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Choosing cover crops for arable crop rotations (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract)

{Tool} Choosing cover crops for arable crop rotations (OK-Net Arable Practice abstract). Creator(s): Casagrande, Marion and Fontaine, Laurence. Issuing Organisation(s): ITAB - Institute for Organic Agriculture and Food. OK-Net Arable Practice abstract, no. 034. (2018)

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Document available online at: https://orgprints.org/32606


Summary in the original language of the document

The tools aim at highlighting the main technical challenges as well as the ways and means of reflection, which can improve the understanding and the implementation of direct sowing into vegetal cover in organic agriculture.
Practical recommendation
First step: Determining the constraints
Considering constraints with regard to suitability of cover crops helps to narrow the number of potential plant species. A first selection refers to the main crops, the intercropping period, dates of sowing and the soil type.
Second step: Ranging objectives
In a second step, applicable objectives are selected from a proposed list. The species that are best suited to meet the objectives are selected.
Third step: Adapting cover crop management
In a third step, the methods of sowing and crop termination are taken into account. If the selected species with the best characteristics do not match the available workforce and machinery, species selection is redefined.
Fourth step: Final choice
The fourth step refers to the selection of a single species or a combination of different species. Seed costs and seed availability on the market or the farm finalize cover crop selection


EPrint Type:Practice tool
What problem does the tool address?:Growing cover crops in organic arable crop rotations provides many agronomical benefits. Cover crops improve soil fertility and N self-sufficiency, limit nitrate leaching and soil erosion and/or break weed, pest or disease cycles. Nevertheless, choosing appropriate cover crops can be a challenging task.
What solution does the tool offer?:A French working group initiated by ITAB developed a decision tree for selecting adequate cover crops in arable crop rotations. The decision tree is complemented by technical guides that provide information on cover crop management and appropriate cover crops, depending on specific constraints and objectives.
Country:France
Type of Practice Tool:Practice abstracts
Theme:Soil quality and fertility, Nutrient management, Pest and disease control, Weed management
Keywords:arable crops, cover crop, soil fertility
Keywords:arable farming, cover plants, soil fertility, soil quality, pest control, plant disease control, weed control, nutrient management
Agrovoc keywords:
Language
Value
URI
English
soil quality
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_a9645d28
English
soil fertility
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7170
English
pest control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5726
English
plant disease control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_5960
English
cover plants
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_1936
English
weed control
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8345
English
nutrient management
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_330697
English
arable farming
http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_36528
Subjects: Soil > Soil quality
Crop husbandry > Crop combinations and interactions
Soil
Crop husbandry > Crop health, quality, protection
Crop husbandry > Weed management
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/32606
Project ID:ofk
Deposited By: Basler, Andreas
ID Code:32606
Deposited On:01 Feb 2018 13:17
Last Modified:02 May 2024 10:31
Document Language:English
Status:Published

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