Summer Cover Crops for Fall Cabbage Production In Louisiana

Field experiments were conducted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to evaluate the growth and yield of cabbage transplanted into plots that previously had one of two summer cover crops, Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) or sesame (Sesamum indicum) incorporated in the fall.  The cover crops were broadcast at recommended rates at two timings (June 10, 2010, early planting; July 17, 2010 (late planting) into 3.7 by 18.4 m three row plots using untreated seeds and incorporated using a fence harrow.  On September 15, 2010 a 1 m² area of cover crop and weed shoot mass was sampled, and the soil sampled. Cover crop plots were harvested 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP)  using a forestry cutter and flail mower, and then incorporated by multiple passes of a disk harrow.  Cover crop plots were divided into 3 sub-plots 6.0 meters long receiving two rates of composted chicken litter organic fertilizer (166 and 332 kg N per ha) and an unfertilized control.  Cabbage was machine transplanted into plots at a 30-cm in-row spacing and the middle ten plants of each sub-plot record row were harvested, graded, and individually weighed in March 2011.  In addition, soil and foliar samples were taken at harvest for nutrient analysis.  The preliminary results indicate that cabbage yield was affected by fertilizer treatment and visible differences were observed.  In addition, the 90 day sesame cover crop treatment had lower cabbage yield than the sunn hemp treatments.