Rye mulch stabilizes vegetable yields—clover living mulch can significantly reduce yields

Results recently published in the journal Plant and Soil by the researchers of the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) show that strip tillage combined with rye mulch can maintain stable yields of white cabbage and celeriac under varying site conditions. In systems with clover as living mulch, however, significant yield declines occurred. The decisive factors are changes in soil nitrogen content, water balance and temperature regime. The findings provide a nuanced basis for the evaluation of mulch cropping systems in vegetable production.