2009 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Develop
conservation tillage systems for vegetable production that (1)
implement weed management regimes, including cover crops,
compost, and mulching; (2) evaluate the biological and economic
outcomes of the different systems; and (3) promulgate technology
transfer through demonstrations/Field Days and publications for
area farmers and agricultural professionals. 1b.Approach (from
AD-416) Specific methods include the following: conservation
tillage systems and crop rotations to disrupt weed cycles and
enhance competitiveness of crop plant through additions of
N-fixing cover crops, such as crimson clover and hairy vetch,
planting competitive crop varieties to maintain suppression of
weeds, reducing weed seed set through allelopathic effects from
crops, such as rye and oats, and improving the advantage of
crops over weeds through compost based fertilizer applications.
The experimental design includes two main plot treatments (No
cover crop and cover crop) and thre