Complete: The effect of cover crops on soil structure and the subsequent sugar beet yield
Timescale:
2015 - 2019
Project Lead:
Jake Richards PhD student
Project Sponsor:
University of Nottingham and BBRO
Project Summary
The project is investigating the effect of autumn/winter cover crops on the physical structure of soil before and throughout the sugar beet crop and how this may influence growth and yield. We will be looking at the growth of cover crops in the UK and how they change soil structure in controlled environments, small-scale trials and also in commercial beet growing situations.
Main Objectives
Main Objectives
• To understand how cover crop species can influence soil structure
• To determine whether the potential changes to soil structure persist into the sugar beet crop
• To investigate whether changes in soil structure, as a result of growing cover crops, affects the growth and yield of the subsequent beet crop
Outcomes / Key Message For Growers And Industry
Key findings for growers:
- Cover crops can improve soil porosity which can allow better access to water by the sugar beet
- This effect was seen on a sandy loam soil
- It resulted in better access to water leading to larger crop canopy and higher sugar yield during the heatwave of 2018 (Fig.1)
- The greatest effect of this is likely to be seen where cover crops are used in combination with reduced/minimum tillage
BBRO is a not for profit company
We are set up jointly by British Sugar plc and NFU Sugar
