Biomass shifts and suppresses weed populations under conservation agriculture Michael J. Mulvaney, Virginia Tech, USA C. Wes Wood, Auburn University, USA Andrew J. Price, USDA ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab, USA SANREM CRSP is made possible by the United States Agency for International Development and the generous support of the American people through USAID Cooperative Agreement No. EPP-A-00-04-00013-00.
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Biomass shifts and suppresses weed populations under CA. Michael Mulvaney
A presentation from the WCCA 2011 event held in Brisbane, Australia.
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Biomass shifts and suppresses weed populations under conservation agriculture
Michael J. Mulvaney, Virginia Tech, USA
C. Wes Wood, Auburn University, USA
Andrew J. Price, USDA ARS National Soil Dynamics Lab, USA
SANREM CRSP is made possible by the United States Agency for International Development and the generous supportof the American people through USAID Cooperative Agreement No. EPP-A-00-04-00013-00.
Introduction• Conservation agriculture:
– ↓ Erosion– ↑ SOM– ↑ Soil moisture
– Improved soil structure
– Soil temperature moderation
Kip Balkcom, 2008
CA for limited-input smallholders
• #1 problem: Weed suppression
Solution?
• High biomass cover crops (killed mulches)• Mulch
Ted Kornecki, 2008
Hypothesis• Combine cover crops and mulches• Improve soil quality on productive field• Effects on:
– Weeds, soil C, yields
Objective Quantify weed suppression of a summer cover
crop and organic mulches under no-till collard (Brassica oleracea L.) production during conversion to CA: