80 POSTER SESSION 12 (Abstr. 635-649) Crop Protection
210 ORAL SESSION 56 (Abstr. 491–498) Vegetable Crops: New Crops
12 ORAL SESSION 1 (Abstr. 001-008) Vegetables: Cover Crops/Culture and Management
147 WORKSHOP 16 (Abstr. 328–332) Multi-level Interactions between Cover Crops and Perennial Fruits
105 ORAL SESSION 21 (Abstr. 188–194) Vegetable Crops: Culture and Management II
164 ORAL SESSION 43 (Abstr. 364–370) Vegetable Crops: Culture and Management IV
Poster Session 31— Vegetable Crops Management-Cropping Systems 2 29 July 2006, 1:15–2:00 p.m.
The species Brassica napus includes economically important vegetable and fodder crops, such as oilseed rape, rutabaga, and leaf rape. A B. napus crop called nabicol has been grown by farmers in northwestern Spain for many years, and is an
The goals of sustainable agriculture include decreased reliance on synthetic nutrients and pesticides and improved environmental quality for the long-term benefit of the land, livelihood of growers, and their communities. Cropping systems that maximize these goals use alternative fertility and pest control options to produce crops with minimal soil erosion and nutrient leaching. Cropping system elements that can help achieve these goals include: reduced tillage, cover crops, and organic soil amendments. Cover crops are grown before the cash crop and used to replenish the soil with nitrogen and organic matter. Cover crops often also influence pest populations and can be selected based on site-specific growing conditions. Cover crops can be mulched on the soil surface to prevent erosion and weed emergence or can be tilled directly into the soil to incorporate nitrogen and organic matter. Green waste mulch is an increasingly used soil amendment. Many municipalities are encouraging farmers to use green waste mulch in farming systems as an alternative to green waste disposal in landfills. Reduced tillage was once restricted to large-seeded field crops but recent technical advances have made it a feasible option for vegetables and other horticultural crops. Alternative farming practices; however, are still only used by a small minority of growers. Increases in price for organic produce and changes in laws governing farming operations may increase adoption of alternatives to conventional agriculture.
The role of irrigation in ensuring food security is vital as about 40% of world food is produced by irrigated agriculture and horticulture according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO, 2002 ). On the other hand, crop