Nurse cropping demonstration trials within potato and corn production systems
Project Lead: Kyra Stiles and Melanie Bos (PEI Department of Agriculture and Land)
Soil Nitrogen Analysis completed by David Burton (Dalhousie University)
This project assesses the influence of nurse cropping within two majors crops grown on PEI, Corn and Potatoes. This trial examines their effect on moisture holding capacity of the soil and yields. A section of the fields are treated with a nurse crop, while the other section remains untreated.
The practice of nurse cropping involves planting a companion crop alongside or inter rowed between the main cash crops during the growing season. It covers the bare spots of soil in the rows, and prevents soil erosion.
The goal is that a nurse crop will potentially boost yields, if it can influence greater water availability to the cash crops, as it acts as a mulch cover throughout the growing season.
8 farms are participating with this trial (4 fields grow potatoes and 4 fields grow corn)
Number of Soil and Water samples collected during 2020 Growing season for this project:
- 60 soil samples
