Ground cover management systems affect soil quality and health and thereby orchard growth and productivity.  There have been few studies in the southern US on the effects of managed drive-rows using cover crops as part of a sustainable apple orchard management system.  A field study used treatments of 1) seasonal legumes (cowpea [Vigna unguiculata] and crimson clover [Trifolium incarnatum]),  2) seasonal grasses (millet [Setaria italic] and annual rye [Lolium multiflorum]), or 3) unmanaged natural vegetation drive row plantings, with mowed vegetation blown into the tree row as mulch (mow/blow) nested variable.