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Full-Season Cover Crops and Their Traits That Promote Agroecosystem Services

Author

Listed:
  • Cameron Wagg

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • Aafke van Erk

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada
    Potatoes New Brunswick, 777 Everard H Daigle Boul, Grand Falls, NB E3Z 3C7, Canada)

  • Erica Fava

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • Louis-Pierre Comeau

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • T. Fatima Mitterboeck

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • Claudia Goyer

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • Sheng Li

    (Fredericton Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 850 Lincoln Rd., Fredericton, NB E3B 4Z7, Canada)

  • Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill

    (Charlottetown Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 440 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7Z5, Canada)

  • Aaron Mills

    (Charlottetown Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 440 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7Z5, Canada)

Abstract

Non-marketable crops are increasingly being used as a tool to promote agroecosystem services and sustainable agriculture. Nevertheless, crops vary greatly in the traits by which they capture resources and influence the local ecosystem. Here we report on the traits and associated soil microbial communities that relate to aboveground biomass production, nutrient capture, weed suppression, erosion control and building particulate organic matter of 22 different full-season cover crops. All agroecosystem services were positively correlated with maximum canopy height and leaf area. Rooting density was positively associated with indices of bacterial diversity. While some legumes produced the greatest standing N and P in aboveground biomass, they were also poor at capturing soil nitrate and promoted high levels of potential plant fungal pathogens. Conversely, Brassicaceae crops had the lowest levels of potential plant fungal pathogens, but also suppressed saprophytic fungi and rhizobia. Thus, not all crops are equal in their ability to promote all agroecosystem services, and while some crops may be ideal for promoting a specific agroecosystem service, this could result in a trade-off with another. Nonetheless, our study demonstrates that plant functional traits are informative for the selection of crops for promoting agroecosystem services.

Suggested Citation

  • Cameron Wagg & Aafke van Erk & Erica Fava & Louis-Pierre Comeau & T. Fatima Mitterboeck & Claudia Goyer & Sheng Li & Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill & Aaron Mills, 2021. "Full-Season Cover Crops and Their Traits That Promote Agroecosystem Services," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:9:p:830-:d:625757
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Garba, Ismail I. & Bell, Lindsay W. & Chauhan, Bhagirath S. & Williams, Alwyn, 2024. "Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    2. Ravjit Khangura & David Ferris & Cameron Wagg & Jamie Bowyer, 2023. "Regenerative Agriculture—A Literature Review on the Practices and Mechanisms Used to Improve Soil Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-41, January.

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