Abstract
Abstract Organic farming has been historically dependent on conventional tillage operations to convert perennial pasture leys to annual crop rotations, incorporate crop residues, compost and cover crops, as well as to mechanically kill existing vegetation. Conventional tillage, however, has long been known to lead to soil degradation and erosion. A recently developed no-till organic production system that uses a roller–crimper technology to mechanically kill cover crops was evaluated in two states in the western United States. In Washington, pumpkins ( Cucurbita spp.) grown in a no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) system produced yields 80% of conventional tillage, but with fewer weeds. However, in California on-farm research trials in organic cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), the no-till system produced virtual crop failure, or yields less than 20% of the standard production method. The major problems associated with rolled cover crops in California included reduced crop seedling emergence, planter impediment with excessive residue, lack of moisture and delay in transplanting of vegetable crops due to continued growth of cover crops, in-season crop competition from cover crop regrowth and impracticability of using cultivators. Further, excessive dry residue during summer in California can present the risk of fire. In both California and Oregon, considerable success has been demonstrated with zone tillage (strip tillage) in conventionally produced field and vegetable crops. In a replicated Oregon trial, the organic strip tillage treatment produced 85% of the broccoli ( Brassica oleracea L.) yield compared to a conventional tillage treatment. Our studies suggest that the zone tillage concept may offer opportunities to overcome many of the agronomic challenges facing no-till.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Washington pumpkins under no-till roller-crimper produced 80% of conventional tillage yield.
- Treatment
- no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) systeme0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- lowerinferrede0
- Value
- 80%e0
- Comparator
- conventional tillagee0
- Setting
- Washingtone0
CucurbitaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In Washington, pumpkins ( Cucurbita spp.) grown in a no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) system produced yields 80% of conventional tillage, but with fewer weeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
Washington pumpkins under no-till roller-crimper had fewer weeds.
- Treatment
- no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) systeme0
- Outcome
- weedse0
- Direction
- fewere0
- Comparator
- conventional tillagee0
- Setting
- Washingtone0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In Washington, pumpkins ( Cucurbita spp.) grown in a no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) system produced yields 80% of conventional tillage, but with fewer weeds.”
Claim · model-written summary
California organic cotton, tomato and eggplant under no-till suffered crop failure or yields below 20% of standard production.
Verbatim
e0“in California on-farm research trials in organic cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L.), tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), the no-till system produced virtual crop failure, or yields less than 20% of the standard production method.”
Claim · model-written summary
California cowpea under no-till suffered crop failure or yields below 20% of standard production.
- Taxon
- cowpea
Vigna unguiculatae0 - Treatment
- no-till systeme0
- Outcome
- yieldse0
- Direction
- less thane0
- Value
- less than 20%e0
- Comparator
- standard production methode0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.), the no-till system produced virtual crop failure, or yields less than 20% of the standard production method.”
Claim · model-written summary
Organic strip tillage produced 85% of conventional tillage broccoli yield in Oregon.
- Taxon
- broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italicae0 - Treatment
- organic strip tillage treatmente0
- Outcome
- yielde0
- Direction
- lowerinferrede0
- Value
- 85%e0
- Comparator
- conventional tillage treatmente0
- Setting
- Oregone0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In a replicated Oregon trial, the organic strip tillage treatment produced 85% of the broccoli ( Brassica oleracea L.) yield compared to a conventional tillage treatment.”
Claim · model-written summary
Zone tillage may overcome agronomic challenges facing no-till.
Verbatim
e0“Our studies suggest that the zone tillage concept may offer opportunities to overcome many of the agronomic challenges facing no-till.”
t0“organic agriculture”
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tillage · yield · Vigna unguiculata (cowpea)Results differ
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See all 159 papers →tillage · weed · Cucurbita (pumpkins)Results agree
2 papers in the same direction as this paper
- positive
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.