Location: Application Technology Research
Project Number: 5082-30500-001-086-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026
End Date: Aug 31, 2029
Objective:
Determine the influence of cover crops on plant and soil health in intensive high tunnel vegetable production systems. 1: Evaluate the establishment of three different cover crops within a vegetable high tunnel. 2: Evaluate crop performance and soil health following cover cropping.
Approach:
Cover crops will be established in a randomized complete block design in a high tunnel at Kentucky State University during the fall. Two legume cover crops, including winter pea and red clover, and ryegrass will be grown in late fall and winter of the first project year. Non-cover cropped plots will serve as controls. During spring of the second project year, a tomato crop will be established followed by a late summer or early fall lettuce crop. Cover crops will be reestablished in the late fall and winter of the second project year, and tomato and lettuce crops will be established in the third project year as during the second project year. From cover crops, data on crop establishment and yield will be collected. From tomato and lettuce crops, data on plant vigor, chlorophyll content, and yield will be collected. For soil health, soil nutrient content will be assessed along with soil health measures of active carbon, soil protein and soil respiration. A phytonutrient analysis will be conducted using spectrophotometric methods and HPLC to determine if the use of cover crops has any role to play with the increase of phytonutrients, such as lycopene and beta-carotene.