The use of legume cover crops in no-tillage broccoli and cabbage production
Abstract
Field experiments were conducted in 1983 and 1984 to
compare conventional tillage (CT) versus no-tillage (NT)
production of broccoli and cabbage. The tillage treatments
were applied in combination with four rates of applied nitrogen
fertilizer and three cover crops: hairy vetch (Vigia
villosa Roth), Austrian winter pea (Fisum arvenu L.), and
cereal rye (Secale cereale L.). Transplants of 'Premium
Crop' broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) and
'Market Prize' cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)
were set with a locally adapted NT vegetable planter. None
of the variables studied affected the final plant stand.
Yield and head size with NT were equal to or greater than
CT. Soil moisture was higher under NT plots throughout the
growing season. Yield and head size with the two legume
covers were equal to or greater than those with the rye cover.
Yield and head size tended to increase as applied N was
increased, although differences were not always significant.
The data, although not conclusive, indicate that the legume
cover crops provided additional nitrogen for the cole crops.
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