Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T14:37:03.465Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effectiveness of living mulch strategies for winter organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) production in Central and Southern Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2016

Francesco Montemurro ,
Mariangela Diacono ,
Corrado Ciaccia ,
Gabriele Campanelli ,
Fabio Tittarelli ,
Fabrizio Leteo  and
Stefano Canali
Francesco Montemurro
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–SCA, Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments (Azienda Sperimentale Metaponto), SS 106 Jonica, km 448.2 – 75010, Metaponto (MT), Italy.
Mariangela Diacono*
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–SCA, Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments, Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125 – Bari, Italy.
Corrado Ciaccia
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–RPS, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Via della Navicella, 2 – 00184, Roma, Italy.
Gabriele Campanelli
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–ORA, Research Unit for Vegetable Crops, Via Salaria, 1 – 63030, Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy.
Fabio Tittarelli
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–RPS, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Via della Navicella, 2 – 00184, Roma, Italy.
Fabrizio Leteo
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–ORA, Research Unit for Vegetable Crops, Via Salaria, 1 – 63030, Monsampolo del Tronto, Italy.
Stefano Canali
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria – CRA–RPS, Research Centre for the Soil-Plant System, Via della Navicella, 2 – 00184, Roma, Italy.
*
*Corresponding author: mariangela.diacono@crea.gov.it
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In crop rotations, cover crops planted either before or concurrent with a main crop and maintained as a living ground cover (living mulch, LM) may provide many beneficial ecosystem services, and can be defined as ‘agro-ecological service crops’ (ASC). The objective of this research was to study the suitability of burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L. var. anglona) as an LM for organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) production in a Mediterranean environment. Two LM sowing times (early sowing – sowing concurrent with cauliflower transplanting versus late sowing – 3 weeks later) compared with a no living mulch control (LM-CT) were investigated in central Italy (Experiment 1), along with a comparison between two local cauliflower cultivars and a hybrid. In Southern Italy (Experiment 2), crop performance under two LM sowing times [20 days before cauliflower transplanting versus concurrent sowing (CS)] compared with a no LM-CT , with organic fertilizers and amendments allowed in organic farming as subplots, was assessed. In Experiment 1, no competition was observed between the late-sown ASC and the cash crop. An increase in crop nitrogen (N) uptake and weed mitigation was also determined in this treatment. There was a mixed response when comparing cultivar and LM interactions, with the hybrid cultivar in the late-sown LM producing the greatest yield. In Experiment 2, weather conditions had the greatest effect on crop response. However, an inverse trend between growth of the cash crop and the LM crop was observed in the CS treatment. A positive effect of LM introduction was found, particularly in altering the competitive relationship for N between the cash crop and weeds. In addition, yield results showed that, in LM systems, commercial organic fertilizers could be replaced with locally available organic fertilizers and amendments without any yield penalty. The effectiveness of LM strategies will thus depend on several factors: type of LM, cultivar of vegetable, weather, soils, length of growing season and ability to plant the cash crop into the LM. Initial research suggests the potential for burr medic as a LM for Mediterranean winter vegetable systems, but additional research is needed to ensure the viability of LM systems for longer periods of time.

Keywords

Agroecological service cropsMedicago polymorpha L.cover cropscauliflower cultivarsorganic fertilizers
Type
Themed Content: Living Mulch
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 32 , Special Issue 3: Living Mulch , June 2017 , pp. 263 - 272
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bàrberi, P. 2002. Weed management in organic agriculture: Are we addressing the right issues? Weed Research 42:177–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bàrberi, P., Bigongiali, F., Antichi, D., Carlesi, S., Fontanelli, M., Fiasconi, C., and Lulli, L. 2008. Innovative crop and weed management strategies for organic spinach: crop yield and weed suppression. In: Cultivating the future based on science. Vol. 1: Organic crop production. Proceedings of the Second Scientific Conference of the International Society of Organic Agriculture Research (ISOFAR). Modena, Italy, 18–20 June, 252–255.Google Scholar
Bilalis, D., Papastylianou, P., Konstantas, A., Patsiali, S., Karkanis, A., and Efthimiadou, A. 2010. Weed-suppressive effects of maize-legume intercropping in organic farming. International Journal of Pest Management 56:173–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brainard, D.C., and Bellinder, R.R. 2004. Weed suppression in broccoli-winter rye intercropping systems. Weed Science 52:281–290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brainard, D.C., Bellinder, R.R., and Miller, A.J. 2004. Cultivation and interseeding for weed control in transplanted cabbage. Weed Technology 18:704–710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campanelli, G. and Canali, S. 2012. Crop production and environmental effects in conventional and organic vegetable farming systems: The case of a long-term experiment in Mediterranean conditions (Central Italy). Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 36:599–619.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campiglia, E., Mancinelli, R., and Radicetti, E. 2011. Influence of no-tillage and organic mulching on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production and nitrogen use in the Mediterranean environment of central Italy. Scientia Horticulturae 130:588–598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canali, S., Diacono, M., Campanelli, G., and Montemurro, F. 2015. Organic no-till with roller crimpers: Agro-ecosystem services and applications in organic Mediterranean vegetable productions. Sustainable Agriculture Research 4(3):66–75. doi: 10.5539/ CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carof, M., de Tourdonnet, S., Saulas, P., Le Floch, D., and Roger-Estrade, J. 2007. Undersowing wheat with different living mulches in a no-till system. I. Yield analysis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 27:347–356.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chase, C.A. and Mbuya, O.S. 2008. Greater interference from living mulches than weeds in organic broccoli production. Weed Technology 22(2):280–285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ciaccia, C., Montemurro, F., Campanelli, G., Diacono, M., Fiore, A., Canali, S. 2015. Legume cover crop management and organic amendments application: Effects on organic zucchini performance and weed competition. Scientia Horticulturae 185:48–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
den Hollander, N.G., Bastiaans, L., and Kropff, M.J. 2007. Clover as a cover crop for weed suppression in an intercropping design II. Competitive ability of several clover species. European Journal of Agronomy 26:104–112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Driouech, N., Abou Fayad, F., Ghanem, A., and Al-Bitar, L. 2008. Agronomic performance of annual self-reseeding legumes and their self-establishment potential in the Apulia region of Italy. 16th IFOAM Organic World Congress, Modena, Italy, June 16–20, 2008. Available at Web site http://orgprints.org/view/projects/conference.html Google Scholar
Evans, S.P., Knevic, S.Z., Lindquist, J.L., Shapiro, C.A., and Blankenship, E.E. 2003. Nitrogen application influences the critical period for weed control in corn. Weed Science 51:408–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fageria, N.K., Baligar, V.C., and Bailey, B.A. 2005. Role of cover crops in improving soil and row crop productivity. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 36:2733–2757.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A. 1984. Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. 2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York, NY.Google Scholar
Hartwig, N.L. and Ammon, H.U. 2002. Cover crops and living mulches. Weed Science 50:688–699.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henriksen, A. and Selmer-Olsen, A.R. 1970. Automatic methods for determining nitrate and nitrite in water and soil extracts. Analyst 95:514–518.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hiltbrunner, J., Liedgens, M., Bloch, L., Stamp, P., and Streit, B. 2007. Legume cover crops as living mulches for winter wheat: Components of biomass and the control of weeds. European Journal of Agronomy 26:21–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jędrszczyk, E., Poniedziałek, M., and Sękara, A. 2005. Effect of living mulch on white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata subvar. alba L.) yielding. Folia Horticulturae 17(2):29–36.Google Scholar
Kjeldahl, J. 1883. Neue Methods zur Bestimmung des Stickstoffs in Organischen Korpern, Z. Analytical Chemistry 22:366–382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kolota, E. and Adamczewska-Sowińska, K. 2004. The effects of living mulches on yield, overwintering and biological value of leek. Acta Horticulturae 638:209–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kolota, E. and Adamczewska-Sowińska, K. 2013. Living mulches in vegetable crops production: Perspectives and limitations (A reviev). Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Hortorum Cultus 12(6):127–142.Google Scholar
Krom, M.D. 1980. Spectrophotometric determination of ammonia: A study of a modified Berthelot reaction using salicylate and dichloroisocyanurate. Analyst 105:305–316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malézieux, E., Crozat, Y., Dupraz, C., Laurans, M., Makowski, D., Ozier- Lafontaine, H., Rapidel, B., de Tourdonnet, S., and Valantin-Morison, M. 2009. Mixing plant species in cropping systems: Concepts, tools and models. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 29:43–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masiunas, J.B. 1998. Production of vegetables using cover crop and living mulches: A review. Journal of Vegetable Crop Production 4:11–31.Google Scholar
Mohler, C.L. 2007. Enhancing the competitive ability of crops. In Liebman, M., Mohler, C.L. and Staver, C.P. (eds). Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. p. 269–321.Google Scholar
Montemurro, F., Convertini, G., Ferri, D., and Maiorana, M. 2005. MSW compost application on tomato crops in Mediterranean conditions: Effects on agronomic performance and nitrogen utilization. Compost Science & Utilization 13(4):234–242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montemurro, F., Fiore, A., Campanelli, G., Tittarelli, F., Ledda, L., and Canali, S. 2013. Organic fertilization, green manure, and vetch mulch to improve organic zucchini yield and quality. Hortscience 48:1027–1033.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montemurro, F., Tittarelli, F., Lopedota, O., Verrastro, V., and Diacono, M. 2015. Agronomic performance of experimental fertilizers on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in organic farming. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 102:227–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Müller-Schärrer, H. and Potter, C.A. 1991. Cover plants in field grown vegetables: prospects and limitations. Brighton Crop Protection Conference-Weeds, 599–604.Google Scholar
Santos, R.H.S., Gliessman, S.R., and Cecon, P.R. 2002. Crop interactions in broccoli intercropping. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture 20:51–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil Taxonomy. Agriculture Handbook 436, USDA–NRCS, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
SPSS Inc. 2008. SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 17.0. SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL.Google Scholar
Tabaglio, V., Gavazzi, C., Schulz, M., and Marocco, A. 2008. Alternative weed control using the allelopathic effect of natural benzoxazinoids from rye mulch. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 28:397–401.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teasdale, J.R., Brandsæter, L.O., Calegari, A., and Skora Neto, F. 2007. Cover crops and weed management. In Upadhyaya, M.K. and Blackshaw, R.E. (eds). Non-Chemical Weed Management. CAB International Wallingford. p. 49–64.Google Scholar
Unesco-FAO. 1963. Etude Écologique de la Zone Méditerranéenne. Carte Bioclimatique de la zone Méditerranéenne [Ecological study of the Mediterranean area: Bioclimatic map of the Mediterranean sea]. Paris-Rome, 60.Google Scholar
Walters, S.A. 2011. Weed management systems for no-tillage vegetable production. In Soloneski, S. and Larramendy, M.L. (eds). Herbicides, Theory and Applications. InTech, Rijeka, Croatia. pp. 17–40.Google Scholar
Wezel, A., Casagrande, M., Celette, F., Vian, J.-F., Ferrer, A., and Peigné, J. 2014. Agroecological practices for sustainable agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 34:1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitmore, A.P. and Schröder, J.J. 2007. Intercropping reduces nitrate leaching from under field crops without loss of yield: A modelling study. European Journal of Agronomy 27:81–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zimdahl, R. (ed.) 2007. Weed management using the principles of competition. In Weed-Crop Competition: A Review. 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishing, Hoboken. pp. 146–166.Google Scholar