The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program provided Rodale Institute with funding for a three-year vegetable trial focusing on cover crop alternatives to petroleum-derived disposable black plastic mulch. The results are published here: Below we've included part of the Executive Summary:
The goal of the study was to measure the impacts of these different mulch systems on soil quality and
fertility, weed control, yields and waste production, and profitability for small to mid-size vegetable
operations. The vegetable trials at Rodale Institute compared cover crop nitrogen, potential carbon
contribution, weed suppression, yields and soil health between rolled and mowed vetch and rye cover
crops as well as commonly used black plastic. At the four collaborating farms in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey, each farmer tested one cover crop system with the standard system.
The cover crop systems provided serviceable weed control, added more biomass to the soil,
contributed nutrients, and increased soil moisture and percent total soil carbon. Although marketable
yields were lower, on average, some of the cover crop systems achieved higher profits across the three
years. The cover crop mulch systems eliminated 91.5 lb of plastic waste per acre.
Challenges related to extreme weather conditions and late blight meant results were more variable
than anticipated, but all of the partner farmers continue to use what they’ve learned from the project
to reduce their reliance on black plastic. Benefits partner farmers experienced include discovering a
method for more effective cover crop kill, substantial cost savings and new ways to use cover crops
between rows for ecosystem benefits. One partner has already cut his black plastic use in half and
hopes to expand even further.
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