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This collection features four peer-reviewed literature reviews on
cover crops in agriculture. The first chapter describes the
contribution of cover crops to improving soil health. The chapter
reviews their key role e.g. supplying a food source for soil
organisms, providing a source of carbon to help build soil organic
matter, enhancing nutrient dynamics in the soil and improving soil
structure. The second chapter considers recent research on the
benefits of cover crops in organic cultivation in areas such as
soil structure and erosion control as well as nutrient cycling. It
also looks at the wider role of cover crops in control of weeds,
diseases and pests, promoting biodiversity and reducing greenhouse
gases (GHGs). The third chapter highlights the use of different
cover crops species to promote live or dead soil mulch cover in
Conservation Agriculture systems. It also reviews how cover crops
effect aspects such as soil acidity and nutrient availability, soil
physical and biological properties, soil nematode control, weed
control and grain yield. The final chapter reviews the role of
cover crops in weed control. Cover crops are important additions to
crop rotations because they suppress weeds during rotational
periods when crops are absent and provide ecosystem services that
enhance soil quality and fertility.
"Improving organic crop production provides a valuable resource for
the current 'state of the art' on understanding mechanisms in these
systems that are both similar and different from those in
conventional systems....The book is especially recommended for
libraries and other places that will provide access to large
numbers of interested people, and as it gives a valuable overview
on current organic farming to graduate students and others in
academia." review by Professor Charles Francis in Agronomy Journal
Global sales of organic products have grown significantly, yet
organic farming remains a small percentage of overall agricultural
production with lower yields than conventional methods. Organic
crop cultivation thus faces a range of challenges if it is to grow
significantly. This volume reviews the wealth of research
addressing these challenges. Part 1 reviews developments in
improving cultivation across the value chain, from breeding more
robust, low input varieties to ways of maintaining soil health and
improving crop nutrition. Part 2 discusses the key topic of pests
and diseases with reviews of integrated pest and weed management as
well as organic plant protection products. Part 3 covers ways of
monitoring the environmental impact of organic farming whilst the
final part of the book discusses ways of supporting organic
cultivation in the developing world. With its distinguished editor
and an international team of expert authors, this will be a
standard reference for all those interested in understanding,
improving and promoting organic farming.
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