Nitrogen washing from C3 and C4 cover grasses residues by rain

Crop species with the C4 photosynthetic pathway are more efficient in assimilating N than C3 plants, which results in different N amounts prone to be washed from its straw by rain water. Such differences may affect N recycling in agricultural systems where these species are grown as cover crops. In this experiment, phytomass production and N leaching from the straw of grasses with different photosynthetic pathways were studied in response to N application. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) with the C4 photosynthetic pathway, and black oat (Avena Strigosa) and triticale (X Triticosecale), with the C3 photosynthetic pathway, were grown for 47 days. After determining dry matter yields and N and C contents, a 30 mm rainfall was simulated over 8 t ha-1 of dry matter of each plant residue and the leached amounts of ammonium and nitrate were determined. C4 grasses responded to higher fertilizer rates, whereas N contents in plant tissue were lower. The amount of N leached from C4 grass residues was lower, probably because the C/N ratio is higher and N is more tightly bound to organic compounds. When planning a crop rotation system it is important to take into account the difference in N release of different plant residues which may affect N nutrition of the subsequent crop.

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Dry Mass Accumulation, Nutrients and Decomposition of Cover Plants

Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.5539/jas.v11n5p152 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 152 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daiane Conceição de Sousa ◽

João Carlos Medeiros ◽

Julian Junio de Jesus Lacerda ◽

Jaqueline Dalla Rosa ◽

Cácio Luiz Boechat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cajanus Cajan ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Dry Matter Production ◽

Crop Species ◽

Crotalaria Juncea ◽

Matter Production ◽

Crotalaria Spectabilis

The use of cover crops is an important strategy for soil management in the Brazilian Cerrado to improve no-tillage (NT) systems. For this, it is necessary know the potential of cover crop species for biomass production, nutrient cycling, and persistence of residues on the soil surface in soils and climatic conditions of this biome. Thus, the experiment was developed to evaluate the agronomic potential of cover crops cultivated on an Oxisol (Latossolo Amarelo) in the Cerrado of Piauí, Brazil. The experiment was conducted from January 2015 to July 2016. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 11 treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of single and intercropped cover species. The evaluations were: dry mass production, nutritional composition of the plants, nutrient accumulation by dry mass produced and decomposition rate of the dry mass produced for each treatment. The higher dry matter production was obtained with Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan (cv. IAC-Fava larga), Pennisetum glaucum and Brachiaria ruziziensis. The lower dry matter production was obtained with Mucuna aterrima, and mix of Crotalaria spectabilis + Pennisetum glaucum. The higher nutrients accumulation in the plants occurred for Cajanus cajan (cv. IAC-Fava larga), Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria spectabilis. The cover plants studied presented good potential for soil conservation, due to the permanence of residues on the surface, except for Mucuna aterrima and Crotalaria spectabilis.

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Cover crop rotation influence on nutsedge (Cyperus spp.) density and onion yield

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v90i3-4.1009 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 90 (3-4) ◽

pp. 215-220

Author(s):

Nelson Semidey ◽

Luisa E. Flores-López

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Cyperus Rotundus ◽

Plant Residue ◽

Mature Stage ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Velvet Bean ◽

Crop Species

Velvet bean [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort.) Meer.], pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth], sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] and tropical pumpkin or calabaza [Cucurbita moschata (Duchesne) Poir.] were evaluated as cover crops for the control of nutsedges in rotation with onion (Allium cepa L.) at the Lajas Agricultural Experiment Station during the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000. In each year of study, the four cover crops were grown until mature stage, and plant residue was disked or removed from soil surface before onion planting. Cover crop species had no significant influence (P < 0.05) on nutsedge density, mainly represented by Cyperus rotundus L. and C. esculentus L., neither six weeks before onion planting nor after nine weeks of cropping during 1998-99. Disc incorporation of all cover crops suppressed nutsedge density more than removal of plant residues from soil surface. Onion produced greater yield (30,030 kg/ha) after calabaza rotation than after pigeon pea (21,090 kg/ha) or sorghum (18,940 kg/ha) in 1998-99. In 1999-2000, plots grown with velvet bean, pigeon pea and calabaza had less nutsedge than the untreated controls two weeks before incorporation of plant residues. Plots with these three cover crops also had lower density of nutsedges than plots with sorghum. Nutsedge density was not significant at three, six, and 10 weeks after onion planting. In 1999-2000, onion yields among cover crop rotations were not significantly different, with an average of 5,837 kg/ha. Cover crop allelopathy, as well as nutsedge interference, may have reduced onion production during the second year of planting.

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DRY MATTER DECOMPOSITION OF COVER CROPS IN A NO-TILLAGE COTTON SYSTEM

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252018v31n201rc ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 264-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

JOÃO LUÍS DA SILVA FILHO ◽

ANA LUÍZA DIAS COELHO BORIN ◽

ALEXANDRE CUNHA DE BARCELLOS FERREIRA

Keyword(s):

Pearl Millet ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Half Life ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Exponential Model ◽

No Tillage ◽

Linear Regression Models

ABSTRACT No-tillage cotton systems require soil coverage with cover crop residue for a longer time due to the late cycle of cotton. However, decomposition rates may vary between cover crops, and the adjustment of models to describe it is critical to no-tillage cotton management. Two non-linear regression models, exponential (EM) and Michaelis-Menten (MM), were adjusted to dry matter decomposition of cover crops in a cotton no-tillage system, in Brazil. Three field trials were performed in 2012 for the cover crops Urochloa ruziziensis (brachiaria), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), and Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea). Samples of cover crop were collected at 20, 50, 70, 110, 140, and 170 days after sowing upland cotton to measure dry matter decomposition. MM showed better adjustment than EM for all cover crops. The estimations of half-life parameters were different between the cover crops, suggesting that each cover crop has its own rate of decomposition. For pearl millet, brachiaria, and pigeon pea, the half-life estimation by exponential model was over the MM in 9, 12, and 12 days.

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COVER CROPS IN THE OFF-SEASON IN THE WEED MANAGEMENT AT NOTILLAGE AREA

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252021v34n106rc ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 50-57

Author(s):

FERNANDO COUTO DE ARAÚJO ◽

ADRIANO STEPHAN NASCENTE ◽

JULIANA LOURENÇO NUNES GUIMARÃES ◽

VINÍCIUS SILVA SOUSA ◽

MARCO ANTÔNIO MOREIRA DE FREITAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Pigeon Pea ◽

Weed Species ◽

Agricultural Areas ◽

Main Growth ◽

Crotalaria Spectabilis

ABSTRACT Cover crops can provide suppression of weeds and together with chemical control make the proper management of weeds in agricultural areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crop cultivation during the off-season on weed development in a no-tillage area. The experimental design was in randomized blocks scheme with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were: fallow (control), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) + crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis + C. juncea + C. ochroleuca), millet + pigeon pea (Cajanus cajans), millet + Urochloa ruziziensis, millet + Urochloa ruziziensis + pigeon pea and millet + buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum. The evaluations were done at 30, 75 and 225 days after sowing of the cover crops (DAS). The main growth weed species in the area were Cenchrus echinathus, Euphorbia heterophylla and Digitaria insularis. Fallow treatment showed greater number of weed species with density of 184 plants m-2, 9.0 species and with 527.8 g m-2 of dry matter mass at 225 DAS. In all treatments verified reduction in the density and mass of weeds dry matter compared to the fallow, with average of 30 plants m-2, 5.8 species and 7.9 g m-2 at 225 DAS, respectively. The use of cover crops is an important strategy for weed control in agricultural areas.

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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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Combining Green Manuring and Fertigation Maximizes Tomato Crop Yield and Minimizes Nitrogen Losses

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10070977 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 977

Author(s):

Michela Farneselli ◽

Paolo Benincasa ◽

Giacomo Tosti ◽

Marcello Guiducci ◽

Francesco Tei

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

N Uptake ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Winter Period ◽

N Leaching ◽

Tomato Crop ◽

N Nutrition ◽

Green Manuring ◽

Processing Tomato ◽

Environmentally Sound

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of fertilizing processing tomato by coupling the green manuring of fall-winter cover crops with fertigation in spring-summer. In a two-year experiment, seven fertilization treatments were compared: green manuring of pure barley (B100) and pure vetch (V100) sown at 100% of their ordinary seeding rates, green manuring of a barley-vetch mixture at a ratio of 75:25 of their own seed rates (B75V25), fertigation with drip irrigation at a rate of 200 kg ha−1 of nitrogen (N) (Fert_N200), fertigation combined with B100 and B75V25 at a N rate complementary to 200 kg N ha−1 (B100 + Fert and B75V25 + Fert, respectively), and an unfertilized control (N0) with no cover crops for green manuring prior to tomato transplanting or fertigation. The Fert_N200 treatment resulted in maximum tomato N uptake, growth and yield, but caused high N leaching, especially during the no-cover fall-winter period, as was also the case for N0. The V100 treatment promoted quite good tomato N status and yield, but did not reduce N leaching. The B100 and B75V25 treatments reduced N leaching but decreased tomato N uptake, growth and yield. The B100 + Fert and B75V25 + Fert treatments reduced N leaching, likely increased soil N stock, and facilitated optimal tomato N nutrition and maximum yields. Combining fertigation with green manuring of cover crops composed of pure grass or grass-legume mixtures appears to be a very effective and environmentally sound practice for fertilizing high N-demanding spring-summer crops like processing tomato.

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Sweet corn in no-tillage system on cover crop residues in the Brazilian Cerrado

Australian Journal of Crop Science ◽

10.21475/ajcs.20.14.06.p2189 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 947-952

Author(s):

Kaiê Fillipe Guedes Miranda ◽

José Luiz Rodrigues Torres ◽

Hamilton Cesar de Oliveira Charlo ◽

Valdeci Orioli Junior ◽

João Henrique de Souza Favaro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Sweet Corn ◽

Plant Residue ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Residue Decomposition ◽

Tillage System

In recent years, the growth of the cultivated area with sweet corn in conventional tillage system in Brazil expanded, although crops can be grown on different residues of cover crops, which improve nutrient cycling and crop productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass production and to quantify the rate of plant residues decomposition of different cover crops, and correlate the results with the production and grain yield of sweet corn in an area located in the Cerrado biome. The experimental design used was randomized blocks with eight treatments: PM - pearl millet; SH - sunn hemp; SG - signal grass; PM + SH; PM + SG; SH + SG; PM+ SH + SG; FW - fallow (spontaneous vegetation), which preceded the cultivation of sweet corn. Fresh biomass (FB) and dry biomass (DB) of the cover crops were evaluated, as well as the rate of plant residue decomposition. Sweet corn productivity, straw and corncob weight, and grain yield were also determined. Pearl millet presented a better performance in FB production, decomposition rate, residue half-life (T½ life) in soil, yield, corn cob strawweight and yield of sweet corn. Pearl millet, when mixed with other plants, presented reduced rate of residue decomposition and increased residue T½ life. The FW presented the lowest biomass production, with great rate of decomposition and low T½ life. Cover crops grown before sweet corn in soils of good fertility did not affect crop agronomic characteristics. Pearl millet is the best cover crop adapted to Cerrado Brazilian climatic conditions to be used in monoculture or in mixtures with other plants.

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Evaluating Fall Cover Crops Following Early Harvested Vegetables

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.30.4.807b ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 807B-807

Author(s):

Lydia Stivers-Young

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Cover Crop ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Crop Species ◽

Yellow Mustard ◽

Brassica Hirta ◽

Early Planting ◽

Oilseed Radish ◽

On Farm

Vegetable growers in the northeastern United States who want to use cover crops are limited by the relatively short growing season and by a lack of cover crop species options. Seven cover crops that winter-kill under NE US conditions were evaluated in on-farm trials for their suitability for following early harvested vegetables. Plots of oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus), white senf mustard (Brassica hirta), phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia), oats (Avena sativa), and a bare control were planted on 25 Aug. and 8 Sept. 1993, following a lettuce crop. In the early planting, oilseed radish, white senf mustard, and phacelia produced more than 3000 kg·ha–1 dry matter in 11 weeks, while oats produced just more than 2000 kg·ha–1. A smaller proportion of the accumulated biomass from these cover crops remained on the surface in the spring compared to oats. In the first planting, 80–107 kg·ha–1 N were accumulated in the above-ground biomass of the cover crops. On 3 and 16 Sept. 1994, plots of oilseed radish, white senf mustard, oats, yellow mustard (Brassica hirta), forage kale (Brassica oleracea), forage turnip (Brassica rapa), canola (Brassica napus cv. Sparta), and a bare control were established following potatoes. All cover crops except kale produced more than 3800 kg·ha–1 dry matter by late November in the early planting.

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Cover crops on the development of beggar's-tick

Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical ◽

10.1590/s1983-40632013000200011 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 170-177 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Leandro Pereira Pacheco ◽

Marinete Martins de Sousa Monteiro ◽

Fabiano André Petter ◽

Francisco de Alcântara Neto ◽

Fernandes Antônio de Almeida

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Weed Management ◽

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Integrated Weed Management ◽

Fagopyrum Tataricum ◽

Bidens Pilosa ◽

Crop Species ◽

Crambe Abyssinica ◽

Dry Biomass

Studies to identify potential cover crops species for the no-till system and minimal amounts of biomass required to reduce the emergence and development of weeds in cereal crop areas may represent an important tool in the integrated weed management. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the inhibition of the emergence and growth of Bidens pilosa plants, using different cover crops biomass levels on the soil surface. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse located in Bom Jesus, Piauí State, Brazil, from December 2011 to March 2012, in a randomized experimental blocks design with four replications, in a (5x6)+1 factorial scheme, consisting of six cover crop species and five biomass levels on the soil surface, plus a control with no soil cover. The species evaluated were Pennisetum glaucum (ADR 7010 and ADR 300 cultivars), Crotalaria ochroleuca, Urochloa ruziziensis (syn. Brachiaria ruziziensis), Crambe abyssinica and Fagopyrum tataricum, at five biomass levels corresponding to 4.0 t ha-1, 8.0 t ha-1, 12.0 t ha-1, 16.0 t ha-1 and 20.0 t ha-1. Urochloa ruziziensis and Fagopyrum tataricum were considered the best ones for controlling B. pilosa, with 4.0 t ha-1 of their biomass being sufficient to reduce the total number of emerged plants, germination speed index, shoot dry biomass, leaf area, root dry biomass and root volume of B. pilosa.

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Cover plants with potential use for crop-livestock integrated systems in the Cerrado region

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2011001000012 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 1200-1205 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Arminda Moreira de Carvalho ◽

Lara Line Pereira de Souza ◽

Roberto Guimarães Júnior ◽

Pedro Cesar Almeida Castro Alves ◽

Lúcio José Vivaldi

Keyword(s):

Pennisetum Glaucum ◽

Integrated System ◽

Plant Residue ◽

Plant Residues ◽

Corn Yield ◽

Residue Decomposition ◽

Plant Decomposition ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Potential Use ◽

Canavalia Brasiliensis

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose concentrations in the decomposition process of cover plant residues with potential use in no-tillage with corn, for crop-livestock integrated system, in the Cerrado region. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Cerrados, in Planaltina, DF, Brazil in a split plot experimental design. The plots were represented by the plant species and the subplots by harvesting times, with three replicates. The cover plants Urochloa ruziziensis, Canavalia brasiliensis, Cajanus cajan, Pennisetum glaucum, Mucuna aterrima, Raphanus sativus, Sorghum bicolor were evaluated together with spontaneous plants in the fallow. Cover plants with lower lignin concentrations and, consequently, higher residue decomposition such as C. brasiliensis and U. ruziziensis promoted higher corn yield. High concentrations of lignin inhibit plant residue decomposition and this is favorable for the soil cover. Lower concentrations of lignin result in accelerated plant decomposition, more efficient nutrient cycling, and higher corn yield.

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