to investigate such systems in vegetable production. Application of cover crop–based reduced tillage in vegetable production systems face challenges due to 1) necessity of producing large cover crop biomass, 2) managing cover crop residue to provide
assessed 28 and 24 d after cucumber sowing in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Weed density was determined using two 50 × 50-cm quadrats and total dry biomass was measured. Cover crop residue was assessed visually weekly based on percent soil cover. Cucumbers
season, fertilizer N applications can often be less in the second or third crop than the first crop because residual fertilizer N carryover and increased N mineralization of prior crop residues and soil organic matter increase the pool of soil NO 3
-Baki, 1998 ). The relative composition of grass to legume in mixtures influences the overall N content and C:N ratio of the residue ( Ranells and Wagger, 1997b ) and therefore mixture composition could influence the effect of the cover crop residue on a
materials such as animal manure, compost, or crop residues can reduce chemical fertilizer doses and contribute to a build-up of soil nutrients ( Prasad et al., 1999 ; Yaduvanshi, 2002 ). Gill and Meelu (1982) demonstrated that 12 t·ha −1 of farm yard
control, improved water infiltration, and reduced runoff ( Teasdale, 1996 ). Teasdale and Mohler (1993) reported that cover crop residues have an influence on weed populations because of the residue proximity to the site of seed germination. Some weed
cover crop residues and their management may influence soil N availability. Thus, objectives of this research were 1) to evaluate the influence of two cover crops on soil N availability on late summer vegetable production using transplanted cabbage
cover crop residue concentrated in the row, and increased soil inorganic N in the root zone of subsequent crops in some cases; however, it had little impact on the subsequent yield or weed suppression, partly because of the cover crop and N mixing across
chemical properties in soil. High C:N ratio crop residues such as straw or corn stalks decompose slowly on incorporation and are more often converted to humus. Raising humus levels in soils is valuable as a long-term source of nutrients and also because it
soil organic matter, compost, recently incorporated crop and cover crop residues, and various organic fertilizers. Cover crops can provide an inexpensive source of N for crop production ( Smith, in press ; Wyland et al., 1996 ). Use of a legume