
Journal Article
Mustard Green Manures Replace Fumigant and Improve Infiltration in Potato Cropping System [2003]
McGuire, A.M.;
In potato (Solanum tuberosum) production, farmers often use expensive fumigants to control soilborne pests. Mustard green manures may offer farmers an equally effective, but less expensive, alternative to fumigants for control of these pests. In a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum)-potato rotation, potato (Russet Norkotah) yields following white mustard (Sinapis alba Martigena) or oriental mustard (Brassica juncea Cutlass) green manures averaged 32.5 tons/acre with or without the soil fumigant metam sodium. An average of 86% of the tubers met the US #1 grade (>4 oz). Infiltration rates for soils receiving mustard green manures were from 2 to 10 times greater than those not receiving green manures. In similar potato cropping systems, farmers replacing metam sodium with mustard green manures could potentially improve their soil's infiltration rate while saving an estimated $66/acre.