Abstract The use of winter cover crops (CCs) in annual rotations is a tool to increase agroecosystem sustainability. To optimize their benefits, the choice of how to terminate CCs in spring is crucial, because this decision may lead to differences in soil–plant variables and affect cash crop productivity. The use of a roller-crimper is an emerging option in both conservation and organic agriculture but its adoption in Mediterranean regions is still rare. In this work the objective was to identify best CC termination practices to maximize benefits and increase agro-ecosystem resilience. To this end a field experiment with a barley/vetch (Hordeum vulgare L. / Vicia villosa L.) CC mixture followed by an irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) was conducted in Central Spain in three consecutive years. Each year, three CC termination methods (roller-crimper, glyphosate + roller-crimper, and CC residue incorporation) and four post-emergence operations to reduce weed pressure in summer (post-emergence herbicide, inter-row cultivator, the combination of the two, or without operation) were compared. The effect on the spring soil water content and temperature, weed control, soil inorganic N and the corn grain yield and N content were evaluated. Energy and economic analyses were conducted. An ineffective CC termination by roller-crimper was overcome when using glyphosate or post-emergence herbicides. However, the roller-crimper was less dependent on post-emergence operations than residue incorporation to achieve proper weed control and attain good productivity. The results showed that in early corn growth stages, roller-crimper use enhanced the soil’s water conservation and decreased soil temperature compared to CC residue incorporation. Moreover, the energy cost was lower for roller-crimper termination. Our findings suggest that the roller-crimper increases the environmental sustainability in Mediterranean regions, but farmers may encounter economic risks. Further research is needed to find proper conditions that maximize the potential of this CC termination method under Mediterranean conditions.

中文翻译：

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设计可持续种植系统的覆盖作物终止选择

摘要 在年度轮作中使用冬季覆盖作物 (CC) 是提高农业生态系统可持续性的一种工具。为了优化其效益，选择如何在春季终止 CCs 至关重要，因为这一决定可能会导致土壤 - 植物变量的差异并影响经济作物生产力。使用滚压机是保护和有机农业的新兴选择，但它在地中海地区的采用仍然很少见。在这项工作中，目标是确定最佳 CC 终止做法，以最大限度地提高收益并提高农业生态系统的弹性。为此，在西班牙中部连续三年使用大麦/野豌豆 (Hordeum vulgare L. / Vicia villosa L.) CC 混合物和灌溉玉米 (Zea mays L.) 进行田间试验。每年，三种 CC 端接方法（辊式压接机、草甘膦+滚压机，CC残渣掺入）和四种降低夏季杂草压力的苗后操作（苗后除草剂，行间中耕，两者结合，或不操作）进行了比较。评价了对春季土壤含水量和温度、杂草控制、土壤无机氮和玉米籽粒产量和氮含量的影响。进行了能源和经济分析。使用草甘膦或芽后除草剂时，辊卷曲机无法有效终止 CC。然而，辊卷曲机较少依赖于出苗后操作，而不是残渣掺入，以实现适当的杂草控制并获得良好的生产力。结果表明，在玉米生长早期，与 CC 残留物掺入相比，辊压机的使用增强了土壤的保水能力并降低了土壤温度。此外，辊压接终端的能源成本更低。我们的研究结果表明，辊压机提高了地中海地区的环境可持续性，但农民可能会遇到经济风险。需要进一步研究以找到在地中海条件下最大限度地发挥这种 CC 终止方法的潜力的适当条件。