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Imprint
Living mulch systems with annual legumes
Project
Project code: 03OE099
Contract period: 01.03.2004
- 15.03.2007
Budget: 145,769 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
In the past years, there has been an increased interest in the possibilities of cereal production in legume living mulches. In Germany, these cropping systems have been tested exclusively using white clover as ground cover crop. White clover may be very aggressive, especially in moist summers and has to be controlled mechanically, when used as living mulch. Annual self-reseeding species with a short, determined life cycle might be better adapted for this purpose, because competition with the main crop is reduced in the critical stages. In this project, the possibilities to use annual species for the establishment of living mulches in cereal cropping have been tested, the cropping systems have been improved and their effects on biological and physical soil characteristics have been investigated. Several field trials have been established over a period of 2 1/2 years, growing wheat and rye in living mulches of 6 different legume species (Medicago orbicularis, M. minima, Trifolium campestre, T. subterraneum as annual species, T. repens and M. lupulina as control). In other experiments, the influence of planting time and N-supply on the balance between ground cover and main crops has been investigated. It could be shown, that all tested species are capable to re-establish from seed for several consecutive years under southern German conditions. It could be confirmed that competition of annual legumes on cereals is lower than in perennial species, especially in the grain filling period, which is particularly critical. The mechanical control of the ground covering legumes becomes therefore obsolete. Positive effects of the living mulch on the N-supply of the cropping system and on biological and physical soil properties could be evidenced. Due to its ready establishment, a low and prostrated growth habit and the availability of commercial seed, T. subterraneum may be the best adapted legume species. T. campestre and M. minima are less competitive in the early development stages, while M. orbicularis revealed to be very aggressive under favorable conditions. While there were little problems in establishing living mulches together with a cereal, the problems of planting the main crops into readily established living mulches have been resolved only partially.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Plant Nutrition
- Organic Farming
Framework programme
Federal Organic Farming Scheme and other forms of sustainable agriculture (BÖLN)
