Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost
Use of cover crops and compost increased soil quality in irrigated, intensive production of lettuce and broccoli in the Salinas Valley. These methods had the beneficial impacts of increasing soil microbial biomass, increasing total soil carbon and nitrogen, reducing surfac...
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2003-04-01
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doaj-241a30004f3e493f8b522b91f85eb4722020-11-25T00:50:08ZengUniversity of California Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCalifornia Agriculture0008-08452160-80912003-04-01572485410.3733/ca.v057n02p4810.3733/cav057n02_5Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compostLouise E Jackson0Irenee Ramirez1Ron Yokota2Steven A Fennimore3Steven T Koike4Diane M Henderson5William E Chaney6Karen M Klonsky7L.E. Jackson is Professor/Specialist and Postgraduate Researcher, Department of Vegetable Crops, UC DavisI. Ramirez is Professor/Specialist and Postgraduate Researcher, Department of Vegetable Crops, UC DavisR. Yokota is Ranch Manager, Tanimura and Antle, Inc., SalinasS. A. Fennimore is Weed Specialist, Department of Vegetable Crops, UC DavisS. T. Koike is Farm Advisor and Staff Research Associate, UC Cooperative Extension, Salinas, CAD.M. Henderson is Farm Advisor and Staff Research Associate, UC Cooperative Extension, Salinas, CAW.E. Chaney is Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey CountyK. M. Klonsky is Farm Management Specialist, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis.Use of cover crops and compost increased soil quality in irrigated, intensive production of lettuce and broccoli in the Salinas Valley. These methods had the beneficial impacts of increasing soil microbial biomass, increasing total soil carbon and nitrogen, reducing surface bulk density and decreasing the potential for groundwater pollution as a result of nitrate leaching below the root zone. These soil benefits did not lead to lower yields and occasionally resulted in fewer weeds and lower lettuce corky root disease. Although surface minimum tillage reduced yields, it led to reduced potential for nitrate leaching below the root zone. Use of conventional tillage, cover crops, and compost produced high vegetable yields and acceptable net economic returns over a 2-year period, but broccoli was more profitable than lettuce under this regime. Understanding the trade-offs of various costs and benefits will help growers choose management practices that optimize economic and environmental benefits.http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v057n02p48 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Louise E Jackson Irenee Ramirez Ron Yokota Steven A Fennimore Steven T Koike Diane M Henderson William E Chaney Karen M Klonsky |
spellingShingle |
Louise E Jackson Irenee Ramirez Ron Yokota Steven A Fennimore Steven T Koike Diane M Henderson William E Chaney Karen M Klonsky Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost California Agriculture |
author_facet |
Louise E Jackson Irenee Ramirez Ron Yokota Steven A Fennimore Steven T Koike Diane M Henderson William E Chaney Karen M Klonsky |
author_sort |
Louise E Jackson |
title |
Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
title_short |
Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
title_full |
Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
title_fullStr |
Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
title_full_unstemmed |
Scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
title_sort |
scientists, growers assess trade-offs in use of tillage, cover crops and compost |
publisher |
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources |
series |
California Agriculture |
issn |
0008-0845 2160-8091 |
publishDate |
2003-04-01 |
description |
Use of cover crops and compost increased soil quality in irrigated, intensive production
of lettuce and broccoli in the Salinas Valley. These methods had the beneficial impacts
of increasing soil microbial biomass, increasing total soil carbon and nitrogen, reducing
surface bulk density and decreasing the potential for groundwater pollution as a result
of nitrate leaching below the root zone. These soil benefits did not lead to lower
yields and occasionally resulted in fewer weeds and lower lettuce corky root disease.
Although surface minimum tillage reduced yields, it led to reduced potential for nitrate
leaching below the root zone. Use of conventional tillage, cover crops, and compost
produced high vegetable yields and acceptable net economic returns over a 2-year period,
but broccoli was more profitable than lettuce under this regime. Understanding the
trade-offs of various costs and benefits will help growers choose management practices
that optimize economic and environmental benefits. |
url |
http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v057n02p48 |
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