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Response of Root‐Knot Nematodes and Palmer Amaranth to Tillage and Rye Green Manure
Author(s) -
Timper P.,
Davis R. F.,
Webster T. M.,
Brenneman T. B.,
Meyer S. L. F.,
Zasada I. A.,
Cai G.,
Rice C. P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2010.0386
Subject(s) - agronomy , cover crop , tillage , secale , biology , green manure , weed , crop
Rye ( Secale cereale L.) is a frequently used winter cover crop in many agronomic production systems in the United States. Our objective was to determine whether incorporating rye into soil while still green results in greater suppression of root‐knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) and Palmer amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) compared to conventional cover crop management. Two similar experiments were conducted: one with peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and the other with cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). Both experiments were a split‐plot design with tillage as the main plot (conventional, green manure, and strip) and cover crop as the subplot. The cover crop treatments were a weedy fallow and the rye cultivars Wrens Abruzzi, Wheeler, Oklon, and Elbon. Wrens Abruzzi produced the greatest amount of biomass, Oklon and Elbon intermediate, and Wheeler the least. Where there was substantial soil disturbance (e.g., conventional tillage and green manure), Palmer amaranth densities were low and not influenced by cover crop. In the strip tillage plots, however, all of the rye cultivars, except Wheeler, reduced establishment of the weed compared to winter fallow. Root galling from nematodes on cotton and peanut was influenced by tillage, but not by rye cover crop. Gall indices on cotton were greater in conventional tillage than in either strip tillage or green manure plots; whereas on peanut, they were greater in the strip tillage than in the conventional tillage or green manure plots. Neither tillage nor cover crop influenced yield except in 2008 in peanut, where yield was lower in strip tillage than in conventional or green manure plots.