scholarly journals Improving Soil Quality and Potato Productivity with Manure and High-Residue Cover Crops in Eastern Canada

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1436
Author(s):  
Judith Nyiraneza ◽  
Dahu Chen ◽  
Tandra Fraser ◽  
Louis-Pierre Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Supply Capacity

Under intensive low residue agricultural systems, such as those involving potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-based systems, stagnant crop yields and declining soil health and environmental quality are common issues. This study evaluated the effects of pen-pack cow (Bos Taurus) manure application (20 Mg·ha−1) and cover crops on nitrate dynamics and soil N supply capacity, subsequent potato yield, selected soil properties, and soil-borne disease. Eight cover crops were tested and included grasses, legumes, or a mixture of legumes and grasses, with red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) used as a control. Forage pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) was associated with highest dry matter. On average, red clover had 88% higher total N accumulation than the treatments mixing grasses and legumes, and the former was associated with higher soil nitrate in fall before residue incorporation and overwinter, but this was not translated into increased potato yields. Pearl millet and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × sorghum bicolor var. Sudanese) were associated with lower soil nitrate in comparison to red clover while being associated with higher total potato yield and lower numerical value of root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans), although this was not statistically significant at 5% probability level. Manure incorporation increased total and marketable yield by 28% and 26%, respectively, and increased soil N supply capacity by an average of 44%. Carbon dioxide released after a short incubation as a proxy of soil microbial respiration increased by an average of 27% with manure application. Our study quantified the positive effect of manure application and high-residue cover crops on soil quality and potato yield for the province of Prince Edward Island.

scholarly journals Effects of Cover Crops, Compost, and Vermicompost on Strawberry Yields and Nitrogen Availability in North Carolina

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 604-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Beck ◽  
Michelle S. Schroeder-Moreno ◽  
Gina E. Fernandez ◽  
Julie M. Grossman ◽  
Nancy G. Creamer
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N

Summer cover crop rotations, compost, and vermicompost additions can be important strategies for transition to organic production that can provide various benefits to crop yields, nitrogen (N) availability, and overall soil health, yet are underused in strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production in North Carolina. This study was aimed at evaluating six summer cover crop treatments including pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pearl millet/soybean combination, pearl millet/cowpea combination, and a no cover crop control, with and without vermicompost additions for their effects on strawberry growth, yields, nutrient uptake, weeds, and soil inorganic nitrate-nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen in a 2-year field experiment. Compost was additionally applied before seeding cover crops and preplant N fertilizer was reduced by 67% to account for organic N additions. Although all cover crops (with compost) increased soil N levels during strawberry growth compared with the no cover crop treatment, cover crops did not impact strawberry yields in the first year of the study. In the 2nd year, pearl millet cover crop treatments reduced total and marketable strawberry yields, and soybean treatments reduced marketable strawberry yields when compared with the no cover crop treatment, whereas vermicompost additions increased strawberry biomass and yields. Results from this study suggest that vermicompost additions can be important sustainable soil management strategies for transitional and certified organic strawberry production. Summer cover crops integrated with composts can provide considerable soil N, reducing fertilizer needs, but have variable responses on strawberry depending on the specific cover crop species or combination. Moreover, these practices are suitable for both organic and conventional strawberry growers and will benefit from longer-term studies that assess these practices individually and in combination and other benefits in addition to yields.

Behavior of sulfentrazone in the soil as influenced by cover crop before no-till soybean planting

Weed Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 673-680
Author(s):  
Gabrielle de Castro Macedo ◽  
Caio Antonio Carbonari ◽  
Edivaldo Domingues Velini ◽  
Giovanna Larissa Gimenes Cotrick Gomes ◽  
Ana Karollyna Alves de Matos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glycine Max ◽  
Sorghum Bicolor ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Forage Sorghum ◽  
Crop Straw ◽  
No Till

AbstractMore than 80% of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in Brazil is cultivated in no-till systems, and although cover crops benefit the soil, they may reduce the amount of residual herbicides reaching the soil, thereby decreasing herbicide efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate sulfentrazone applied alone, sequentially after glyphosate, and in a tank mixture with glyphosate before planting no-till soybean. Experiments were performed in two cover crop systems: (1) pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] and (2) forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. bicolor]. The treatments tested were: glyphosate (720 g ae ha−1) at 20 d before sowing (DBS) followed by sulfentrazone (600 g ai ha−1) at 10 DBS; glyphosate + sulfentrazone (720 g ae ha−1 + 600 g ai ha−1) for cover crop desiccation at 10 DBS; and sulfentrazone alone at 10 DBS without a cover crop. The accumulation of straw was 31% greater using sorghum rather than pearl millet. In the sorghum system, the concentration of sulfentrazone at 0 to 10 cm was 57% less with sequential application and 92% less with the tank mixture compared with the treatment without cover crop straw at 1 d after application (DAA). The same occurred in the pearl millet system, where the reduction was 33% and 80% for the sequential application and tank mixture, respectively. The absence of a cover crop resulted in greater sulfentrazone concentrations in the top layer of the soil when compared with the sequential application or tank mixture. At 31 and 53 DAA, the concentration of sulfentrazone at 10 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm did not differ among treatments. Precipitation of 90 mm was enough to remove the herbicide from the cover crop straw at 31 DAA when using sequential application. An additional 90-mm precipitation was necessary to promote the same result when using the tank mixture.

Time of hilling and interseeding affects weed control and potato yield

Weed Science ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riikka M. Rajalahti ◽  
Robin R. Bellinder ◽  
Michael P. Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Weed Control ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Potato Yield ◽  
Excessive Competition ◽  
Potato Yields ◽  
Alternative Weed Control ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
The Impact

The current emphasis on reducing pesticide use has led to increased interest in alternative weed control methods. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of hilling, in combination with subsequent interseeding of cover crops, to control weeds in potato and to determine the impact of these actions on potato yield and insects. Each cover crop, either hairy or lana vetch, oats, barley, red clover, or a combination of oats and hairy vetch, was interseeded, following hilling, 3, 4, or 5 wk after planting (WAP). Hilling and interseeding treatments were compared to a no-cover treatment and a chemical standard, metolachlor (1.7 kg ai ha−-1) plus linuron (1.7 kg ai ha−-1). Cultivation associated with the interseeding operation and cover crops reduced weed density 20 to 27% by 3 wk after interseeding. To prevent excessive competition, cereals interseeded 3 or 4 WAP and vetches interseeded 3 WAP were controlled at a height of 25 to 35 cm using fluazifop (0.22 kg ai ha−-1) plus metribuzin (0.28 kg ai ha−-1). Because of slow growth, it was necessary to control red clover (interseeded 3 WAP), only in 1996, at a height of 15 cm. Control of cereals resulted in a dead mulch that provided 0 to 95% weed control, whereas legumes regrew after herbicide application and provided 45 to 70% weed control. However, an adequate minimum of 70% weed control was achieved only with the chemical standard, cereals (1995 and 1996), and legumes (1996) interseeded 3 WAP when controlled with herbicides. In a dry season (1995), potato yields were highest with the chemical standard, whereas in a season with adequate precipitation (1996), potato yields equivalent to those of the chemical standard were obtained with early interseeding (3 WAP) of cereals. The observed changes in the densities of potato leafhopper and of its natural enemies were unlikely to have any effect on potato yield because of low overall insect populations. Thus, the results suggest that in good growing conditions, early (3 WAP) interseeding of cover crops supplemented with postemergence herbicides may both suppress weeds with 70% less herbicide (ai ha−-1) and provide yields comparable to those associated with conventional potato production.

Cover Crop Impact on Weed Dynamics in an Organic Dry Bean System

Weed Science ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin C. Hill ◽  
Karen A. Renner ◽  
Christy L. Sprague ◽  
Adam S. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Dry Beans ◽  
Dry Bean ◽  
Cereal Rye ◽  
Seed Persistence ◽  
Giant Foxtail ◽  
Weed Dynamics

Weed suppression is one possible benefit of including cover crops in crop rotations. The late spring planting date of dry beans allows for more growth of cover crops in the spring. We assessed the influence of cover crops on weed dynamics in organic dry beans and weed seed persistence. Medium red clover, oilseed radish, and cereal rye were planted the year before dry beans; a no-cover-crop control was also included. After cover-crop incorporation, common lambsquarters, giant foxtail, and velvetleaf seeds were buried in the red clover, cereal rye, and no-cover control treatments and then retrieved 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 mo after cover-crop incorporation. Dry beans were planted in June and weed emergence and biomass measured. Eleven or more site-years of data were collected for each cover-crop treatment between 2011 and 2013, allowing for structural equation modeling (SEM), in addition to traditional analyses. Cereal rye residue increased giant foxtail and velvetleaf seed persistence by up to 12%; red clover decreased common lambsquarters seed persistence by 22% in 1 of 2 yr relative to the no-cover-crop control. Oilseed radish and incorporated cereal rye rarely reduced weed densities. When red clover biomass exceeded 5 Mg ha−1, soil inorganic N was often higher (5 of 6 site-years), as were weed density and biomass (5 and 4 of 12 main site sample times, respectively). Using SEM, we identified one causal relationship between cover-crop N content and weed biomass at the first flower stage (R1), as mediated through soil N at the time of dry bean planting and at the stage with two fully expanded trifoliates. Increasing cover-crop C : N ratios directly reduced weed biomass at R1, not mediated through changes in soil N. Cover crops that make a significant contribution to soil N may also stimulate weed emergence and growth.

Nitrogen fixation and soil nitrate interactions in field-grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and fababean (Vicia faba)

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Turpin ◽  
D. F. Herridge ◽  
M. J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Vicia Faba ◽  
Cicer Arietinum ◽  
N2 Fixation ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
N Supply ◽  
Total Plant ◽  
N Rates

Soil in which nodulated legumes are growing often contains more nitrate nitrogen (N) than soil in which unnodulated legumes or non-legumes are growing. There is conjecture, however, as to whether the extra or ‘spared’ N is due to reduced use of soil N by the legume or to net mineralisation of legume root and nodular N. We report results of a field experiment to quantify and compare, at different levels of soil-N supply, N2 fixation, and soil-N use by chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and fababean (Vicia faba). Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was included as a non-N2-fixing control. Plants of the 3 species were grown on a low-nitrate Vertosol with fertiliser N rates of 0, 50, and 100 kg/ha (0N, 50N, and 100N), applied 6 weeks before sowing. Samples were collected at sowing and at 64, 100, 135, and 162 days after sowing (DAS) for analysis of soil nitrate, root, and grain dry matter (DM) and N and shoot DM, N, and 15N. The latter was used to estimate the percentage (%Ndfa) and total N fixed by the 2 legumes. Soil nitrate levels to a depth of 1.8 m at sowing were 11–17 kg N/ha (0N), 41–55 kg N/ha (50N), and 71–86 kg N/ha (100N). Grain yields of the 2 legumes were unaffected by soil-N supply (fertiliser N treatment), being 2.0–2.4 t/ha for chickpea and 3.7–4.6 t/ha for fababean. Wheat grain yields varied from 1.6 t/ha (0N) to 4.8 t/ha (100N). Fababean fixed more N than chickpea. Values (total plant including roots) were 209–275 kg/ha for fababean and 146–214 kg/ha for chickpea. Corresponding %Ndfa values were 69–88% (fababean) and 64–85% (chickpea). Early in crop growth, when soil N supply was high in the 100N treatment, fababean maintained a higher dependence on N2 fixation than chickpea (Ndfa of 45% v. 12%), fixed greater amounts of N (57 v. 16 kg/ha), and used substantially less soil N (69 v. 118 kg/ha). In this situation, soil N sparing was observed, with soil nitrate levels significantly higher in the fababean plots (P < 0.05) than under chickpea or wheat. At the end of growth season, however, there were no crop effects on soil nitrate levels. Soil N balances, which combined crop N fixed as inputs and grain N as outputs, were positive for the legumes, with ranges 80–135 kg N/ha for chickpea and 79–157 kg N/ha for fababean, and negative for wheat (–20 to –66 kg N/ha). We concluded that under the starting soil nitrate levels in this experiment, levels typical of many cropping soils in the region, high-biomass fababean and chickpea crops will not spare significant amounts of soil N. In situations of higher soil nitrate and/or smaller biomass crops with less N demand, nitrate sparing may occur, particularly with fababean.

scholarly journals Soil nitrate N as influenced by annually undersown cover crops in spring cereals

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 165-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. KÄNKÄNEN ◽  
C. ERIKSSON ◽  
M. RÄKKÖLÄINEN
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
Pure Stand ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Late Autumn ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Spring Cereals

Cover crops can reduce leaching and erosion, introduce variability into crop rotations and fix nitrogen (N) for use by the main crops. In Finland, undersowing is a suitable method for establishing cover crops in cereals. The effect of annual undersowing on soil nitrate N was studied at two sites. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), a mixture of red clover and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), and westerwold ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. var. westerwoldicum) were undersown in spring cereals during six successive seasons, and a pure stand of cereal was grown in two years after that. In all years, the soil nitrate N was measured in late autumn, and in addition in different times of the season in last four years. The effect of undersowing on soil NO3-N content was generally low, but in one season when conditions favoured high N leaching, westerwold ryegrass decreased soil NO3-N. The negligible increase of N leaching risk in connection with undersowing clovers, associated with late autumn ploughing, supports the use of clovers to increase the cereal grain yield. The highest levels of soil NO3-N were recorded at sowing in spring irrespective of whether a crop was undersown or not. NO3-N contents were higher in sandy soil than in silt. Undersowing can be done annually in cereal cultivation either to fix or catch N. No cumulative effects on soil nitrate N were associated with undersowing after six years.;

Nitrous oxide emissions from red clover and winter wheat residues depend on interacting effects of distribution, soil N availability and moisture level

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi ◽  
Baldur Janz ◽  
Rodrigo Labouriau ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen ◽  
Klaus Butterbach-Bahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Moisture Level ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil N Availability

Influence of the time and rate of liquid-manure application on yield and nitrogen utilization of silage corn in south coastal British Columbia

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Zebarth ◽  
J. W. Paul ◽  
O. Schmidt ◽  
R. McDougall
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Liquid Manure ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

Manure-N availability must be known in order to design application practices that maximize the nutrient value of the manure while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. This study determined the effect of time and rate of liquid manure application on silage corn yield and N utilization, and residual soil nitrate at harvest, in south coastal British Columbia. Liquid dairy or liquid hog manure was applied at target rates of 0, 175, 350 or 525 kg N ha−1, with or without addition of 100 kg N ha−1 as inorganic fertilizer, at two sites in each of 2 yr. Time of liquid-dairy-manure application was also tested at two sites in each of 2 yr with N-application treatments of: 600 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in spring; 600 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in fall; 300 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in each of spring and fall; 200 kg N ha−1 applied as inorganic fertilizer in spring; 300 kg N ha−1 as manure plus 100 kg N ha−1 as inorganic fertilizer applied in spring; and a control that received no applied N. Fall-applied manure did not increase corn yield or N uptake in the following growing season. At all sites, maximum yield was attained using manure only. Selection of proper spring application rates for manure and inorganic fertilizer were found to be equally important in minimizing residual soil nitrate at harvest. Apparent recovery of applied N in the crop ranged from 0 to 33% for manure and from 18 to 93% for inorganic fertilizer. Key words: N recovery, manure management

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