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Weed Suppression, Biomass and Nitrogen Accumulation in Mixed-Species and Single-Species Cover Crops in a Tropical Sugarcane Fallow

Author

Listed:
  • Lawrence Di Bella

    (Herbert Cane Productivity Services, 181 Fairford Rd, Ingham, QLD 4850, Australia)

  • Megan Zahmel

    (Herbert Cane Productivity Services, 181 Fairford Rd, Ingham, QLD 4850, Australia)

  • Lukas van Zwieten

    (NSW Department of Industry and Investment, 1243 Bruxner HWY, Wollongbar, NSW 2477, Australia
    Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, 1 Military Rd, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia)

  • Terry J. Rose

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, 1 Military Rd, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia)

Abstract

While mixed-species cover crops are gaining worldwide popularity, their utility in the ‘plough-out’ period in tropical sugar cane systems has not been investigated. Field trials investigating weed suppression (one season only), biomass production and nitrogen accumulation of single-species and mixed-species cover crops were conducted over two seasons on a commercial sugarcane farm in the Australian tropics. Mixed-species cover crops showed strong weed suppression, and were among the top treatments for biomass production each year, but did not yield the highest biomass in either season. Sunn hemp ( Crotalaria juncea cv. Global sunn) produced the most biomass in the drier-than-average 2016–2017 season (>10 t dry matter ha −1 ), while soybean ( Glycine max cv. Leichardt) produced the most biomass (5.3 t dry matter ha −1 ) in the wetter-than-average 2018–2019 season, highlighting the influence of seasonal conditions on species’ biomass production. The inclusion of multiple species in a short-term cover crop in the tropics where extreme weather events can occur can thus be seen as a risk mitigation strategy given the risk of failure of any given species in a given season.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence Di Bella & Megan Zahmel & Lukas van Zwieten & Terry J. Rose, 2021. "Weed Suppression, Biomass and Nitrogen Accumulation in Mixed-Species and Single-Species Cover Crops in a Tropical Sugarcane Fallow," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:7:p:640-:d:590802
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