is vested with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which reserves the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad, for reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information. The Council has no objection to using the material, provided the information is not being utilized for commercial purposes and wherever the information is being used, proper credit is given to ICAR.
How to Cite
