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2019-2021 Brassica Cover Crops in Vegetable Rotations Trial
Darby, Heather Malone, Rory
Darby, Heather
Malone, Rory
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Abstract
Brassica crops are an important crop on diversified vegetable farms in Vermont and the Northeast. Brassicas are becoming more popular as a cover crop due to their unique benefits to soil health. They provide ground cover and cover crop biomass rapidly in the fall, and brassicas with long taproots further break up soil compaction. Brassicas grown on vegetable farms include rutabaga, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and mustard greens. Despite the benefits, not all vegetable producers are quick to add brassica cover crops to their brassica cash crop rotations due to concern that pests and disease are likely to transfer from one brassica crop to another. An increased use of high tunnels has also created a “green bridge” for disease and pests in the winter months. To assess the risk of pest and disease carryover between brassica crops, the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crop and Soils (NWCS) Team conducted a field trial at two locations over two full field seasons with fall-planted brassica cover crops, followed by a broccoli cash crop.
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Date
2022-04-01