• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2015

The use of cover crops has a beneficial effect on sustainable soil management in pear orchards. We aimed to compare changes in soil chemical properties and biota with the use of different cover crops. We tested the effects of five cover plants, including hairy vetch, orchard grass, rattail fescue, rye, and perennial ryegrass. Use of different cover crops had a minimal impact on soil chemical properties through three year experiments. The aboveground biomass was greatest with the use of rye. The potential amounts of returnable N and P were highest when leguminous hairy vetch was used as a cover plant. Changes in the composition of the microbial community were investigated by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Microbial PLFAs were highest with the use of rattail fescue and lowest with the use of hairy vetch. Minimal changes in the abundances of nematodes and microarthropods suggested that there was no bottom-up control in the soil ecosystem. The results also show that increases in aboveground biomass and nutrient content with the use of cover crops may not promote the abundance of soil organisms.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2019

This study was conducted to nominate optimal ground cover plants eventually enhancing Aronia production in the highland rolling plains. Total number of 17 weed species were observed in Aronia field when no cover plant was applied. Meanwhile, 12, 14, 15 and 16 weed species were observed when kentucky bluegrass, white clover, rattail fescue and ground ivy were used, respectively. Untreated native weed species were 73.6 cm tall before cut, and kentucky bluegrass, white clover, Rattail fescue and ground ivy were 57.5, 36.8, 48.3 and 40.9 cm, respectively. Based on plant height before cut, two shortest plants, white clover and ground ivy, were considered effective as ground cover plants in Aronia field. Coverage at $3^{rd}$ year by cover plants ranged from 85% to 100%. Coverage of uncovered Aronia field by native weed species was 95% while coverage by 4 treatments, kentucky bluegrass, white clover, rattail fescue and ground ivy were 100, 87, 85 and 100%, respectively. Aronia yield per plant at $3^{rd}$ year was 1,916 g with white clover cover followed by 1,770 g with Rattail fescue, 1,766 g with ground ivy, 1,098 g without cover plants and 931 g with Kentucky Bluegrass. Out results indicated that ground ivy was the best among all treatments based on 3 criteria, (1) short plant architecture, (2) rapid ground covering and (3) better weed control. In addition, ground ivy cover appeared to secure better yield.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2010

We aimed to investigate the responses of soil organisms to cover plants and to provide information for the selection of proper plant species. We studied the effects of 7 cover plants, including rye, oat, rattail fescue, Chinese milk vetch, red clover, crimson clover, and hairy vetch, on soil organisms in an apple orchard. An increase in the microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and in the number of nematodes and microarthropods in the soil under the cover plants reflects elevated activities of soil organisms. A decrease in the level of some marker PLFA, which is an indicator of environmental stress, suggests that cover plants provide favorable environments for soil organisms. The population of fungi and animals that feed on fungi increased in the soil surface under red clover. The population density of nematodes and mites increased in the soil surface under rattail fescue, and that of mites and omnivorous nematodes increased in the soil surface under Chinese milk vetch. The level of microbial PLFA in the soil surfaces under the tested cover plants was higher than that under clean culture system. These results suggest that proper selection of the cover plants can facilitate the creation of favorable environments for soil organisms.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.853-858
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• 2011

The cultivation methods are important for determining crop yield of green manure. The effect of cultivation methods of green manure crops (GMC) on biomass and rice yield was investigated. This experiment was conducted at Sinheung series (fine loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts from Oct. 2007 to Oct. 2008 at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Suwon, Gyeonggi province, Korea. Seven GMC (hairy vetch, barley, Chinese milk vetch, rye, crimson clover, oats, rattail fescue) were cultivated and incorporated on paddy soil by broadcasting before rice harvesting (BBRH) and partial tillage seeding (PTS). Among the three leguminous GMC, the biomass and N production were the highest at the hairy vetch of PTS. Among the four gramineae GMC, the biomass and N production tended to be higher in the rye of BBRH and barley of PTS. The C/N ratio (56.5~74.2) of rye was high compared with hairy vetch (14.1). Among the GMC, the incorporation of hairy vetch increased $NH_4$-N contents in rice paddy soil at 14 and 42 days after transplanting. These results showed that hairy vetch had no significant to rice yield compared with conventional fertilization. Therefore, hairy vetch seems to be the most efficient green manure crop as an alternatives to chemical N fertilizer in the central regions of Korea.