IMPACT OF COVER CROP MANAGEMENT ON CROP PRODUCTION: A FIELD EXPERIMENT IN WALLONIA CONTEXT

Abstract

Minimal soil tillage methods, crop rotation, cover crop and continuous plant residue cover are the main pillars of sustainable agriculture. Lower energy consumption, costs and time are some direct benefits in favor to the adaptation of this agriculture. This practices aims also directly at protecting the soil from wind and water erosion by covering the soil. Lower disruption of the soil aims at developping the micro- and macro-fauna activity that increases soil fertility and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils. Unfortunately, some of the great constraints to the adaptation of conservation agriculture remain weed management, fungal diseases and pest management, that has been shown to be a problem in non-ploughed fields. The aim of our study is to evaluate, on a same field (Wallonia context), contrasted tillage methods for managing the cover crop and the implantation of the main crop. The following measurements were taken: germination rate, root and shoot biomass development, root notation (size and shape), leaf area index and quality of harvested product. Preliminary results indicate that the different tillage methods did not have a significant impact on crop production or development. However changes in germination dynamics were observed, the reduced tillage inducing slower germination. Regarding weeds populations, some difference were observed in weed occurrences. Since a field ex