Implementing Cover Crop-Based Reduced Tillage in Small Scale Organic Vegetable Production.

Cover crop-based reduced tillage (CCRT) techniques promote the conservation and improvement of soil resources, contributing to the long-term sustainability of cropping systems.  Using these practices, the cover crop residues act as a mulch, suppressing weeds while preventing soil erosion and improving soil quality. The use of CCRT practices in small-scale vegetable production was assessed in order to evaluate its impacts on weed suppression and crop yields.  Cereal rye, winter wheat, and hairy vetch were fall-sown in 300 ft² plots in the fall of 2012 in a strip-plot design, with traditional tillage and straw mulch included as control treatments.  During the following spring, strip tillage was performed to eliminate the cover crops from a 9-inch zone, centered on 30-inch rows.  Cover crops were terminated at anthesis in the spring using a sickle-bar mower. Bell peppers, snap beans, and potatoes were planted in each treatment at cover crop termination.  Weeds were eliminated by hand as needed throughout the summer, with labor time recorded for each treatment.  Cover crop biomass, weed density, and weed species were assessed at cover crop termination, and weed composition was evaluated regularly throughout the production season.  Crop yield and quality were measured at harvest.  Cereal rye produced greater amounts of biomass than the other cover crop treatments.  Greater numbers of weeds were found in the wheat mulch as compared to the cereal rye, impacting the in-season labor required for weed management.  Bean and pepper yields were lower in the CCRT treatments than either of the control treatments; however, potato yields did not differ between treatments. Adequate cover crop biomass production was found to be a key factor determining the extent of weed suppression and success of the system.