Effects of intercropping and soil properties on root functional traits of cover crops

Abstract Cover crop trait diversity may enhance multiple ecosystem functions and environmental sustainability in agroecosystems, providing a mechanistic link between crop diversity and changes in ecosystem processes. In agroecosystems, root traits play a key role in functions related to soil nutrient cycling processes, but belowground traits of cover crops are poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed root functional traits of hairy vetch (V. villosa, a legume) and cereal rye (S. cereale, a grass) across five organically-managed agroecosystems in southeastern Michigan selected to span diverse soil fertility levels. Specifically, in this study we ask: (1) what is the extent of cover crop root functional trait variation and is this modified in mixture? (2) Does the expression of cover crop root traits co-vary in predictable patterns? And (3) Which soil properties best explain functional trait variability of cover crops? We found some support for root trait trade-offs; for instance, root C:N and root diameter were positively correlated for rye in mixture (p = 0.049), as were root %N and root length for rye in both mixture (p = 0.003) and monoculture (p

• Publication year

  2019

• Venue

  Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

• Publication date

  2019-12-01

• Fields of study

  Agricultural and Food Sciences, Biology, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/J.AGEE.2019.106614
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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