Early nitrogen supply as an alternative management for a cover crop-maize sequence under a no-till system

AbstractOptimizing agronomic efficiency (AE) of nitrogen (N) fertilizer use by crops and enhancing crop yields are challenges for tropical no-tillage systems since maintaining crop residues on the soil surface alters the nutrient supply to the system. Cover crops receiving N fertilizer can provide superior biomass, N cycling to the soil and plant residue mineralization. The aims of this study were to (i) investigate N application on forage cover crops or cover crop residues as a substitute for N sidedressing (conventional method) for maize and (ii) investigate the supply of mineral N in the soil and the rates of biomass decomposition and N release. The treatments comprised two species, i.e., palisade grass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. Ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster] and ruzigrass [Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ. and C.M. Evrard) Crins], and four N applications: (i) control (no N application), (ii) on live cover crops 35 days before maize seeding (35 DBS), (iii) on cover crop residues 1 DBS, and (iv) conventional method (N sidedressing of maize). The maximum rates of biomass decomposition and N release were in palisade grass. The biomass of palisade grass and ruzigrass were 81 and 47% higher in N application at 35 DBS compared with control in ruzigrass (7 Mg ha−1), and N release followed the pattern observed of biomass in palisade and ruzigrass receiving N 35 DBS (249 and 189 kg N ha−1). Mineral N in the soil increased with N application regardless of cover crop species. Maize grain yields and AE were not affected when N was applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or 1 DBS (average 13 Mg ha−1 and 54 kg N kg−1 maize grain yield) compared to conventional method. However, N applied on ruzigrass 35 DBS decreased maize grain yields. Overall, N fertilizer can be applied on palisade grass 35 DBS or its residues 1 DBS as a substitute for conventional sidedressing application for maize.

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Suitability of peanut residue as a nitrogen source for a rye cover crop

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162007000200012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

pp. 181-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kipling Shane Balkcom ◽

Charles Wesley Wood ◽

James Fredrick Adams ◽

Bernard Meso

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

Soil Surface ◽

N Application ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Application Rates ◽

Arachis Hypogaea L ◽

Secale Cereale L ◽

Biomass Yields

Leguminous winter cover crops have been utilized in conservation systems to partially meet nitrogen (N) requirements of succeeding summer cash crops, but the potential of summer legumes to reduce N requirements of a winter annual grass, used as a cover crop, has not been extensively examined. This study assessed the N contribution of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) residues to a subsequent rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop grown in a conservation system on a Dothan sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) at Headland, AL USA during the 2003-2005 growing seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split plot design, with main plots of peanut residue retained or removed from the soil surface, and subplots as N application rates (0, 34, 67 and 101 kg ha-1) applied in the fall. Peanut residue had minimal to no effect on rye biomass yields, N content, carbon (C) /N ratio, or N, P, K, Ca and Zn uptake. Additional N increased rye biomass yield, and N, P, K, Ca, and Zn uptakes. Peanut residue does not contribute significant amounts of N to a rye cover crop grown as part of a conservation system, but retaining peanut residue on the soil surface could protect the soil from erosion early in the fall and winter before a rye cover crop grows sufficiently to protect the typically degraded southeastern USA soils.

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Effect of Winter Cover Crops on Soil Nitrogen Availability, Corn Yield, and Nitrate Leaching

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/tsw.2001.267 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 22-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

S. Kuo ◽

B. Huang ◽

R. Bembenek

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

N Leaching ◽

Corn Yield ◽

N Availability ◽

Soil N ◽

Soil N Availability ◽

N Concentration ◽

Fertilizer Rates

Biculture of nonlegumes and legumes could serve as cover crops for increasing main crop yield, while reducing NO3leaching. This study, conducted from 1994 to 1999, determined the effect of monocultured cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch on N availability in soil, corn (Zea mays L.) yield, and NO3-N leaching in a silt loam soil. The field had been in corn and cover crop rotation since 1987. In addition to the cover crop treatments, there were four N fertilizer rates (0, 67, 134, and 201 kg N ha-1, referred to as N0, N1, N2, and N3, respectively) applied to corn. The experiment was a randomized split-block design with three replications for each treatment. Lysimeters were installed in 1987 at 0.75 m below the soil surface for leachate collection for the N0, N2, and N3treatments. The result showed that vetch monoculture had the most influence on soil N availability and corn yield, followed by the bicultures. Rye or ryegrass monoculture had either no effect or an adverse effect on corn yield and soil N availability. Leachate NO3-N concentration was highest where vetch cover crop was planted regardless of N rates, which suggests that N mineralization of vetch N continued well into the fall and winter. Leachate NO3-N concentration increased with increasing N fertilizer rates and exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s drinking water standard of 10 mg N l�1 even at recommended N rate for corn in this region (coastal Pacific Northwest). In comparisons of the average NO3-N concentration during the period of high N leaching, monocultured rye and ryegrass or bicultured rye/vetch and ryegrass/vetch very effectively decreased N leaching in 1998 with dry fall weather. The amount of N available for leaching (determined based on the presidedress nitrate test, the amount of N fertilizer applied, and N uptake) correlated well with average NO3-N during the high N leaching period for vetch cover crop treatment and for the control without the cover crops. The correlation, however, failed for other cover crops largely because of variable effectiveness of the cover crops in reducing NO3leaching during the 5 years of this study. Further research is needed to determine if relay cover crops planted into standing summer crops is a more appropriate approach than fall seeding in this region to gain sufficient growth of the cover crop by fall. Testing with other main crops that have earlier harvest dates than corn is also needed to further validate the effectiveness of the bicultures to increase soil N availability while protecting the water quality.

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Cadmium accumulation in wheat grain as affected by mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/cjss10061 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 91 (4) ◽

pp. 521-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Xianglan Li ◽

Noura Ziadi ◽

Gilles Bélanger ◽

Zucong Cai ◽

Hua Xu

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Nutrition ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Cadmium Accumulation ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Wheat Grain ◽

Mineral N ◽

N Application ◽

Application Rates

Li, X., Ziadi, N., Bélanger, G., Cai, Z. and Xu, H. 2011. Cadmium accumulation in wheat grain as affected by mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 521–531. Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal distributed in soil by natural processes and anthropogenic activities. It can accumulate in crops, such as spring milling wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and its accumulation depends on crop species, soil factors, and agricultural practices like fertilizer inputs. Our objective was to study the effect of mineral N fertilizer and soil characteristics on wheat grain Cd concentration. A field study was conducted over 12 site-years (2004–2006) in Québec, with four N application rates (0, 40, 120, and 200 kg N ha−1). Wheat grain samples (n=192) were analysed for their Cd and N concentrations. Soil samples (n=48) taken before N fertilizer application were characterised for their chemical and physical properties, including Mehlich-3 extractable Cd concentration. Wheat grain Cd concentration increased significantly with increasing N application rates at 11 of the 12 site-years. Averaged across the 12 site-years, Cd concentration ranged from 53 µg kg−1dry matter (DM) without N applied up to 87 µg kg−1DM when 200 kg N ha−1was applied. Wheat grain Cd concentration also varied significantly with site-years (34–99 µg kg−1DM), but never exceeded the proposed tolerance for wheat grain of 235 µg kg−1DM. Wheat grain Cd concentration was significantly related to Mehlich-3 extractable Cd in soil (R2=0.44, P=0.021) and nitrogen nutrition index (R2=0.69, P=0.001). We conclude that soil Cd concentration and the crop N nutrition status affect Cd accumulation in spring wheat grain produced in eastern Canada.

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Study of C, N, P and K Release from Residues of Newly Proposed Cover Crops in a Spanish Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10071041 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1041 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Antonio Rodríguez-Lizana ◽

Miguel Ángel Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres ◽

Rosa Carbonell-Bojollo ◽

Manuel Moreno-García ◽

Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Soil Cover ◽

Brachypodium Distachyon ◽

Nutrient Release ◽

Grab Sampling ◽

P Release ◽

Olive Groves ◽

C And N

Cover crops (CC)s are increasingly employed by farmers in olive groves. Spontaneous soil cover is the most commonly used CC. Its continuous utilization changes ruderal flora. It is necessary to study new CCs. Living CCs provide C and nutrients to soil during decomposition. Information on this issue in olive groves is scarce. A 4-year field study involving grab sampling of Brachypodium distachyon, Sinapis alba and spontaneous CC residues was conducted to study C and nutrient release from cover crop residues. Throughout the decomposition cycles, C, N and P release accounted for 40 to 58% of the C, N and P amounts in the residues after mowing. Most K was released (80–90%). Expressed in kg per hectare, the release of C and N in Brachypodium (C: 4602, N: 181, P: 29, K: 231) and Sinapis (C: 4806, N: 152, P: 18, K: 195) was greater than that in spontaneous CC (C: 3115, N: 138, P: 21, K: 256). The opposite results were observed for K. The Rickman model, employed to estimate the amount of C, N and P in residues, yielded a good match between the simulated and measured values. In comparison to spontaneous CC, the newly proposed CCs have a higher potential to provide soil with C and N.

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Effect of Wheat Cover Crop and Split Nitrogen Application on Corn Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10081081 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1081 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Oladapo Adeyemi ◽

Reza Keshavarz-Afshar ◽

Emad Jahanzad ◽

Martin Leonardo Battaglia ◽

Yuan Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Block Design ◽

Corn Yield ◽

N Losses ◽

Nitrogen Use ◽

N Application ◽

Use Efficiency

Corn (Zea mays L.) grain is a major commodity crop in Illinois and its production largely relies on timely application of nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Currently, growers in Illinois and other neighboring states in the U.S. Midwest use the maximum return to N (MRTN) decision support system to predict corn N requirements. However, the current tool does not factor in implications of integrating cover crops into the rotation, which has recently gained attention among growers due to several ecosystem services associated with cover cropping. A two-year field trail was conducted at the Agronomy Research Center in Carbondale, IL in 2018 and 2019 to evaluate whether split N application affects nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of corn with and without a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements and four replicates was used. Main plots were cover crop treatments (no cover crop (control) compared to a wheat cover crop) and subplots were N timing applications to the corn: (1) 168 kg N ha−1 at planting; (2) 56 kg N ha−1 at planting + 112 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; (3) 112 kg N ha−1 at planting + 56 kg N ha−1 at sidedress; and (4) 168 kg N ha−1 at sidedress along with a zero-N control as check plot. Corn yield was higher in 2018 than 2019 reflecting more timely precipitation in that year. In 2018, grain yield declined by 12.6% following the wheat cover crop compared to no cover crop control, indicating a yield penalty when corn was preceded with a wheat cover crop. In 2018, a year with timely and sufficient rainfall, there were no yield differences among N treatments and N balances were near zero. In 2019, delaying the N application improved NUE and corn grain yield due to excessive rainfall early in the season reflecting on N losses which was confirmed by lower N balances in sidedressed treatments. Overall, our findings suggest including N credit for cereals in MRTN prediction model could help with improved N management in the Midwestern United States.

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Do diverse mixtures of cover crop residues alter the soil microbial community and increase soil function?

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-1499 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Xin Shu ◽

Yiran Zou ◽

Liz Shaw ◽

Lindsay Todman ◽

Mark Tibbett ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

Soil Respiration ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Soil Microbial Community ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Soil Health ◽

Soil Function ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Quaternary Mixture

Cover crops are a contemporary tool to sustainably manage agricultural soils by boosting fertility, suppressing weeds and disease, and benefiting cash crop yields, thus securing future food supply. Due to the different chemical composition of crop residues from different plant families, we hypothesised that a mixture of cover crop residues may have a greater potential to improve soil health than the sum of the parts. Our experiment focused on the impact of four cover crops (clover, sunflower, radish and buckwheat) and their quaternary mixture on soil respiration and the soil microbial community in an 84-day microcosm experiment. On average adding cover crop residues significantly (P < 0.001) increased soil respiration from 29 to 343 &#181;g C g-1 h-1 and microbial biomass from 18 to 60 &#181;g C g-1, compared to the unamended control during 84 days&#8217; incubation. Cover crop addition resulted in a significant (P < 0.001) alteration of the soil microbial community structure compared to that of the control. The quaternary mixture of cover crop residues significantly (P = 0.011) increased soil respiration rate by 23.79 &#181;g C g-1 h-1 during the period 30 to 84 days after residue incorporation, compared to the average of the four individual residues. However, no significant difference in the size of the microbial biomass was found between the mixture and the average of the four individuals, indicating the mixture may invest resources which transit dormant microbial species into a metabolically active state and thus boost microbial respiration. Analysis of similarity of microbial community composition (ANOSIM) demonstrated the mixture significantly (P = 0.001) shifted microbial community structure away from buckwheat (R = 0.847), clover (R = 0.688), radish (R = 0.285) and sunflower (R = 0.785), respectively. This implies cover crop residues provide a niche specialization and differentiation on a selection of microbial communities that favour certain plant compounds. While applying cover crop residues has positive impacts on soil function, we found that applying a mixture of cover crop residues may provide greater potential to select for microorganisms or activate dormant microbial species which result in higher soil function. The outcome of this study will help seed suppliers to design, and farmers to select, novel cover crop mixtures which enhance soil function synergistically, leading to a greater potential to sustainably improve soil health.

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An integrated mechanical and chemical method for managing prostrate cover crops on permanent beds

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170511000226 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 148-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

N.R. Hulugalle ◽

L.A. Finlay ◽

T.B. Weaver

Keyword(s):

Carbon Footprint ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Management System ◽

Chemical Method ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Maximum Depth ◽

Average Increase ◽

The Individual

AbstractCover crops in minimum or no-tilled systems are usually killed by applying one or more herbicides, thus significantly increasing costs. Applying herbicides at lower rates with mechanical interventions that do not disturb or bury cover crop residues can, however, reduce costs. Our objective was to develop a management system with the above-mentioned features for prostrate cover crops on permanent beds in an irrigated Vertisol. The implement developed consisted of a toolbar to which were attached spring-loaded pairs of parallel coulter discs, one set of nozzles between the individual coulter discs that directed a contact herbicide to the bed surfaces to kill the cover crop and a second set of nozzles located to direct the cheaper glyphosate to the furrow to kill weeds. The management system killed a prostrate cover crop with less trafficking, reduced the use of more toxic herbicides, carbon footprint, labor and risk to operators. Maximum depth of compaction was more but average increase was less than that with the boom sprayer control.

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Effect of Winter Cover Crop Residue on No-till Pumpkin Yield

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.42.7.1568 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 42 (7) ◽

pp. 1568-1574 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E. Ryan Harrelson ◽

Greg D. Hoyt ◽

John L. Havlin ◽

David W. Monks

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Fruit Size ◽

Vegetable Production ◽

Surface Residue ◽

No Till ◽

Wide Range ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover

Throughout the southeastern United States, vegetable growers have successfully cultivated pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) using conventional tillage. No-till pumpkin production has not been pursued by many growers as a result of the lack of herbicides, no-till planting equipment, and knowledge in conservation tillage methods. All of these conservation production aids are now present for successful no-till vegetable production. The primary reasons to use no-till technologies for pumpkins include reduced erosion, improved soil moisture conservation, long-term improvement in soil chemical and microbial properties, and better fruit appearance while maintaining similar yields compared with conventionally produced pumpkins. Cover crop utilization varies in no-till production, whereas residue from different cover crops can affect yields. The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the influence of surface residue type on no-till pumpkin yield and fruit quality. Results from these experiments showed all cover crop residues produced acceptable no-till pumpkin yields and fruit size. Field location, weather conditions, soil type, and other factors probably affected pumpkin yields more than surface residue. Vegetable growers should expect to successfully grow no-till pumpkins using any of the winter cover crop residues tested over a wide range in residue biomass rates.

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399 Use of Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops for Sustainable Vegetable Production

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.35.3.461e ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 461E-461

Author(s):

H.J. Hruska ◽

G.R. Cline ◽

A.F. Silvernail ◽

K. Kaul

Keyword(s):

Weed Control ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

N Fertilizer ◽

No Tillage ◽

Inorganic N ◽

Winter Cover Crop ◽

Winter Cover ◽

Strip Tillage

Research began in 1999 to examine sustainable production of bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) using conservation tillage and legume winter cover crops. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage, strip-tillage, and no-tillage, and winter covers consisted of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), winter rye (Secale cereale L.), and a vetch/rye biculture. Pepper yields following the rye winter cover crop were significantly reduced if inorganic N fertilizer was not supplied. However, following vetch, yields of peppers receiving no additional N were similar to yields obtained in treatments receiving the recommended rate of inorganic N fertilizer. Thus, vetch supplied sufficient N to peppers in terms of yields. Pepper yields following the biculture cover crop were intermediate between those obtained following vetch and rye. When weeds were controlled manually, pepper yields following biculture cover crops were similar among the three tillage treatments, indicating that no-tillage and strip-tillage could be used successfully if weeds were controlled. With no-tillage, yields were reduced without weed control but the reduction was less if twice the amount of residual cover crop surface mulch was used. Without manual weed control, pepper yields obtained using strip-tillage were reduced regardless of metolachlor herbicide application. It was concluded that a vetch winter cover crop could satisfy N requirements of peppers and that effective chemical or mechanical weed control methods need to be developed in order to grow peppers successfully using no-tillage or strip-tillage.

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Production and Decomposition of Cover Crop Residues and Associations With Soil Organic Fractions

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v11n5p58 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

José Carlos Mazetto Júnior ◽

José Luiz Rodrigues Torres ◽

Danyllo Denner de Almeida Costa ◽

Venâncio Rodrigues e Silva ◽

Zigomar Menezes de Souza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Crop Residues ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Additional Treatment ◽

Plant Residue ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Vegetable Crops ◽

Residue Decomposition ◽

Sunn Hemp

The decomposition of plant residues, the changes in the total organic carbon (TOC) and the fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) occur differently in irrigated areas. The objective of this study was to quantify the biomass production, the decomposition of cover crops residues and relate them with the changes n the content and fractions of SOM in an irrigated area of vegetable crops. Six types of cover crop treatments were evaluated: brachiaria (B); sunn hemp (S); millet (M); B + S; B + M; S + M, plus an additional treatment (native area), with 4 repetitions. The production of fresh (FB) and dry biomass (DB), the rate of plant residue decomposition, TOC, SOM fractions and the coefficient of SOM (QSOM) were quantified. It was observed that the greatest and the lowest volume of crop residues were from the B and S cover crop, respectively. The cover crops in monoculture presented great decomposition rates and short half-life when compared to mixtures of cover crop. The TOC and QSOM were great in the 0 to 0.05 m soil layer, and in the M + S cover crop mixture, when compared to the 0.05 to 0.1 m soil layer and to other cover crops. Among the SOM fractions, the humin predominated in the most superficial soil layer (0 to 0.05 m).

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