Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System
The inclusion of undersown cover crops in crop rotations and the use of biopesticides are essential for the long-term sustainability of the agroecosystem in organic farming. We hypothesized that biopesticides and undersown cover crops (crimson (incarnate) clover (<i>Trifolium incarnatum</i&...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2153 |
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| author | Aušra Marcinkevičienė Arūnas Čmukas Rimantas Velička Robertas Kosteckas Lina Skinulienė |
| author_facet | Aušra Marcinkevičienė Arūnas Čmukas Rimantas Velička Robertas Kosteckas Lina Skinulienė |
| author_sort | Aušra Marcinkevičienė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The inclusion of undersown cover crops in crop rotations and the use of biopesticides are essential for the long-term sustainability of the agroecosystem in organic farming. We hypothesized that biopesticides and undersown cover crops (crimson (incarnate) clover (<i>Trifolium incarnatum</i> Broth.), hairy (winter) vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i> Roth.), perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.), and winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.)) are likely to have a positive impact on soil agrophysical and biological properties. Soil shear strength, soil aggregate–size distribution, plant root dry biomass and number and biomass of earthworms were determined at the end of the plant growing season. We concluded that the application of biopesticides and growing of undersown cover crops decreased soil shear strength and increased the percentage of macro-aggregates (0.25–10 mm) in the plough layer. In the plots with cover crops, plant root biomass was found to be significantly higher by a factor of 1.9 to 3.5, compared to the plots without cover crops. The application of biopesticides and undersown cover crops did not significantly affect the number and biomass of earthworms in the soil. The abundance of earthworms was more influenced by meteorological conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c06825d3f1eb497a931f60a1ed3c752b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c06825d3f1eb497a931f60a1ed3c752b2023-11-23T14:38:12ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-09-01129215310.3390/agronomy12092153Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming SystemAušra Marcinkevičienė0Arūnas Čmukas1Rimantas Velička2Robertas Kosteckas3Lina Skinulienė4Department of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Plant Biology and Food Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Agroecosystems and Soil Sciences, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, LithuaniaThe inclusion of undersown cover crops in crop rotations and the use of biopesticides are essential for the long-term sustainability of the agroecosystem in organic farming. We hypothesized that biopesticides and undersown cover crops (crimson (incarnate) clover (<i>Trifolium incarnatum</i> Broth.), hairy (winter) vetch (<i>Vicia villosa</i> Roth.), perennial ryegrass (<i>Lolium perenne</i> L.), and winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.)) are likely to have a positive impact on soil agrophysical and biological properties. Soil shear strength, soil aggregate–size distribution, plant root dry biomass and number and biomass of earthworms were determined at the end of the plant growing season. We concluded that the application of biopesticides and growing of undersown cover crops decreased soil shear strength and increased the percentage of macro-aggregates (0.25–10 mm) in the plough layer. In the plots with cover crops, plant root biomass was found to be significantly higher by a factor of 1.9 to 3.5, compared to the plots without cover crops. The application of biopesticides and undersown cover crops did not significantly affect the number and biomass of earthworms in the soil. The abundance of earthworms was more influenced by meteorological conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2153biopesticidesorganic farming systemsoil propertiesspring oilseed rapeundersown cover crop |
| spellingShingle | Aušra Marcinkevičienė Arūnas Čmukas Rimantas Velička Robertas Kosteckas Lina Skinulienė Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System Agronomy biopesticides organic farming system soil properties spring oilseed rape undersown cover crop |
| title | Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System |
| title_full | Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System |
| title_short | Effects of Biopesticides and Undersown Cover Crops on Soil Properties in the Organic Farming System |
| title_sort | effects of biopesticides and undersown cover crops on soil properties in the organic farming system |
| topic | biopesticides organic farming system soil properties spring oilseed rape undersown cover crop |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2153 |
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