Rye mulch stabilises vegetable yields – clover living mulch can significantly reduce yields

22.04.2026

Field trial with white cabbage and celery on the IGZ site. Photo: IGZ/J. Vogt

Results recently published in the journal ‘Plant and Soil’ by the researchers of the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) show that strip tillage combined with rye mulch can maintain stable yields of white cabbage and celeriac under varying site conditions. In systems with clover as living mulch, however, significant yield declines occurred. The decisive factors are changes in soil nitrogen content, water balance and temperature regime. The findings provide a nuanced basis for the evaluation of mulch cropping systems in vegetable production.

The field study by the IGZ compares different tillage and soil cover systems in the open-field cultivation of white cabbage and celeriac at several sites in Germany, including the experimental site at IGZ in Großbeeren and vegetable farms in eastern Germany. The treatments examined were strip tillage with rye mulch, a clover living mulch and an uncovered control.

Across all sites, the combination of strip tillage and rye mulch enabled stable yields compared to the control for both crops. In contrast, yields in the clover living mulch system declined significantly. These differences are closely linked to altered soil conditions, in particular lower availability of mineral nitrogen, altered soil moisture conditions, and lower soil temperatures, which influence crop growth conditions.

The results illustrate that living mulch systems in vegetable production cannot be assessed independently of the site and the overall system. Whilst they can fulfil positive ecological functions under certain conditions, potential conflicts of interest with productivity arise at the same time, particularly due to competition for water and nutrients.

Original publication
Hefner, M., Sradnick, A. & Heistermann, K. “Cabbage and celeriac yields were preserved by strip-tillage with rye mulch but reduced by clover living mulch due to effects on soil nitrogen, moisture and temperature.” Plant Soil (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08491-x

Further information

‘BioStripPlant’ project: https://igzev.de/en/research/projects/82/biostripplant
Open Field Horticultural Systems’ research group: https://igzev.de/en/research/research-groups/hortsys-1

Contact
Katia Heistermann, Scientist | Email heistermann@igzev.de | Phone +49 (0) 33 701 78 358
Julia Vogt, Press and Public Relations | Email presse@igzev.de | Phone +49 (0) 33 701 78 163

Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops
The Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ) is a research institute of the Leibniz Association and contributes to solving current global challenges with science-based findings from basic and applied research in horticulture. These include the preservation of biodiversity, combating climate change and the still widespread malnutrition. The institute is jointly funded by the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg (MWFK) and the Federal Ministry Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). The IGZ is based in Großbeeren.

Rye mulch stabilises vegetable yields – clover living mulch can significantly reduce yields

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