Abstract
In light of the environmental challenges ahead, resilience of the most abundant field crop production systems must be improved to guarantee yield stability with more efficient use of nitrogen inputs, soil and water resources. Along with genetic and agronomic innovations, diversification of northern agro-ecosystems using inter-seeded legumes provides further opportunities to improve land management practices that sustain crop yields and their resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Benefits of legume cover crops have been known for decades and red clover (Trifolium pratense) is one of the most common and beneficial when frost-seeded under winter wheat in advance of maize in a rotation. However, its use has been declining mostly due to the use of synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, concerns over competition with the main crop and the inability to fully capture red clover benefits due to difficulties in the persistence of uniform stands. In this manuscript, we first review the environmental, agronomic, rotational and economical benefits associated with inter-seeded red clover. Red clover adaptation to a wide array of common wheat-based rotations, its potential to mitigate the effects of land degradation in a changing climate and its integration into sustainable food production systems are discussed. We then identify areas of research with significant potential to impact cropping system profitability and sustainability.
Highlights
The vulnerability of northern agro-ecosystems to unfavorable climatic conditions has been demonstrated repeatedly, the latest example being in 2012, when both the lack of rainfall and excessive heat reduced by nearly 13% maize and soybean production across North America and Europe [1]
We will make the case that inter-seeded legumes, especially red clover, are part of the solution to improve resilience of maize and wheat-based cropping systems and promote farming practices that do not jeopardize the capacity of the soil to function over the long-term
Red clover simultaneously planted with a spring cereal is at less of a competitive disadvantage than when frost seeded to winter wheat
Summary
The vulnerability of northern agro-ecosystems to unfavorable climatic conditions has been demonstrated repeatedly, the latest example being in 2012, when both the lack of rainfall and excessive heat reduced by nearly 13% maize and soybean production across North America and Europe [1]. There is a consensus in the literature that abnormal production scenarios may become more common as predicted climatic change will lead to warmer and drier conditions in the mid latitude regions with more variable and extreme weather events [4] Within this context, there is a need to adapt temperate cropping systems to the upcoming changes in climate and resource availability and provide farmers with practical and sustainable solutions to maintain yields under more challenging conditions while using water, nitrogen and soil resources more efficiently. We will make the case that inter-seeded legumes, especially red clover, are part of the solution to improve resilience of maize and wheat-based cropping systems and promote farming practices that do not jeopardize the capacity of the soil to function over the long-term. We will discuss the current constraints hampering its use and suggest research that could enable cover crops to become the cornerstone of sustainable and resilient agro-ecosystems
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