Integrating Cover Crops into Organic Orchard Systems

摘要

Cover crops other than grass can provide various functions in an organic orchard, including nitrogen fixation, biomass for mulch, soil improvement, and flowers for beneficial insects. The current study evaluated various legume species as well as cultivars within species for their potential as a renewable nitrogen source for organic growers, when planted in the drive alley to replace grass. Lucerne (alfalfa) produced the most biomass N over the three-year study, exceeding 100 kg N/ha in most years, which would nearly meet the orchard N needs.