{Tool} Monitoring and comparing cover crop performances (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract). Creator(s): Casagrande, Marion. Issuing Organisation(s): ITAB - Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food. OK-Net Arable Practice abstract, no. 015. (2018)
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(Monitoring and comparing cover crop performances)
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Document available online at: https://orgprints.org/32611
Summary in the original language of the document
The acquired information on biomass production and expected nutri-ent release of cover crop species and/or cultivars will provide greater certainty for the selection of suitable varieties and the estimation of fulfilment of the nutrient requirements of the subsequent crop.
Method and results of practical testing
MERCI is an easy-to-use tool which simplifies:
• Estimation of the dry matter produced per hectare (tonnes per hectare);
• Calculation of the nitrogen trapped (or stored) by the cover crop;
• Definition of the nitrogen refund levels for the subsequent crop (kg/ha).
The references used in the calculations are based on more than 10 years of trials on cover crops in Poitou-Charentes/France. Simulations are carried out with INRA's STICS software.
ITAB, together with a group of farmers, tested the MERCI method, undersowing different cultivars of white clover in a winter wheat field on a farm in Central France (Saint Fargeau, Yonne). The following 6 cultivars were grown: 3 dwarf cultivars (Huia, Rivendel and Pirouette), 2 intermediate “Hollandicum” cultivars (Merwi and Jura) and 1 giant cultivar (Excell). The cultivars were compared to a mixture of species as a control.
The white clover species was sown on 26 March 2017 into winter wheat. Weeds, cover crop development (plant den-sity) and winter wheat development were monitored along the cover crop cycle (3 times). The performances of 4 cultivars were estimated in early November, using the MERCI method. Weeds were identified and their total ground cover was estimated. For each cultivar, the fresh biomass from three 1 m² plots was sampled (Fig. 1), weighed and used as an input in the MERCI tool. The most promising results were identified for Merwi cultivar (Tab.1).
EPrint Type: | Practice tool |
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What problem does the tool address?: | When farmers decide to implement cover crops on their farms, they usually lack available data regarding the performance of species and/or cultivars in their own pedo-climatic context. |
What solution does the tool offer?: | Testing different species and/or cultivars of cover crops on the farm generates useful local data on the performance of species and/or cultivars. The French MERCI tool (Méthode d’Estimation & des Restitutions par les Cultures Intermédiaires) facilitates their evaluation. |
Country: | France |
Type of Practice Tool: | Calculation tools, Practice abstracts |
Theme: | Nutrient management |
Keywords: | cover crop, diagnostic tool, nutrient management |
Keywords: | arable farming, cover plants, measuring instruments, monitoring and evaluation, nutrient management |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English arable farming http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36528 English measuring instruments http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_12457 English cover plants http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1936 English nutrient management http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330697 English monitoring and evaluation http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_bea12d1e |
Subjects: | Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions Soil > Nutrient turnover Farming Systems > Farm nutrient management |
Research affiliation: | European Union > Horizon 2020 > OK-Net Arable > OK-Net-Arable Tools European Union > Horizon 2020 > OK-Net Arable France > ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture Biologique International Organizations > International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM > IFOAM Organics Europe European Union > Organic Farm Knowledge |
Horizon Europe or H2020 Grant Agreement Number: | 652654 |
Related Links: | https://organic-farmknowledge.org/tool/32611 |
Project ID: | ofk |
Deposited By: | Basler, Andreas |
ID Code: | 32611 |
Deposited On: | 01 Feb 2018 13:23 |
Last Modified: | 02 May 2024 10:31 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
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