Navigating the challenges of integrating cover crops into diverse vegetable operations in southern California

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

8:24 AM - 8:36 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 127 C

Presenting Author(s)

Jacob Pecenka, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Research Associate
Rodale Institute
Camarillo, California

Co-Author(s)

AB

Arianna Bozzolo

Research Director
Rodale Institute
Camarillo, California
AS

Andrew Smith

Rodale Institute
Kutztown, Pennsylvania

The moderate climate of southern California allows for year-round production of a diverse assortment of vegetable crops, while the expensive cost of land and labor for the region demands high productivity to remain financially sustainable. These factors combine to make the integration of cover crops into a productive system challenging, as any time a field is out of production represents a loss in potential crop yield. Researchers at the Rodale Institute California Organic Center examined how the integration of cover crops to a vegetable system can provide improvements to soil fertility, weed suppression, and recruitment of beneficial arthropods.