Abstract
For any annual cropping system to be sustainable, the cover/green manure crops can be considered as the backbone. They are important in sustainable farming because of nitrogen fixation, nutrient enhancement, enhancement of organic matter, improvement of soil structure, rooting action, soil and water conservation, soil microbial activity, and weed suppression. This chapter summarizes different aspects of cover/green manure intercrops such as types of cover/green manure crops, nutrient potential, benefits, and limitations. The role of cover/green manure crops in crop rotation systems in enhancing the production is also discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Barnes JP, Putnam AR (1986) Evidence for allelopathy by residues and aqueous extracts of rye (Secale cereale). Weed Sci 86:384–390
Bunch R (2003) Adoption of green manure and cover crops: reversing degradation. LEISA Mag 19(4):16–18
Derpsch R, FlorentÃn M (1992) La mucuna y otras plantas de abono verde para pequeñas propiedades. Asunción, Paraguay, MAG, Miscelánea No. 22, 44 pp
Ecocrop (2007a) Canavalia ensiformis. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id = 609
Ecocrop (2007b) Lablab purpureus. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id = 1311
Ecocrop (2007c) Vigna umbellata. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/cropView?id = 2152
FAO (2011) Grassland species profiles. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/data/pf000090.htm
Forney DR, Foy CL (1985) Phytotoxicity of products from rhizospheres of a sorghum-Sudan grass hybrid (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanese). Weed Sci 33:597–604
Fujii Y, Shibuya T, Yasuda T (1992) Allelopathy of velvet bean: its organic production—cover crops for organic farms 18 discrimination and identification of LDOPA as a candidate of allelopathic substances. Japan Agric Res Q 25:238–247
Hemalatha M, Thirumugan V, Balasubramanian R (2000) Effect of organic sources of nitrogen on productivity and quality of rice (Oryza sativa) and soil fertility. Indian J Agron 45(3):564–567
Hepperly P, Aguilar EH, Perez R, Diaz M, Reyes C (1992) Pigeon pea and velvet bean allelopathy. In: Rizvi SJH, Rizvi V (eds) Allelopathy: basic and applied aspects. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 357–370
Ingham RE (1993) Biology and control of nematodes in potato. Report to the Agriculture Research Foundation, Oregon Potato Commission, pp 18–36
Kaspar TC, Radke JK, Laflen JM (2001) Small grain cover crops and wheel traffic effects on infiltration, runoff, and erosion. J Soil Water Conserv 56:160–164
Kaspar TC, Jaynes DB, Parkin TB, Moorman TB (2007) Rye cover crop and gama grass strip effects on NO3 concentration and load in tile drainage. J Environ Qual 36:1503–1511
Liebl RA, Worsham AD (1983) Inhibition of pitted morning glory (Ipomoea lacunose L.) and certain other weed species by phytotoxic components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw. J Chem Ecol 9:1027–1043
Magdoff F, Weil RR (2004) Soil organic matter in sustainable agro-ecosystems. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Masiunas JB, Weston LA, Weller SC (1995) The impact of rye cover crops on weed populations in a tomato cropping system. Weed Sci 43:318–323
Palaniappan SP (1992) Green manuring: nutrient potentials and management. In: Tendon HLS (ed) Fertilizers, organic manures, recyclable wastes and biofertilizers – components of integrated plant nutrition. Fertilizer Development and Consultant Organization, New Delhi, pp 52–71
Silva JA, Uchida R (eds) (2000) Plant nutrition management in Hawaii’s soils, approaches for tropical and subtropical agriculture. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Singh B, Singh Y, Sadana US, Meelu OP (1992) Effect of green manure, wheat straw and organic manure on DTPA on extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in a calcareous sandy loam soil at field capacity and under water-logged conditions. J Indian Soc Soil Sci 40:114–118
Sullivan P (2003) Overview of cover crops and green manures. In: Williams P (ed) Fundamentals of sustainable agriculture, pp 1–16. ATTRA, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Fayetteville. http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/covercrop.pdf
Teasdale JR, Daughtry CST (1993) Weed suppression by live and desiccated hairy vetch. Weed Sci 41:207–212
Weerasinghe P, Lathiff MA (2011) Influence of groundnut residue on the growth and yield of subsequent rice crop in non-calcic brown soils. Regional Agricultural and Research and Development Centre, Aralaganwila. http://www.goviya.lk/agri_learning/Paddy/Paddy_Research/Paddypdf/A18.pdf
White RH, Worsham AD, Blum U (1989) Allelopathic potential of legume debris. Weed Sci 37:674–679
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Reddy, P.P. (2016). Cover/Green Manure Crops. In: Sustainable Intensification of Crop Production. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2702-4_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2702-4_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-2701-7
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-2702-4
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)