Autumn cover crops

{Tool} Autumn cover crops. [Colture di copertura autunnali.] Creator(s): Bortolussi, Stefano. Issuing Organisation(s): AIAB. OK-Net Arable Practice abstract, no. 040. (2018)

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PDF - English (Autumn cover crops)
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PDF - Italian/Italiano (Colture di copertura autunnali)
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Online at: http://orgprints.org/32948

Summary

Best results were reached with cereal mixtures that were produced on farm, such as barley and rye.
Practical recommendations
Observations and hints
• In Northern Italy, a mixture of barley and rye fits best in a wide range of situations.
• Sow as soon as possible after harvesting the summer crops.
• If the soil is not clean enough, a shallow soil labour can be applied. Otherwise, direct sowing is preferred.
• Including legumes in the mixture, such as vetch and/or faba beans, has been shown to be advantageous when the cover crop is sown in early September or October, and the succeeding crop is sown at the end of May.
• In case of early sowing by end of August, a cover crop consisting of only white mustard showed good results, especially in its decompacting ability, due to its taproot.
• The cover crop should be sown evenly. Areas with no seeds can promote weed growth.
• When possible, it is preferable to apply reduced tillage to prepare the seedbed in spring. Thus, the positive effects of the cover crop taproot system are preserved.

Summary translation

I migliori risultati si sono ottenuti con miscugli autoprodotti di cereali e leguminose come orzo, segale e veccia.
Raccomandazioni pratiche
Osservazioni e consigli pratici
• Per le latidutini del nord italia il miscuglio orzo e segale è risultato quello che meglio si adatta nel maggior numero di casi.
• Seminare appena possibile dopo la raccolta della coltura principale.
• Se il terreno non è pulito ricorrere ad una lavorazione superficiale, altrimenti è possibile una semina diretta.
• L’inserimento di una leguminosa – veccia e/o favino – nel miscuglio si è dimostrato vantaggioso se si verifica una delle seguenti condizioni: semina entro i primi di settembre oppure semina entro ottobre con la la coltura primaverile successiva seminata a fine maggio.
• Nel caso di semine precoci, entro fine agosto per gli areali settentrionali, si è dimostrata valida la senape bianca in purezza, per l’azione decompattante dell’apparato radicale a fittone eper l’effetto biofumigante.
• Seminare la coltura di copertura in modo uniforme. Le zone scoperte diventano zone di sviluppo per le infestanti.
• Ove possibile preferire lavorazioni superficiali per la preparazione del letto di semina in primavera, in modo da preservare l’azione svolta dall’apparato radicale dell‘intercalare.

EPrint Type:

Practice tool

What problem does the tool address?:

After harvesting summer crops (maize, soybean, sunflower, etc.) the soil remains bare until the following spring, which can lead to erosion and leaching.

What solution does the tool offer?:

A possible solution is to drill cover crops that protect the soil before the arrival of winter frost and low temperatures.

Country:

Italy

Type of Practice Tool:

Practice abstracts

Theme:

Soil quality and fertility, Weed management

Keywords:

cover crop, soil fertility, weed management

Keywords:

cover crop, soil fertility, weed management

Agrovoc keywords:

Language	Value	URI
English	cover crops -> cover plants	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1936
English	soil fertility	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7170
English	weed control	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8345
English	soil properties	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330883
English	soil fertility	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7170
English	arable farming	http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36528

Subjects:

Soil > Soil quality
Soil
Crop husbandry > Weed management

Research affiliation:

European Union > OK-Net Arable
International Organizations > International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM > IFOAM EU Group
Italy > AIAB

FP7 Grant Agreement Number:

652654