Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Meyers, Stephen L.

Committee Member

Lawrence, Gary W.

Committee Member

Shankle, Mark W.

Committee Member

Barickman, T. Casey

Committee Member

n/a

Date of Degree

12-8-2017

Original embargo terms

Worldwide

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Horticulture

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Plant and Soil Sciences

Abstract

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is a major food resource of much of the world. Sweetpotato production is damaging to the soils in which it is grown due to the nature of production and the condition the soil is left to overwinter. There is potential for future regulation on the production of sweetpotato as related to runoff and nonpoint source pollution as the sediment from runoff erosion is easy to pinpoint in nearby waterways. Two studies were carried out to determine the effect of a reduced tillage practice and cover crops on the accumulation of nutrients in cover crops and yield of sweetpotato. The use of stale seed beds will reduce the number of tillage operations in a field and will allow earlier access to the field. Cover crops will benefit the soil with cover during rains while accumulating and recycling nutrients that may otherwise be lost and improving soil structure with the addition of organic matter.

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