Effect of Winter Rye Cultivation to Improve Soil Fertility and Crop production in Alpine Upland in Korea

Soil erosion is one of the most serious problems in alpine upland in Korea. Soil fertility has continuously decreased due to serious soil erosion. To increase soil fertility, new sources of organic matter should be inputted. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to select winter cover crop as new sources of organic matter and to investigate the effect of winter cover crop on soil property changes, major crop productivity (Chinese cabbage, potato) production in highland, and disease occurrence with different cropping systems. Among 17 candidates for winter coverage crop, rye was most suitable due to it's soil covering rate, and over-wintering rate. The optimum sowing period for rye ranged from late August to late September. Soil porosity and organic matter content increased with rye cultivation. Rye cultivation during winter increased amounts of crop (both Chinese cabbage and potato) productivity up to 8%. There was little difference on amount of crop productivity depending on cropping systems such as monoculture (Chinese cabbage or potato) and Chinese cabbage-potato rotation.