Nitrogen management in organic farming: comparison of crop rotation residual effects on yields, N leaching and soil conditions

Organic farming is claimed to improve soil fertility. Nonetheless, among organic practices, net C-inputs may largely vary in amount and composition and produce different soil conditions for microbial activity and plant-root system adaptation and development. In this study, we hypothesised that, in the regime of organic agriculture, soil chemical and biochemical properties can substantially differ under contrasting crop rotation systems and produce conditions of soil fertility to which the plant responds through diverse growth and production. The impact of 13 years of Alfalfa-Crop rotation (P-C) and Annual Crop rotation (A-C) was evaluated on the build up of soil organic carbon (SOC), active (light fraction organic matter, LFOM; water soluble organic carbon, WSOC) and humic fraction (fulvic acids carbon, FAC; humic acids carbon, HAC), soil biochemical properties (microbial biomass carbon, MBC; basal respiration, dBR; alkaline phosphatase AmP; arylsulfatase ArS; orto-diphenoloxidase, o-DPO) and the amount of available macro-nutrients (N, P, and S) at two different soil depths (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) before and after cultivation of wheat. We also studied the response of root morphology, physiology and yield of the plant-root system of wheat. Results showed that the level of soil fertility and plant-root system behaviour substantially differed under the two crop rotation systems investigated here. We observed high efficiency of the P-C soil in the build up of soil organic carbon, as it was 2.9 times higher than that measured in the A-C soil. With the exception of o-DPO, P-C soil always showed a higher level of AmP and ArS activity and an initial lower amount of available P and S. The P-C soil showed higher rootability and promoted thinner roots and higher root density. In the P-C soil conditions, the photosynthesis and yield of durum wheat were also favoured. Finally, cultivation of wheat caused an overall depletion of the accrued fertility of soil, mainly evident in the P-C soil, which maintained a residual higher level of all the chemical and biochemical properties tested.

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Perspective of using fusariosis resistant varieties of lupines in organic farming

Interdepartmental thematic scientific collection "Agriculture" ◽

10.31073/zem.94.45-50 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 (94) ◽

pp. 45-50

Author(s):

M.S. Korniychuk ◽

N.V. Tkachenko

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Organic Production ◽

High Protein ◽

Mineral Fertilizers ◽

Resistant Varieties ◽

Plant Remains ◽

Digestible Protein ◽

Protein Feed

The expediency of fusarium resistant lupines usage in organic farming for improving soil fertility and producing high protein feed for livestock is justified in this article. Organic production excludes the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. In these circumstances, increases the value of cultures that positively affect the fertility of soils and their phytosanitary status. These crops include annual fodder lupine (yellow, white and angustifolia), especially varieties that are resistant to disease. Having the highest nitrogen-fixing ability among annual legume crops, lupins, depending on the type and conditions of cultivation, can accumulate from 80 to 300 kg/ha of environmentally pure symbiotic nitrogen in biomass. Plowing the green mass (30-45 t/ha) is equivalent to the corresponding amount of manure or introduction of 5-7 t/ha of ammonium nitrate. 30 kg/ha of phosphorus and 50 kg/ha of potassium are entering the soil with plant remains. Therefore, lupine provides itself with nutrients and still leaves up to 150 kg/ha of nitrogen in the soil after harvesting for subsequent crops in crop rotation. In organic production, fusariosis resistant varieties of lupines are also interesting as a source of high protein feeds for livestock. They are building up to 60 t/ha of biomass, which contains more than one ton of digestible protein. In grain of the fodder varieties contains 40-52% of crude protein, 5.5-6.0% of fat, 10-12% of sugar. The characteristic of fusarium resistant varieties of lupins (yellow, white and angustifolia), created in the NSC "Institute of Agriculture NAAS" and included in the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine is presented in this article. These varieties are practically not affected by fusariosis under the production conditions and do not require the use of fungicides during the growing season. They can be grown in crop rotation with a return period of 2-3 years, whereas for unstable it took 6-7 years. Because of the inability to use in organic farming fungicide to prevent crop losses from anthracnose, it is necessary to use predominantly angustifolia lupine varieties, which are now more tolerant to this disease, prevent sowing of infected seeds and adhere to crop rotation. Fusarium-resistant varieties of lupins are suitable for cultivation in poucous and sown crops, and in mixtures with other crops.

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Influence of crop rotation, intermediate crops, and organic fertilizers on the soil enzymatic activity and humus content in organic farming systems

Eurasian Soil Science ◽

10.1134/s1064229313020105 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 198-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Marcinkeviciene ◽

V. Boguzas ◽

S. Balnyte ◽

R. Pupaliene ◽

R. Velicka

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activity ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Humus Content ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Soil Enzymatic Activity ◽

Organic Farming Systems

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Limitations of Improved Nitrogen Management to Reduce Nitrate Leaching and Increase Use Efficiency

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.457 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 10-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

James L. Baker

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Management Practices ◽

Nitrate Nitrogen ◽

Nitrogen Management ◽

N Leaching ◽

N Loss ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Rate Method ◽

N Management

The primary mode of nitrogen (N) loss from tile-drained row-cropped land is generally nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching. Although cropping, tillage, and N management practices can be altered to reduce the amount of leaching, there are limits as to how much can be done. Data are given to illustrate the potential reductions for individual practices such as rate, method, and timing of N applications. However, most effects are multiplicative and not additive; thus it is probably not realistic to hope to get overall reductions greater than 25 to 30% with in-field practices alone. If this level of reduction is insufficient to meet water quality goals, additional off-site landscape modifications may be necessary.

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Justification of elements of rice cultivation technology

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/202017501006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 175 ◽

pp. 01006 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadezhda Malysheva ◽

Anna Khadzhidi ◽

Evgeny Kuznetsov ◽

Noureldin Sharaby ◽

Alexander Koltsov

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Crop Rotation ◽

Rice Variety ◽

Sprinkler Irrigation ◽

Rice Fields ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Rice Crop ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Rice Productivity ◽

The Impact

The purpose of the research is to identify the impact of sprinkler irrigation in rice crop rotation on rice productivity and soil fertility of irrigated lands of the Krasnodar region. To achieve this goal, the tasks of studying the density of weed seedlings after sprinkler irrigation, the content of water-soluble salts and humus in the soil of rice fields, and the reaction of an intensive variety of rice cultivated after irrigation and drainage techniques in rice fields were completed. Material and methods. Field studies were carried out on the Kuban irrigation system of the Krasnodar territory, which is the most typical in terms of soil conditions for the western climatic zone of the region, with various variants for sprinkler irrigation after major planning of basins. An intensive of Rapan rice variety was used. The methods of the Federal Research Center for Rice, the Kuban State Agrarian University, and Russian standards were applied. Conclusions, the obtained results of the conducted studies prove the effectiveness of sprinkler irrigation in rice crop rotation, increase soil fertility, rice productivity, and contribute to the production of environmentally friendly products without herbicides treatment.

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Productive and Physiological Response of Organic Potato Grown under Highly Calcareous Soils to Fertilization and Mycorrhization Management

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10081200 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1200

Author(s):

Sara Lombardo ◽

Cristina Abbate ◽

Gaetano Pandino ◽

Bruno Parisi ◽

Aurelio Scavo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Calcareous Soils ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Alkaline Soils ◽

Gas Exchange Parameters ◽

Marketable Yield ◽

Potato Growth

The enhancement of the actual low yields is the most important challenge regarding organic farming management. In this view, a valid tool may arise by the improvement of fertilization management and efficiency. In this regard, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can play an important role, especially in low fertility soils such as calcareous ones, through a better nutrient uptake and by alleviating abiotic stresses. A replicated-space experiment was carried out to investigate the role of mycorrhizal-based inoculants combined with full or halved fertilizer doses on yield and physiological traits of three early potato cultivars organically grown in highly calcareous and alkaline soils. The results indicate that AMF symbiosis ameliorated, in comparison to the not-inoculated plants, the potato tolerance to limestone stress by enhancing the potential quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/F0) and plant gas-exchange parameters (photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance). Moreover, a significant improvement of marketable yield (+25%) was observed, mainly due to an increase of the number of tubers plant−1 (+21%) and, to a lesser extent, of average tuber weight (+10%). The AMF efficiency was higher applying halved fertilizer doses and in the location where soil conditions were unfavourable for potato growth. Moreover, the qRT-PCR highlighted that AMF colonization was similar in each location, demonstrating their tolerance to limestone, alkalinity and P stresses. These findings outlined that AMF are good candidate to bio-ameliorate calcareous soils and are very useful for improving potato yields under organic farming, limiting external fertilizers supply and environmental pollution.

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Nitrogen migration in crop rotations differing in fertilisation

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2015132-6672 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. e0303 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Saulius Guzys ◽

Stefanija Miseviciene

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Crop Productivity ◽

Research Area ◽

Drainage Water ◽

Perennial Grasses ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

N Balance ◽

N Leaching ◽

Soil N

Inappropriate use of nitrogen fertilisers is becoming a global problem; however, continuous fertilisation with N fertiliser ensures large and constant harvests. To evaluate the relationships of differently fertilised cultivated plant rotation with N metabolism in the agroecosystem the research was conducted between 2006 and 2013 at Lipliūnai, Lithuania, in fields with calcareous gley brown soil, i.e. Endocalcari Endohypogleyic Cambisol (CMg-n-w-can). The research area covered three drained plots where crop rotation of differently fertilised cereals and perennial grasses were applied. The greatest productivity was found in a higher fertilisation (TII, 843 kg N/ha) cereals crop rotation. With less fertilisation (TI, 540 kg N/ha) crop rotation productivity of cereals and perennial grasses (TIII, 218 kg N/ha) was 11-35% lower. The highest amount of mineral soil N (average 76 kg/ha) was found in TI. It was influenced by fertilisation (r=0.71) and crop productivity (r=0.39). TIII tended to reduce Nmin (12.1 mg/L) and Ntotal (12.8 mg/L) concentrations in drainage water and leaching of these elements (7 and 8 kg/ha). Nmin and Ntotal concentrations in the water depended on crop productivity respectively (r=0.48; r=0.36), quantity of mineral soil N (r=0.65; r=0.59), fertilisation (r=0.59; r=0.52), and N balance (r=0.26; r=0.35). Cereal crop rotation increased N leaching by 12-42%. The use of all crop rotations resulted in a negative N balance. Nitrogen balance depended on fertilisation with N fertiliser (r=0.55). The application of perennial grasses crop rotation in agricultural fields was the best environmental tool, reducing N migration to drainage.

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EVALUATION OF FARMERS APPRECIATION IN REDUCING PESTICIDE BY ORGANIC FARMING PRACTICE

Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.21082/ijas.v6n2.2005.59-68 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Indraningsih Indraningsih ◽

Yulvian Sani ◽

Raphaella Widiastuti

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cattle ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Attitude Change ◽

Pesticide Residues ◽

Residue Analysis ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Agricultural Products ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Farming Practice ◽

Dairy Milk

Vegetables and dairy milk are important commodities in Pangalengan and Lembang, West Java. However, agrochemicals are used intensively and excessively in production system. Therefore, pesticide residues and contamination commonly occurred in agricultural products and environments. The study aimed to assess farmers’ attitudes on pesticide toxicity and reducing pesticide residues in animal and food crops products, and investigate the attitude changes of farmers on pesticide use. It was an on-farm research and farmers were directly involved in the study. The attitude change was analyzed on questionnaire and interview base for over 99 respondents in Pangalengan and Lembang between 2001 and 2003. Samples of soils, weeds, cabbages and milk were collected for pesticide residue analysis. Results showed that farmers did not aware on toxicity effects of pesticides in both animal and human health. There was misinterpretation among the farmers where pesticides were regarded as drugs rather than toxic compound to increase productivity. The organochlorines/OCs (lindane and heptachlor) were common pesticide contaminants found in soils of 7.9- 11.4 ppb, but no organophospates (OPs) were detected. Both OCs and OPs were also detected in soils of Lembang at a range of 11.53-65.63 ppb and 0.6-2.6 ppb, respectively. There were pesticide residues detected in weeds collected from Pangalengan (8.93 ppb lindane, 2.05 ppb heptachlor, and 33.27 ppb chlorpyriphos methyl/CPM and Lembang (6.45 ppb lindane, 2.65 ppb endosulfan, 6.85 ppb diazinon, and 0.5 ppb CPM). Only endosulfan with least residue level (0.1 ppb) was detected in organic cabbages, whereas lindane was detected much higher (3.7 ppb) in non-organic cabbages. Pesticide residues were not detected in milk of dairy cattle fed on by-products of organic cabbages, but lindane was still present in milk of dairy cattle fed on non-organic cabbages for 7 days subsequently. The present study indicates that the organic farming practice may reduce pesticide residues in animal and agricultural products. Farmers appreciated that pesticides may cause residual effects on their products (95.2%) and affected public health and environment (92.9%). Therefore, they were willing to convert their agricultural practices to organic farming (69.1%).

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Conducting a Blue Dye Demonstration to Teach Irrigation and Nutrient Management Principles in a Residential Landscape

EDIS ◽

10.32473/edis-ss594-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (11) ◽

Author(s):

George Hochmuth ◽

Laurie Trenholm ◽

Esen Momol ◽

Don Rainey ◽

Claire Lewis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Nutrient Management ◽

Nitrate Nitrogen ◽

Nitrogen Management ◽

Blue Dye ◽

N Leaching ◽

Fact Sheet ◽

Residential Landscape ◽

County Agents ◽

Soil And Water

This publication discusses the “blue dye” test, which is one way that Extension professionals can show homeowners how water and nutrients move through the soil following irrigation. The information should be useful for county agents to demonstrate basic irrigation and nitrogen management practices and their effects on nitrate-nitrogen (N) leaching. This 4-page fact sheet was written by George Hochmuth, Laurie Trenholm, Esen Momol, Don Rainey, Claire Lewis, and Brian Niemann, and published by the UF Department of Soil and Water Science, November 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss594

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Water and Nitrogen Budget Dynamics for a Maize-Peanut Rotation in Florida

Transactions of the ASABE ◽

10.13031/trans.13916 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (6) ◽

pp. 2003-2020

Author(s):

Maria I. Zamora Re ◽

Sagarika Rath ◽

Michael D. Dukes ◽

Wendy Graham

Keyword(s):

Crop Rotation ◽

Root Zone ◽

N Uptake ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

N Leaching ◽

Soil N ◽

Fertilizer Rate ◽

Irrigation Treatments ◽

Fertilizer Rates

HighlightsDSSAT simulations of final N uptake, biomass, and yield for a maize-peanut rotational field experiment with three irrigation treatments and three N fertilizer rates had good performance for the irrigated treatments (average nRMSE of 9%) but greater error for the rainfed treatments (average nRMSE of 15%).Experiments and DSSAT simulations demonstrated that N fertilizer and irrigation applications were reduced by 26% and 60%, respectively, when using a 247 kg N ha-1 fertilizer rate and a sensor-based irrigation schedule rather than conventional practices of 336 kg N ha-1 and a calendar-based irrigation method, with no impact on yield.Simulations demonstrated that N leaching during the crop rotation was reduced by 37% when an N fertilizer rate of 247 kg N ha-1 and sensor-based irrigation scheduling were used versus conventional practices.Soil N increased (=15 mg kg-1) when maize and peanut residues decayed and then leached during the fallow season. Cover or cash crops planted immediately after the maize and peanut harvests have potential to take up this N and reduce leaching.Abstract. Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for crop growth and yield; however, excessive N applications not taken up by crops can result in N leaching from the root zone, increasing N loads to waterbodies and leading to a host of environmental problems. The main objective of this study was to simulate water and N balances for a maize-peanut (Zea mays L. and Arachis hypogaea L.) rotational field experiment with three irrigation treatments and three N fertilizer rates. The irrigation treatments consisted of mimicking grower irrigation practices in the region (GROW), using soil moisture sensors to schedule irrigation (SMS), and non-irrigated (NON). The N fertilizer rates were low, medium, and high (157, 247, and 336 kg N ha-1, respectively) for maize with a constant 17 kg ha-1 for all peanut treatments. DSSAT maize genetic coefficients were calibrated using the SMS-high treatment combination under the assumption of no water or N stress. The other eight treatment combinations were used as independent data for model validation of the crop coefficients. All soil hydrologic parameters were specified based on measured values, and default DSSAT peanut genetic coefficients were used with no calibration. For the irrigated treatments, DSSAT models had good performance for N uptake, biomass, and yield (average nRMSE of 8%) and moderate performance for soil water content (average nRMSE of 18%). Soil nitrate RMSE was 21% lower than the standard deviation of the observed data (5.8 vs. 7.2 mg kg-1). For the rainfed treatments, DSSAT had greater error (average nRMSE of 15% for N uptake, biomass, and yield, and average nRMSE of 31% for soil water). Soil nitrate RMSE was 11% greater than the standard deviation of the observed data (8.0 vs. 7.2 mg kg-1), and nRMSE was >30% during the crop rotation. Simulations estimated that N leaching over the crop rotation was reduced by 24% on average when using the 247 kg N ha-1 fertilizer rate compared to 336 kg N ha-1 across the irrigation treatments. Furthermore, N leaching was reduced by 37% when using SMS to schedule irrigation and the 247 kg N ha-1 fertilizer rate for maize and 17 kg N ha-1 for peanut compared to conventional practices (GROW and 336 kg N ha-1 for maize and 17 kg N ha-1 for peanut). Moreover, this management practice reduced N fertilizer use by 26% and irrigation water use by up to 60% without negative impacts on yield. Observed and simulated soil N increased during maize and peanut residue decay, with simulations estimating that this soil N would leach below the root zone during the fallow season. This leaching could potentially be reduced if a cover crop or cash crop were planted between the maize and peanut crops to take up the mineralized N. Keywords: Agricultural best management practices, Bare fallow, BMPs, Maize-peanut rotation, N balance, N fertilization, N leaching, Sandy soils, Sensor-based irrigation scheduling, Water balance.

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