The benefit of leafy vegetable as catch crop to mitigate N and P leaching losses in intensive plastic-shed production system

The potato tuber content of microelements is lower than that of macroelements but they are equally important. With this respect, there has been noticed a favourable effect of natural and organic manuring. The objective of the study reported here was to determine the effect of manuring with an undersown catch crop, either autumn-incorporated or left on the soil surface as mulch for spring incorporation, and production system on the potato tuber content of microelements. The study involved a field experiment, which was conducted in 2009-2012. The following two factors were examined: I − manuring with undersown catch crop: control, farmyard manure, Persian clover, Persian clover + westerwolds ryegrass, westerwolds ryegrass, Persian clover − mulch, Persian clover + westerwolds ryegrass − mulch, westerwolds ryegrass − mulch; II − production system: integrated and organic. Potato tubers were sampled to determine microelement contents. The highest iron and zinc contents were recorded in the tubers of potato manured with autumn-incorporated Persian clover whereas boron content was the highest in the tubers of potato manured with Persian clover, regardless of when it had been incorporated, as well as an autumn-incorporated Persian clover + westerwolds ryegrass mixture. Organic potatoes contained more iron and boron whereas tubers grown in the integrated production system were higher in zinc, manganese and copper. Potato manuring with undersown catch crops and farmyard manure in both the production systems studied increased the potato tuber content of microelements, excluding copper and manganese.

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Legumes in catch crop mixtures: Effects on nitrogen retention and availability, and leaching losses

Journal of Environmental Management ◽

10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.03.077 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 239 ◽

pp. 324-332 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Iris Vogeler ◽

Elly M. Hansen ◽

Ingrid K. Thomsen ◽

Hans S. Østergaard

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Retention ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Leaching Losses

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Reduction of Nutrient Leaching Losses by using a Catch Crop during a Fallow Period following Eggplant Production in a Greenhouse

Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers Ser G (Environmental Research) ◽

10.2208/jscejer.68.iii_103 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 68 (7) ◽

pp. III_103-III_111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Morihiro MAEDA ◽

Yasuhiro NAKASONE ◽

Takashi OKAMOTO ◽

Yuichi ASANO ◽

Taku FUJIWARA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Leaching ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Fallow Period

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Sowing a winter catch crop can reduce nitrate leaching losses from winter-applied urine under simulated forage grazing: a lysimeter study

Soil Use and Management ◽

10.1111/sum.12276 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 329-337 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

P. L. Carey ◽

K. C. Cameron ◽

H. J. Di ◽

G. R. Edwards ◽

D. F. Chapman

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Leaching Losses

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Leaching Fraction-based Microirrigation Schedule Reduced Water Use but Not N and P Loss during Production of a Container-grown Shrub

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15503-20 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Jeff B. Million ◽

Thomas H. Yeager

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Irrigation Water ◽

Management Practice ◽

Irrigation Schedule ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

P Loss ◽

Irrigation Water Use ◽

Leaching Fraction ◽

P Leaching ◽

Leachate Water

Irrigation that decreases the leaching fraction (LF; leachate/water applied) has been shown to reduce fertilizer N and P leaching during the production of sprinkler-irrigated, container-grown plants; however, little research involving outdoor production of microirrigated plants in large containers has been conducted. Two microirrigation schedules based on routine leaching fraction testing were compared to determine their effects on water use and leaching losses of N and P during the production of Dwarf Burford holly in 36-cm-diameter (trade #7) containers. Applied irrigation water and leachate were collected continuously and sampled weekly during the 12-month experiment. An irrigation schedule adjusted once every 1 to 3 weeks to a target LF of 20% resulted in the application of 36% less water (383 vs. 597 L/plant) and 43% less leachate (255 vs. 445 L/plant) than a schedule adjusted to a target LF of 40%; plant growth was unaffected (P > 0.05). Irrigation schedules had no effect (P > 0.05) on cumulative N and P leaching losses, which were attributed in large part to rain. Average leaching losses of N and P were 15.2 and 2.2 g per container (210 and 30 kg·ha−1·year−1), respectively. Both N and P leaching losses represented 35% of the 43.5 g N and 6.3 g P applied per container in two controlled-release fertilizer applications. The results support the best management practice of scheduling irrigation based on routine LF testing to reduce irrigation water use but not reduce N and P leaching.

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MACROELEMENT CONTENT IN POTATO TUBERS AS AFFECTED BY MANURING WITH UNDERSOWN CATCH CROP, AND PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities ◽

10.30825/5.ejpau.43.2017.20.4 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Płaza Płaza ◽

◽

Artur Makarewicz ◽

Barbara Gąsiorowska ◽

Anna Cybulska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Potato Tubers

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Soil nitrogen and water management by winter-killed catch crops

10.5194/soil-2021-124 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Norman Gentsch ◽

Diana Heuermann ◽

Jens Boy ◽

Steffen Schierding ◽

Nicolaus von Wirén ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Soil Water ◽

N Mineralization ◽

Water Storage ◽

N Cycling ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Catch Crops ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Rooting Zone ◽

Main Crop

Abstract. Improving N cycling in agroecosystems is one of the key challenges in reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. Further, uncertainty in precipitation makes crop water management relevant in regions where it has not been necessary thus far. Here, we focus on the potential of winter-killed catch crops to reduce N leaching losses from N mineralization over the winter and soil water management. We compared four single catch crops (white mustard, phacelia, Egyptian clover and bristle oat) and a fallow treatment with two catch crop mixtures with 4 and 12 plant species (Mix4 and Mix12). High-resolution soil mineral N (Nmin) monitoring in combination with modelling of spatiotemporal dynamics served to assess N cycling under winter-killed catch crops, while soil water was continuously monitored in the rooting zone. Catch crops depleted the residual Nmin pools by between 40 and 72 % compared to the fallow. The amount of residual N uptake was lowest for clover and not significantly different among the other catch crops. Catch crops that produce high N litter materials, such as clover and mustard leaves, showed an early N mineralization flush immediately after their termination and the highest leaching losses from litter mineralization over the winter. Except for clover, all catch crops showed Nmin values between 18 and 92 % higher on the sowing date of the following maize crop. However, only Mix12 was statistically significant. Catch crops depleted the soil water storage in the rooting zone during their growth in autumn and early winter, but preserved water later on when their residues cover the ground. The shallow incorporation of catch crop residues increased water storage capacity during the cropping season of the main crop even under drought conditions. Hence, catch cropping is not just a simple plant cover during the winter but improved the growth conditions for the following crop at decreased N losses. Mixtures have been shown to compensate for the weaknesses of individual catch crop species in terms of nutrient capture, mineralization and transfer to the following main crop as well as for soil water management. Detailed knowledge about plant performance during growth and litter mineralization patterns is necessary to make optimal use of their full potential.

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Phosphorus availability and leaching losses in annual and perennial cropping systems in an upper US Midwest landscape

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-99877-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mir Zaman Hussain ◽

Stephen K. Hamilton ◽

G. Philip Robertson ◽

Bruno Basso

Keyword(s):

Soil Water ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Panicum Virgatum ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Hybrid Poplar ◽

Cropping System ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Miscanthus Giganteus ◽

Soil Test P ◽

P Leaching

AbstractExcessive phosphorus (P) applications to croplands can contribute to eutrophication of surface waters through surface runoff and subsurface (leaching) losses. We analyzed leaching losses of total dissolved P (TDP) from no-till corn, hybrid poplar (Populus nigra X P. maximowiczii), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus), native grasses, and restored prairie, all planted in 2008 on former cropland in Michigan, USA. All crops except corn (13 kg P ha−1 year−1) were grown without P fertilization. Biomass was harvested at the end of each growing season except for poplar. Soil water at 1.2 m depth was sampled weekly to biweekly for TDP determination during March–November 2009–2016 using tension lysimeters. Soil test P (0–25 cm depth) was measured every autumn. Soil water TDP concentrations were usually below levels where eutrophication of surface waters is frequently observed (> 0.02 mg L−1) but often higher than in deep groundwater or nearby streams and lakes. Rates of P leaching, estimated from measured concentrations and modeled drainage, did not differ statistically among cropping systems across years; 7-year cropping system means ranged from 0.035 to 0.072 kg P ha−1 year−1 with large interannual variation. Leached P was positively related to STP, which decreased over the 7 years in all systems. These results indicate that both P-fertilized and unfertilized cropping systems may leach legacy P from past cropland management.

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Very Low Nitrogen Leaching in Grazed Ley-Arable-Systems in Northwest Europe

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11112155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2155

Author(s):

Hendrik P. J. Smit ◽

Thorsten Reinsch ◽

Christof Kluß ◽

Ralf Loges ◽

Friedhelm Taube

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Winter Precipitation ◽

Catch Crop ◽

Pasture Management ◽

N Losses ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Soil C ◽

Permanent Grassland ◽

Northwest Europe

High input dairy farms that are located on sandy soils in northwest Europe are predisposed to substantial nitrate leaching during a surplus of winter precipitation. Leys within integrated crop-livestock systems play an important role in soil fertility, soil C sequestration and soil N mineralization potentials. Therefore, leys are a feasible option that can be utilized to reduce local N losses to the environment, especially following maize grown for silage. We hypothesize that grass-clover leys ensure low nitrate leaching losses even when grazed intensively. The extent to which NO3-leaching occurred across seven different pasture management systems in terms of their sward composition, cutting, grazing, fertilization and combinations thereof was investigated in integrated animal-crop grazing systems over three winter periods (2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020). The observed grazed systems were comprised of cut-used- and grazed grass-clover swards (0, 1 and 2 years after establishment following cereals), a catch crop grazed late in the year as well as a cut-used permanent grassland for comparison. Overall, all treatments resulted in nitrate leaching losses that did not exceed the WHO-threshold (25 mg nitrate/L). The highest level of NO3-leaching was observed in the catch crop system and the lowest in cut-used permanent grassland, with NO3-N losses of 19.6 ± 5.3 and 2.1 ± 0.3 kg NO3-N ha−1 year−1. Annual herbage yields were in the range of 0.9 to 12.4 t DM ha−1 and nitrogen yields varied between 181 ± 51 and 228 ± 66 kg N ha−1 during the study period. The highest herbage-N-yields were observed from the 1- and 2-year-old grass-clover leys. The highest N-field-balance was observed for the grazed leys and the lowest for the cut-used permanent grassland. However, no correlation was found between the highly positive field-N-balance and the amount of NO3-leached. This indicates a high N carry-over from grass-clover swards to the subsequent cash crop unit instead of increasing the risk of groundwater contamination from grazed leys in integrated animal crop-systems and underlines the eco-efficiency of dairy farming based on grazed ley systems.

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