Claim · model-written summary
Legume covers enhanced beneficial insect habitat.
Not reportedMaterialGeneCompoundOrgan / stageInteractorInteractor roleSecond interactorSecond interactor roleTreatmentComparatorSettingDirectionValueQualifier
Verbatim
e0“legumes fix N, produce high quality but limited amounts (0.5–4 Mg ha −1 ) of residues, and enhance beneficial insect habitat”
Title
Evaluating Cover Crops for Benefits, Costs and Performance within Cropping System Niches
S. S. Snapp; S. M. Swinton; R. Labarta; et al. Agronomy Journal 2005. doi:10.2134/agronj2005.0322a
Other claims from this paper (16)
- Observation Cover crop benefits tend to be greater in irrigated systems.
- Observation Warm-season C4 grasses performed outstandingly in summer niches with 6–9 Mg ha −1.
- Observation Rye was most promising for winter niches at 0.8–6 Mg ha −1.
- Observation Sudangrass-cowpea mixtures produced substantial mixed-quality residues.
- Observation Wheat-red clover mixtures produced substantial mixed-quality residues.
- Observation Legume covers grew slowly and were expensive to establish.
- Observation Legume covers fixed nitrogen.
- Observation Legume covers produced high-quality but limited residues, 0.5–4 Mg ha −1.
- Observation Brassicas produced glucosinolate-containing residues of 2–6 Mg ha −1.
- Observation Brassicas suppressed plant-parasitic nematodes.
- Observation Brassicas suppressed soil-borne disease.
- Observation Legume cover crops most reliably enhanced cash-crop yields versus fallows or other covers.
- Recommendation The authors recommend brassica covers where soil pests limit cash crop yield.
- Recommendation The authors recommend cereal covers to build soil organic matter rapidly.
- Observation Legume-cereal mixtures show promise across many niches.
- Observation Brassica-cereal mixtures show promise across many niches.