Table 1 Aboveground dry biomass clipped at the first mowing event (ADW _MW1), the corresponding leaf area surface index (LAI) and water use per leaf area unit (ETLEAF) of all cover crops tested.

From: A comparative study of fifteen cover crop species for orchard soil management: water uptake, root density traits and soil aggregate stability

Cover crop group

Treatment (T)

ADW_MW1 (g m−2)

LAI (m2 m−2)

ETLEAF (mm m−2 day −1)

Legumes

Trifolium michelianum

750.0a

12.4a

1.81d

Medicago polymorpha

274.3c

2.5c

4.92bc

Medicago lupulina

503.3b

5.1b

4.05bcd

Medicago truncatula

641.2a

5.4b

3.40bcd

Lotus corniculatus

660.7a

5.3b

3.65cd

Grasses

Festuca arundinacea

161.8cd

1.5cd

8.83a

Festuca ovina

48.4d

1.0cd

7.75a

Festuca rubra commutata

125.3cd

1.2cd

8.54a

Poa pratensis

108.6cd

1.3cd

8.12a

Lolium perenne

106.8cd

1.2cd

9.22a

Creeping

Glecoma hederacea

89.6d

0.8cd

3.68*bcd

Hieracium pilosella

0.0d

–

3.86*bcd

Dichondra repens

0.0d

–

5.46*b

Sagina subulata

0.0d

–

–

Trifolium subterraneum

23.2d

0.2d

2.74*bcd

  1. Lowercase letters indicate significant differences among treatments (SNK test, p < 0.05) and *indicates ETLEAF based on LAI estimated through photo analysis as creeping plants were not mowed.
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