Fate of nitrogen from green manure, straw, and fertilizer applied to wheat under different summer fallow management strategies in dryland

2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 769-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fucui Li ◽  
Zhaohui Wang ◽  
Jian Dai ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Xiang Wang ◽  
...  
2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew J. Lyon ◽  
Gary W. Hergert

AbstractOrganic farming systems use green and animal manures to supply nitrogen (N) to their fields for crop production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of green manure and composted cattle manure on the subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) crop in a semiarid environment. Dry pea (Pisum sativumL.) was seeded in early April and terminated at first flower in late June. Composted cattle manure was applied at 0, 11.2 or 22.5 Mg ha−1just prior to pea termination. Winter wheat was planted in mid September following the green manure or tilled summer fallow. No positive wheat response to green manure or composted cattle manure was observed in any of the 3 years of the study. In 2 of the 3 years, wheat yields and grain test weight were reduced following green manure. Green manure reduced grain yields compared with summer fallow by 220 and 1190 kg ha−1in 2009 and 2010, respectively. This may partially be explained by 40 and 47 mm less soil water at wheat planting following peas compared with tilled summer fallow in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Also, in 2008 and 2009, soil nitrate level averaged 45 kg ha−1higher for black fallow compared with green manure fallow when no compost was added. Organic growers in the semiarid Central Great Plains will be challenged to supply N fertility to their winter wheat crop in a rapid and consistent manner as a result of the inherently variable precipitation. Growers may need to allow several years to pass before seeing the benefits of fertility practices in their winter wheat cropping systems.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Brandt

Previous research with lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) green manure in the semiarid prairies of western Canada has indicated that water use by the green manure crop often reduces grain yield of the succeeding cereal crop compared to those obtained after conventional summerfallow. In this study, we evaluated several green manure management practices that have potential to trap snow and enhance overwinter soil water recharge. These practices included: using herbicides to halt the growth of the green manure crop thus eliminating the need for soil incorporation, planting mustard (Sinapis alba L.) strips after incorporation, and leaving standing strips of non-incorporated lentil. Our results showed that none of the green manure management strategies increased wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield or grain protein concentration compared to wheat grown on conventional summerfallow. Leaving strips of standing lentil during bud stage incorporation provided barriers for wind erosion protection, while not decreasing wheat yield or protein content. Glyphosate or 2,4-D amine applied at bud stage of the lentil, and without soil incorporation, reduced available soil N. However, 2,4-D did not halt plant growth and water use quickly enough to avoid reducing yield of the succeeding wheat crop, while glyphosate generally halted water use more rapidly. The inability of the green manure management strategies to increase wheat yields over that obtained from conventional summerfallow was because the soil rooting zone is typically filled to capacity with water by this latter practice under the prevailing soil and climatic conditions. If green manuring is practised, early incorporation with lentil leave strips is the most promising management system. However, even with improved water management practices, green manuring did not demonstrate a consistent advantage over summerfallow, which may be required to offset the added economic costs required to enact this practice. Key words: Lens culinaris, legumes, summerfallow, soil nitrogen, soil water, wheat


2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
C. A. Campbell ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. Lemke

Producers in the semiarid Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan have historically produced spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in fallow-based rotations because these cropping systems are profitable and risk efficient; however, their use has also been most damaging to soil quality. New wheat types and management methods have been developed that may offer wheat producers opportunities to enhance economic returns, while improving environmental sustainability. This study compares the economic merits of reducing fallow (F) frequency, using an annual legume green manure (LGM) crop as a summer fallow replacement, adopting a flex-cropping approach based on available soil water reserves (if water) or the need to control problem weeds (if weeds), and the production of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat (W) versus the higher yielding Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat class (HY). The results are based on 15 yr of data from seven crop rotations included in an ongoing experiment being conducted on an Orthic Brown Chernozem at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The crop rotations included F-W-W, LGM-W-W, F-HY-HY, F-W-W-W, continuous W (Cont W), Cont W (if water), and Cont W (if weeds). Cropping systems were managed using conservation tillage practices. They were fertilized with recommended rates of N and P based on soil tests, and crop residue was maintained as tall as possible (usually > 30 cm) to enhance snow trapping. The 1988–2002 study period was characterized by above normal growing season precipitation; thus, grain yields were also above average for this region. Results showed that producers will earn the highest net return with Cont W ($41 ha-1), despite this rotation having the highest production costs. Net returns ranked second highest for F-W-W-W, F-HYHY, and the flex-crop rotations (about $15 ha-1 less than Cont W), and ranked lowest for F-W-W and LGM-W-W (about $25 ha-1 less). However, since 1993, when the LGM was managed more effectively than in the first 6 yr, LGM-W-W was more profitable than F-W-W. On average, it was more profitable to produce CPS compared with CWRS wheat when the CPS/CWRS price ratio was greater than 0.8. Producers who are highly averse to risk would still choose cropping systems that included some summer fallow, while those with lower risk aversion would choose Cont W, but with all-risk crop insurance. In the absence of an all-risk crop insurance program, producers would typically choose Cont W (if water), F-W-W-W, or F-W-W. We concluded that area producers, who practice conservation tillage management and use tall stubble for snowtrapping, can enhance farm income by moving to more intensive cropping systems, and while doing so, they will foster improved environmental sustainability. Key words: Crop rotations, wheat, summer fallow, legume green manure, flex-cropping, production costs, net returns, income variability


2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walkyria Bueno Scivittaro ◽  
Takashi Muraoka ◽  
Antonio Enedi Boaretto ◽  
Paulo César Ocheuze Trivelin

Because of their potential for N2 biological fixation, legumes are an alternative source of nitrogen to crops, and can even replace or supplement mineral fertilization. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate temporal patterns of velvet bean (Mucuna aterrima) green manure release of nitrogen to rice plants, and to study the fate of nitrogen from velvet bean in rice cultivation. The isotopic dilution methodology was used. Treatments consisted of a control and 10 incubation periods of soil fertilized with 15N-labeled velvet bean (0, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, and 240 days). The plant material was previously chopped, sifted (10 mm mesh sieve) and oven-dried (65ºC). Incubation of the plant material (2.2 g kg-1 soil) was initiated by the longest period, in order to synchronize the planting of the test crop, rice (Oryza sativa), at time zero for all treatments. Green manure incorporation promoted increases in rice dry matter yield and nitrogen uptake. These variables showed maximum values at incubation periods of 38 and 169 days, respectively. Green manure nitrogen utilization by rice plants was highest at an incubation period corresponding to 151 days. More than 60% of the green manure nitrogen remained in the soil after rice cultivation. The highest green manure nitrogen recovery from the soil-plant system occurred at an incubation period equivalent to 77 days.


2005 ◽  
Vol 110 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
P BURGERS ◽  
Q KETTERINGS ◽  
D GARRITY

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane De Cara ◽  
Florence Jacquet ◽  
Arnaud Reynaud ◽  
Gaël Goulevant ◽  
Marie-Hélène Jeuffroy ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Naiwen Xue Tianqing Du

The application of catch crops as a green manure can enhance soil fertility owing to improving soil nutrients. We conducted one year field experiment to evaluate the effect of catch crops [Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) under different sowing rates and Soy bean (Glycine max L.)] with biological organic fertilizer 1,500 kg/ha on wheat yield and soil nutrients. The green manures were sown on 3th July 2015 during summer fallow. At the beginning, there were five treatments as follows: R1 (Rapeseed and sowing rate was 7.5 kg/ha); R2 (Rapeseed and sowing rate was 15 kg/ha); R3 (Rapeseed and sowing rate was 22.5 kg/ha); S (Soy bean and sowing rate was 105 kg/ha); C (Control was bare field). Every green manure treatment was split into two treatments on 27th September 2015. One treatment we turned the above ground biomass of green manure into the soil. And another treatment we harvested the above ground biomass of green manure. The above ground biomass turned into soil treatments were G1, G3, G5 and G7. The above ground biomass harvested treatments were G2, G4, G6 and G8. The treatment C was still the bare field. Soil samples were taken twice to measure soil moisture and nutrients at two stages. One stage was in autumn before winter wheat sowing and another stage was in next year summer after wheat harvest. The significantly highest 1,000-grain weight and grain yield belonged to the treatment C, which were 10.69%-36.87% and 16.86%-72.5% higher than that of the green manures treatments. After wheat harvest, the 0-20 cm soil available N and total N of G7 were 51.40%-20.45% and 95.12%-125.35% significantly better than that of other treatments. The significantly highest soil total P of 0-20 cm belonged to G3 after wheat harvest, which was 25%-45.83% better than other treatments. Before wheat sowing, the treatment C kept the significantly lowest soil available K of five layers. The 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm soil organic matter of the treatment S was 40.28%-71.12% and 53.92%-122.67% significantly higher than other treatments before wheat sowing. Therefore, growing rapeseed and soy bean during summer fallow in this region significantly reduced 1,000-grain weight and grain yield of subsequent winter wheat. But the incorporation of green manures improved the soil nutrients to some extent.


Plant Disease ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 1207-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Mazzola ◽  
Kent Mullinix

Alternative management strategies to the use of preplant soil fumigation for the control of apple replant disease (ARD), including cover crops and strategies incorporating Brassica napus seed meal (rape seed meal [RSM]) amendment as the central component, were evaluated in the orchard. A 1-year wheat cover crop consisting of three short-term cropping periods with plant material removed at the end of each growth period and a 3-year B. napus green manure significantly enhanced vegetative growth and yield of Gala/M26. However, in each instance, the resulting disease control and growth response were inferior to that achieved through preplant methyl bromide soil fumigation. A 3-year bare fallow and 1- or 2-year B. napus green manure neither suppressed disease development nor enhanced tree growth. Preplant RSM amendment in conjunction with a postplant mefenoxam soil drench provided effective suppression of ARD, and the resulting tree growth and yield were comparable with that attained in response to 1,3- dichloropropene-chloropicrin fumigation in one orchard. At a second orchard, the growth response attained with the alternative treatment was inferior to preplant soil fumigation, which was associated with an apparent re-infestation of RSM-treated soils and tree roots by Pratylenchus spp. Application of RSM after wheat cropping or in conjunction with soil solarization provided an intermediate level of disease control and a corresponding reduction in growth and yield of apple relative to preplant fumigation at both sites.


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