THE INFLUENCE OF WINTER COVER CROPS AND THEIR INCORPORATION METHODS ON SPRING WHEAT AGROCENOSIS

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in 2021 and 2022 at the Experimental Station  of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The soil of the experiment is Endocalcaric Amphistagnic Luvisol. Experimental treatments: Factor A: methods of incorporation of cover crops into the soil: 1. Deep ploughing (20 cm deep) in spring; 2. Shallow ploughing (6 cm deep) in the spring. Factor B: winter cover crops: 1. Without cover crop; 2. Crimson (incarnate) clover (10 kg ha^-1); 3. Winter vetch (50 kg ha^-1); 4. Perennial ryegrass (10 kg ha^-1); 5. Winter rye (50 kg ha^-1). According to the data of the experimental study, in the spring wheat agrocenosis dominated the macro soil structure prevailed after shallow ploughing of perennial ryegrass. The lowest shear resistance (71.8 kPa) was determined in spring wheat agrocenosis grown after deep ploughing of crimson clover for green manure in spring. In the spring, the highest number of earthworms (64 units m^-2) was found in the fields, where cover crop of winter rye was deeply ploughed. Significantly 2.0 and 4.6 times higher earthworm biomass was found in the fields, where cover crop of crimson clover was deeply ploughed, compared to deeply and shallowly ploughed perennial ryegrass.