WSU Extension Grant-Adams Area

Cover crops

Cover Crop Benefits
Crop Yields  
Soil Quality  Beneficial Insects  Diseases and Nematodes  Weeds  Nutrient Availability  Soil Compaction  Soil Moisture  Erosion  Runoff  Organic Matter  Infiltration

Cover Crops Effects on Nematodes and Diseases

Several Columbia Basin farmers (hyperlink this to case studies) are using cover crops to help manage parasitic nematodes and soil-born diseases. Research has shown that specific varieties of sudangrass (or sorghum-sudangrass hybrids), and some Brassicas, including rapeseed and mustard, can reduce populations of Columbia root-knot nematode. Using these cover crops, farmers have also reduced the populations of other types of nematodes and some soil-born diseases, including Verticillium dahliae. The nematodes and plant diseases are killed by chemicals produced when these cover crops decay in the soil.  In the case of mustard, the chemicals produced are very similar to the chemicals in the fumigant VAPAM.

See Using Green Manures in Potato Cropping Systems for more information.

 

 

 

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