(PhysOrg.com) -- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists may soon find a way to enhance the weed-killing capabilities of a cereal grain that enriches the soil when used as a winter cover crop.
... have shown that using nitrogen fertilizer on off-season cover crops can not only increase the biomass of these crops, but can also have a beneficial effect on the nitrogen levels in the soil for the ...
... soil quality. In response to environmental concerns, scientists have tested different types of cover crops and mulches, particularly biomass, inorganic, and geotextile mulch. Although root systems ...
... , where they replaced drought-resistant wild prairie grasses with fragile wheat, neglected to plant cover crops in unused fields, and allowed livestock to overgraze pastures.
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... energy intensive. Similarly, in crop production, reduced pesticide use, increased use of manure, cover crops and crop rotations improve energy efficiency.
Finally, changes to methods of food ...
... no-till management combined with a winter cover crop is most effective in retaining nutrients in tropical ... organic carbon storage after 19 years of crop production on a tropical soil in southern Brazil ...
... quality," said Mark Reiter, lead author of the study. "From this data we see that we can increase cover crop biomass by using nitrogen fertilizer and that the nitrogen will later be available to our ...
While cellulosic biofuels derived from grasses, crop residues and inedible plant parts have real ... farming methods, planting of cover crops, diversity-oriented crop rotation and inclusion of uncultivated ...
... State University report on the effectiveness of carbon augmentation practices, including the integration of cover crops, manure, and compost, to supplant carbon loss in corn stover removed cropping ...
... with biofuels," Dale said. "Sustainable management practices, such as no-till farming and planting cover crops, can reduce the time it takes for biofuels to overcome the carbon debt to three years ...
... tillage and water management strategies that enhance crop-stand establishment, water-use efficiency and yield ... till rows planted into a terminated wheat cover crop.
The cotton was irrigated from June 4 ...
... higher field temperatures and less productive crops.
Slower winds could also mean more dew covering crops for longer periods, Takle said. That could mean problems with fungus and plant disease. That ...
... significant negative effects for aquatic ecosystems.
In the AMR beds, a cover crop was planted and later mowed down to create a protective vegetative layer, which reduces weed growth. Both ...
... habitat is of particular concern. Use of alternative feedstocks such as wastes, agricultural residues, and cover crops, as well as native perennials harvested in a way that is compatible with ...