Organic Weed Control and Cover Crop Residue Integration Impacts on Weed Control, Quality, Yield and Economics in Conservation Tillage Tomato-A Case Study

Abstract

The increased adoption of conservation tillage and organic weed control practices in vegetable production requires more information on the role of various cover crops in integrated weed control, tomato quality, and yield. Two conservation-tillage systems utilizing crimson clover and cereal rye as winter cover crops were compared to a conventional black polythene mulch system, with or without organic weed management options, for weed control, tomato yield, and profitability. All cover crops were terminated with a mechanical roller/crimper prior to planting. Organic weed control treatments included flaming utilizing a one burner hand torch, PRE application of corn gluten, PRE application of corn gluten followed by flaming, or intermittent hand weeding as needed. A non-treated control and a standard herbicide program were included for comparison. The herbicide program consisting of a PRE application of S-metolachlor . kg a.i./ha followed by an early POST metribuzin . kg a.i. /ha application followed by a late POST application of clethodim . kg a.i./ha . In general, high-residue clover and cereal rye cover crops provided substantial suppression of Palmer amaranth, large crabgrass, and yellow nutsedge. Across systems, minimum input in high-residue systems provided the highest net returns above variable costs compared to organic herbicide treatments that are costly and provide marginal benefit.

Response of the cherry tomato to watering and ground cover under organic cultivation

“…Similarly, Mukherjee et al (2010) point out that ground cover reduces the weed population, causing a reduction in competition for water and nutrients. Orrillo et al (2016) pointed out that ground cover creates a physical barrier, reducing water loss from the soil to the atmosphere and promoting thermal changes in the soil (Rossi et al, 2013). According to the adjusted regression equation, maximum productivity for the tomato grown in the soil with no ground cover was obtained with an irrigation depth of 592 mm.…”

Effects of cover crop, N and residue management on the financial sustainability of processing tomatoes in Southwestern Ontario

“…Cover crops can also provide broader ecosystem services such as enhancing biological diversity and water quality (Van Alfen, 2014;Van Eerd et al, 2023). Agronomic benefits from cover crops include increases in crop yield (Lenzi et al, 2009;Li et al, 2019;Sainju, Singh and Whitehead, 2001), weed suppression (Price et al, 2016), and lowered N input requirements (Frye, Smith and Williams, 1985). Thus, cover crops contribute to agroecosystem sustainability and food security.…”

“…Some research has employed cost-benefit analysis and financial accounting to assess cover crop viability (Bounaffaa, 2015;DeVincentis et al, 2020;Pratt et al, 2014;Snapp et al, 2005). The financial feasibility of cover crops within a vegetable crop farming system, particularly with field processing tomatoes, have been investigated in the United States (DiGiacomo et al, 2023;Price et al, 2016), and in Canada (Belfry et al, 2017;Chahal et al, 2020), but only for limited timeframes.…”