Italian Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, and Meadow Fescue as Undersown Cover Crops in Spring Wheat and Barley: Results from a Mixed Methods Study in Norway

Prabhat Poudel, Jørgen Ødegaard, Siri Josefine Mo, Rebekka Kaald Andresen, Hans Andre Tandberg, Thomas Cottis, Harald Solberg, Kari Bysveen, Puspa Raj Dulal, Hesam Mousavi and Svein Øivind Solberg ()
Additional contact information
Prabhat Poudel: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Jørgen Ødegaard: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Siri Josefine Mo: Norsk Landbruksrådgiving, Osloveien 1, 1433 Ås, Norway
Rebekka Kaald Andresen: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Hans Andre Tandberg: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Thomas Cottis: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Harald Solberg: Norsk Landbruksrådgiving, Osloveien 1, 1433 Ås, Norway
Kari Bysveen: Norsk Landbruksrådgiving, Osloveien 1, 1433 Ås, Norway
Puspa Raj Dulal: Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Bharatpur 44200, Chitwan, Nepal
Hesam Mousavi: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway
Svein Øivind Solberg: Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2322 Ridabu, Norway

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: Cover crops could provide environmental benefits in spring-grain systems through diversification, reduced nitrate leaching, and carbon sequestration. However, few farmers apply the technique, partly as they believe the cover crops will compete with the main crop and cause yield losses. Cover crops can either be sown together with the grain (undersown) or in autumn and establish after grain harvest. The current study uses a mixed-method approach combining field trials, interviews, and literature synthesis. The field trials focused on perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis L.) that were undersown with 15 kg ha −1 but with different seeding dates in spring wheat and barley. The interviews focused on gathering practical experiences from farmers in Norway and the literature synthesis gathered results from other studies. For carbon sequestration, nine studies were judged relevant for our target climate and included in our synthesis. They showed a median value at 264 kg C ha −1 year −1 . In our field trials, 300–900 kg DM ha −1 year −1 was produced, with Italian ryegrass sown at the same date as the grain on top. Our trials showed no significant grain yield reduction due to the use of cover crops. However, our synthesis of the literature showed a 5–10% yield reduction with Italian ryegrass that was sown at the same time as the grain. One- or two-weeks delay in the sowing of Italian ryegrass, or reduced seeding rates, could reduce the problem. The interviews showed that farmers do not prefer undersown species, especially not perennial species, as they have experienced that such species may come up again in the following years and cause a weed problem. We recommend farmers to use cover crops and for undersowing, we recommend Italian ryegrass that is sown one or two weeks after the grain. Perennial ryegrass can also be recommended, as long as the growth is properly terminated.

Keywords: agronomy; diversity; nitrogen; soil carbon; soil structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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