Effects of various cover crops after peas on nitrate leaching and nitrogen supply to succeeding winter wheat or potato crops

In organic farming systems, it has been demonstrated that grain pulses such as peas often do not enhance soil N supply to the following crops. This may be due to large N removals via harvested grains as well as N‐leaching losses during winter. In two field‐trial series, the effects of legume (common vetch, hairy vetch, peas) and nonlegume (oil radish) cover crops (CC), and mixtures of both, sown after peas, on soil nitrate content, N uptake, and yield of following potatoes or winter wheat were studied. The overall objective of these experiments was to obtain detailed information on how to influence N availability after main‐crop peas by adapting cover‐cropping strategies. Cover crops accumulated 56 to 108 kg N ha^–1 in aboveground biomass, and legume CC fixed 30–70 kg N ha^–1 by N₂ fixation, depending on the soil N supply and the length of the growing period of the CC. Nitrogen concentration in the aboveground biomass of legume CC was much higher and the C : N ratio much lower than in the nonlegume oil radish CC. At the time of CC incorporation (wheat series) as well as at the end of the growing season (potato series), soil nitrate content did not differ between the nonlegume CC species and mixtures, whereas pure stands of legume CC showed slightly increased soil nitrate content. When the CC were incorporated in autumn (beginning of October) nitrate leaching increased, especially from leguminous CC. However, most of the N leached only into soil layers down to 1.50 m and was recovered more or less by the following winter wheat. When CC were incorporated in late winter (February) no increase in nitrate leaching was observed. In spring, N availability for winter wheat or potatoes was much greater after legumes and, after mixtures containing legumes, resulting in significantly higher N uptake and yields in both crops. In conclusion, autumn‐incorporated CC mixtures of legumes and nonlegumes accomplished both: reduced nitrate leaching and larger N availability to the succeeding crop. When the CC were incorporated in winter and a spring‐sown main crop followed even pure stands of legume CC were able to achieve both goals.     

Cover crop growth and impact on N leaching as affected by pre‐ and postharvest sowing and time of incorporation

In Northern Europe, cover crops are traditionally established before spring crops by undersowing, but some cover crops might also have an effect if preharvest sown before spring crops and even winter crops. The effects of cover crop sowing date, sowing technique and succeeding main crop on biomass production, N uptake, nitrate leaching and soil inorganic N were tested in lysimeters and in the field. Cruciferous cover crops (oil radish, white mustard) were sown preharvest by broadcasting into winter wheat in July and were allowed to grow until a following winter wheat was established in September. Other preharvest cover crops were left in place until late autumn. For comparison, the same cruciferous cover crops were established postharvest after light harrowing. Perennial ryegrass undersown in spring barley was also included. Aboveground N uptake in preharvest cover crops amounted to a maximum of 24 kg N/ha in September before sowing winter wheat. When left until late autumn, preharvest oil radish took up a maximum of 66 kg N/ha, and ryegrass and postharvest cover crops 35 kg N/ha. Preharvest establishment of cruciferous cover crops before a spring‐sown crop thus seems promising. The soil was depleted of inorganic N to the same extent in late autumn irrespective of cover crop type, sowing time and technique within winter wheat or spring barley. However, the reduction in nitrate leaching of preharvest cover crops incorporated after 2 months and followed by winter wheat was only half of that achieved by cover crops left until late autumn or spring.     

黄土高原南部夏季不施肥种植玉米对旱地土壤残留养分的利用

夏季降水是造成我国西北黄土高原区旱地土壤硝态氮淋溶的主要原因。通过田间长期定位试验研究了冬小麦收获后,不施肥种植夏玉米而利用土壤残留养分阻止硝态氮淋溶的效应。结果表明,小麦播前施氮量增加,夏玉米收获期生物量和子粒产量增加,但磷肥用量增加对其影响不明显。小麦播前施氮量增加,夏玉米氮磷钾累积增加,施磷量增加,氮钾素累积降低,磷素累积无显著变化。土壤剖面含水量随小麦播前施氮量增加而降低,不同施磷量土壤剖面水分累积量的差异显著减少。不施肥种植夏玉米可以有效阻止和减少土壤剖面硝态氮淋溶,但在小麦播前施氮240和320kg·hm^-2时仍有较明显淋溶,其累积峰逐渐向深层土壤转移,造成氮素损失。施磷时,土壤剖面0-220cm硝态氮累积量下降,220cm以下土层变化不明显。     

Deep root growth and nitrogen uptake by rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia L.) as affected by nitrogen fertilizer,plant density and leaf harvesting on a coarse sandy soil

This study investigated management strategies to increase deep root growth and crop nitrogen (N) uptake by rocket grown as baby leaf in coarse sandy soil. Stage I (sowing to first harvest) measured the effects of two sowing densities and two N fertilizer rates on root growth and total N uptake. In Stage II (first to second harvest), effects of leaf harvesting and late season N fertilizer application on root growth, total N uptake and deep ¹⁵N uptake were measured. At the end of Stage I, root depth was 0.68–0.90 m, and the large fertilizer application increased N uptake. Plant density increased root depth, N uptake and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) early in this stage and biomass production at harvest. Leaf harvesting in Stage II affected root density but not root depth that reached 1.4 m. The ability for N uptake was greater from 0.6 m due to more roots and larger N inflow than from 1.1 m depth. Late season fertilizer increased N concentration and uptake but did not affect NUE and deep N uptake. During the growing season, 330–349 kg N_inorg/ha was lost from 0 to 1.0 m depth most likely by leaching. Management practices that increased root growth and N uptake were found to increase NUE in rocket production early in the season. The production system used N inefficiently and smaller applications, plant density, leaf harvesting and other changes of management are required to reduce leaching.     

Nitrate leaching after cut grass/clover leys as affected by time of ploughing

Abstract. Nitrate leaching after one year of a cut grass/clover ley was measured in two succeeding years to investigate how the postponing of ploughing leys from early to late autumn or spring, in combination with spring or winter cereals affected leaching of nitrate. The experiment was conducted as three field trials, two on a coarse sandy soil and one on a sandy loam soil. For calculation of nitrate leaching, soil water samples were taken using ceramic suction cups. The experiments started in spring in a first year ley and ended in spring three years later. Total nitrate leaching for the three year periods for each trial ranged between 160–254 and 189–254 kg N/ha on the coarse sand and 129–233 kg N/ha on the sandy loam. The results showed that winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) did not have the potential for taking up the mineralized N in autumn after early autumn ploughing of grass/clover leys, and that the least leaching was generally found when ploughing was postponed until spring, and when winter rye ( Secale cereale L.) was grown as the second crop rather than spring barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.). Nevertheless, leaching was generally high in the winter period even when winter rye was grown. On these soil types ploughing out should be postponed, whenever possible, to spring. Crop systems that maximize the utilization of mineralized N and thereby minimize nitrate leaching need to be further developed. Based on N balances, the data were further used to estimate the biological N fixation by the clover.     

Ridging in autumn as an alternative to mouldboard ploughing in a humid-temperate region

In the original ridge tillage system as practiced in the US Corn Belt, ridges are formed during the growing season. Several studies have documented that this can reduce leaching of nutrients and improve fertilizer efficiency. This study was conducted to determine whether ridges formed in autumn can be used as an alternative to ploughing to reduce N leaching during autumn and winter, and thereby increase growth and N uptake of a subsequent unfertilized crop. A factorial field experiment with tillage and residues as factors was conducted during 1998–2000. Tillage treatments were autumn ridging and ploughing. Residue treatments were stubble, stubble + straw and stubble + liquid manure in order to create a gradient of C/N ratios. From the time of harvest until planting of a subsequent barley crop (Hordeum vulgare L.), inorganic N was determined 11 times in 1998–1999 and 10 times in 1999–2000 in the 0–10, 10–30, 30–60 and 60–90 cm soil layers. Growth and N uptake of barley was quantified nine times in both 1999 and 2000. Barley grain and straw yields were determined. Ridging resulted in lower levels of inorganic N in the 30–90 cm soil layer in November and a significantly higher level of inorganic N in the 0–30 cm soil layer in late April, indicating reduced leaching and increased N availability for the subsequent crop. Ridging significantly increased growth, yield and N uptake of barley whereas incorporation of straw generally reduced growth, yield and N uptake. It is concluded that ridging in autumn has a N conserving effect, and it is suggested that the potential of ridging in autumn as an alternative to ploughing is further investigated in detailed studies of solute movement, N immobilization/mineralization and crop performance.     

Catch crop biomass production,nitrogen uptake and root development under different tillage systems

Catch crops are generally regarded as an efficient tool to reduce nitrate leaching. However, the benefits need to be balanced against potential adverse effects on the main crop yields. The objectives of the study were to study three contrasting catch crops, that is, dyer's woad (DW) (Isatis tinctoria L.), perennial ryegrass (RG) (Lolium perenne L.) and fodder radish (FR) (Raphanus sativus L.) under three tillage systems. For that, we used a tillage experiment established in 2002 on a Danish sandy loam. The tillage treatments were direct drilling (D), harrowing to 8–10 cm (H) and ploughing (P). Above‐ground biomass production and N uptake were measured in the catch crops and the main crop. Catch crop root growth was studied using both minirhizotron and core methods. Soil penetration resistance was recorded to 60 cm depth. Fodder radish and RG produced up to 1800 kg/ha dry matter and DW 900 kg/ha. The nitrogen uptake in November was 55, 37 and 31 kg N/ha for FR, RG and DW, respectively, when averaged across the 2 yr of study. The yield of the spring barley main crop was in general highest where FR was grown as a catch crop. Ploughing tended to result in highest yields although differences were only significant in 2008. The minirhizotron root measurements showed that the crucifers FR and DW achieved better subsoil rooting than RG. In contrast, the soil core data showed no significant difference between FR and RG in subsoil root growth. Our study highlights the need for further studies on subsoil root growth of different catch crops.     

The effect of tillage intensity on soil structure and winter wheat root/shoot growth

Despite a vast amount of data on the effect of tillage on crop productivity, surprisingly there is little detailed information available on the influence on below and aboveground crop growth dynamics. Such information is essential for developing sustainable cropping systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tillage intensity on crop growth dynamics and soil structure. A tillage experiment was established in autumn 2002 on two Danish sandy loams (Foulum and Flakkebjerg) in a cereal‐based crop rotation. The tillage systems included in this study were direct drilling (D), harrowing 8–10 cm (H_8‐10), and ploughing (P). A single‐disc drill was used in the H_8‐10 and D treatments and a traditional seed drill in the P treatment. Measurements were carried out in 2004–05 and 2005–06 and winter wheat was grown in both years (first and second year winter wheat). Shoot and root growth was followed during the growing seasons using spectral reflectance and mini‐rhizotron measurements, respectively. A range of soil physical properties were measured. We found decreased early season shoot and root growth with decreasing tillage intensity. Differences diminished later in the growing season, although significant treatment effects were observed throughout the growing season for the second year winter wheat. The formerly ploughed layer in the D and H_8‐10 treatments was noticeably compacted as indicated by increases in both penetration resistance and bulk density. Nitrate leaching increased with decreasing tillage intensity for the first year winter wheat at Foulum. In general ploughing resulted in the highest grain yields. This study highlights the important interaction between soil structure and crop growth dynamics.     

Nitrogen pools and turnover in arable soils under different durations of organic farming: II: Source‐and‐sink function of the soil microbial biomass or competition with growing plants?

The following parameters were measured on seven field plots at 3 sites which had been under organic farming for different periods of time: mineral nitrogen (N _min) contents, in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N _net), soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), and nitrogen (N _mic) contents, and extractable organic N contents. The measurements were conducted every three weeks from spring 1995/1996 to autumn 1997. The objective was to test whether, under organic farming: 1) temporal fluctuations of N_mic contents over the course of the year are indicative for a source‐and‐sink function for plant‐available N of the soil microbial biomass, and 2) temporal variations in N_mic content can be related with in situ N_net or plant N uptake. N_min contents gradually increased after ploughing in autumn until late winter. During intensive plant growth in spring, values rapidly declined. In situ N_net fluctuated only moderately and reached high values during intensive plant growth (May—July) as well as after soil cultivation in autumn. The C_mic and N_mic contents generally were low in winter, increased in spring and reached maxima in late spring or summer. In spring, the increase in C_mic contents preceded the increase in N_mic contents, resulting in elevated C_mic:N_mic ratios until shooting of winter wheat. This corresponds to an uptake of available soil nitrogen by the plants at the expense of soil micro‐organisms. The subsequent increase in N_mic contents, coinciding with high plant N uptake rates, indicates an enhanced, plant‐induced N mobilization at that time. Possible mobilization mechanisms are discussed. Soil microbial biomass exerted a source‐and‐sink function for extractable organic N on some of the field plots. Estimates of in situ N_net measurements were neither correlated significantly with soil microbial biomass N, N_mic flux, N_mic turnover, nor with plant N uptake. Lower N_mic turnover rates on 41 years versus 3 years organically managed fields indicate a stabilizing effect of organic farming on soil microflora.     

Leaching of nitrate and phosphorus after autumn and spring application of separated solid animal manures to winter wheat

Animal slurry can be separated into solid and liquid manure fractions to facilitate the transport of nutrients from livestock farms. In Denmark, untreated slurry is normally applied in spring whereas the solid fraction may be applied in autumn, causing increased risk of nitrate and phosphorus (P) leaching. We studied the leaching of nitrate and P in lysimeters with winter wheat crops (Triticum aestivum L.) after autumn incorporation versus spring surface application of solid manure fractions, and we compared also spring applications of mineral N fertilizer and pig slurry. Leaching was compared on a loamy sand and a sandy loam soil. The leaching experiment lasted for 2 yr, and the whole experiment was replicated twice. Nitrate leaching was generally low (19–34 kg N/ha) after spring applications of mineral fertilizer and manures. Nitrate leaching increased significantly after autumn application of the solid manures, and the extra nitrate leached was equivalent to 23–35% of total manure N and corresponded to the ammonium content of the manures. After spring application of solid manures and pig slurry, only a slight rise in N leaching was observed during the following autumn/winter (<5% of total manure N). Total P leaching was 40–165 g P/ha/yr, and the application of solid manure in autumn did not increase P leaching. The nitrogen fertilizer replacement value of solid manure N was similar after autumn and spring application (17–32% of total N). We conclude that from an environmental perspective, solid manure fractions should not be applied to winter wheat on sandy and sandy loam soils under humid North European conditions.     

萝卜适宜施氮量和氮肥基追比例研究

运用15N示踪法研究了大田条件下不同氮肥用量与施肥方式对萝卜氮素吸收、分配及肉质根产量的影响。试验设置3个氮水平（0、 60和120 kg/hm2）和两种基追肥比例［基肥∶破肚期肥料∶膨大期肥料=50%∶20%∶30%（A）和30%∶20%∶50%（B）］,共5个处理,依次记作 N0、N60A、N60B、N120A、N120B。结果表明,在施N 0120 kg/hm2范围内,随氮施用量的增加,萝卜吸收的肥料氮素、土壤氮素数量及肥料氮在土壤中的残留量显著增加,氮素的吸收利用率和土壤残留率显著下降,氮素损失率显著增加。当氮用量为120 kg/hm2 时, N120A和N120B处理萝卜吸收的肥料氮素、土壤氮素及肥料氮在土壤中的残留量分别为30.50、 53.64、 14.88 kg/hm2和35.56、 56.61、 17.81 kg/hm2,采收期肉质根产量分别为67.6 t/hm2和72.5 t/hm2,比对应的低氮处理（N60A和N60B）分别增加64.07%和66.67%,且N120B处理萝卜氮素吸收利用率显著提高。因此,适量施氮并增加肉质根膨大期的施氮比例,可有效提高氮肥利用率,显著增加萝卜肉质根产量。在本试验条件下,施氮量为120 kg/hm2, 按照基肥∶破肚期肥料∶膨大期肥料比例30%∶20%∶50%进行施肥,是兼顾产量和氮肥利用效率的最佳氮肥运筹方式。     

Increased Dryland Winter Wheat Yields by Nitrogen Fertilizer Topdressing and its Relationship to Soil Moisture,Available N,P and K in Northwestern China

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in northwestern China as a monoculture is hampered by unfertile soil and drought. With the fast-developing Chinese chemical fertilizer industry, many farmers now use more nitrogen (N) fertilizer as topdressing for winter wheat in early spring, in addition to a basal dose of N fertilizer applied in the previous autumn at seeding time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the increase in grain yield of dryland winter wheat by early spring N fertilizer topdressing, and its relationship to soil moisture, available N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Field experiments with no N fertilizer topdressing (F_b) and N fertilizer topdressing (F_b+t) treatments were carried out over two growing seasons at 54 site-years to assess the relationship between increase in winter wheat grain yield by early spring N fertilizer topdressing and soil moisture, available N, P and K in Changwu county, Shaanxi province, China. Compared to F_b treatment, the F_b+t treatment produced grain yields lower at 10 site-years, and increased by <10% at 21 site-years and by >10% at 23 site-years. The results indicated that topdressing N fertilizer could increase wheat grain yield when soil nitrate-N accumulation in the 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm depths was less than 121.7, 36.4 and 24.1 kg N ha^?1, and soil moisture content in the 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 cm depths was more than 15.7%, 16.7% and 16.9%, respectively. The findings also suggested that it is not necessary to analyze soil for ammonium-N, available P and K before topdressing N fertilizer. It is necessary to analyze 0–60 cm soil profile for nitrate-N and 40–100 cm depth for soil moisture before topdressing N fertilizer for winter wheat in dryland areas of northwestern China.     

施氮量对土壤无机氮分布和微生物量氮含量及小麦产量的影响

在高肥力土壤条件下,研究了施氮量对土壤无机氮分布和微生物量氮含量及小麦产量的影响。结果表明,小麦生长期间,施氮处理0100.cm土层硝态氮积累量显著大于不施氮处理;当施氮量大于150.kg/hm2时,随施氮量增加,0100.cm土层硝态氮积累量显著增加;随小麦生育进程推进,施氮处理上层土壤硝态氮下移趋势明显,至小麦成熟时,施氮1952～85.kg/hm2处理60100.cm土层硝态氮含量显著大于其它处理。小麦生长期间,0100.cm土层铵态氮积累量较为稳定,施氮处理间亦无显著差异。与不施氮肥相比,施氮提高小麦生长期间040.cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量;当施氮量小于240.kg/hm2时,随施氮量增加,土壤微生物量氮含量增加。小麦的氮肥利用率随施氮量增加而降低;施氮1051～95.kg/hm2,收获时小麦植株吸氮量、生物产量、子粒产量和子粒蛋白质含量提高;而施氮量大于240.kg/hm2时,小麦生育后期的氮素积累量降低,收获时植株吸氮量、生物产量和子粒蛋白质含量降低。说明本试验条件下,施氮1051～50.kg/hm2可满足当季小麦氮素吸收利用,获得较高的子粒产量和蛋白质含量。继续增加施氮量,土壤微生物量氮含量增加,但土壤中残留大量硝态氮,易淋溶损失。     

Carbon turnover and sequestration potential of fodder radish cover crop

We studied fodder radish carbon turnover as affected by soil tillage in Foulum, Denmark. Actively growing fodder radish monoliths from direct‐drilled (DD) and conventionally tilled (CT) plots were extracted and labelled regularly with ¹⁴C isotope across their entire growth period. At the end of the fodder radish growth cycle, labelled biomass was harvested and incorporated into the same monolith. These monoliths were destructively sampled at biomass incorporation, 4, 8 and 18 months after incorporation. For each sampling period, soil and root samples were taken at 0‐ to 10‐, 10‐ to 25‐, and 25‐ to 45‐cm‐depth increments for determination of ¹⁴C distribution and retention. Carbon‐14 declined significantly with increasing soil depth at each sampling for the two tillage practices (P < 0.05). We further observed significantly higher ¹⁴C at 0–10 cm for DD than for CT at 4 and 8 months after biomass incorporation. For the 10–25 cm depth, ¹⁴C was significantly higher for CT than for DD, 4 and 8 months after incorporation. However, despite these depth‐specific differences, cumulative (0–45 cm soil depth) ¹⁴C retention was similar for DD and CT treatments for all the sampling periods. On the basis of a CN‐SIM model forecast, we estimated that over a 30‐yr period of continuous autumn fodder radish establishment, at least 4.9 t C/ha fodder radish C with a residence time of more than 20 yr could be stored in the soil.     

Changes in N leaching and crop production as a result of measures to reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation

The effects of various measures introduced to increase nitrogen (N)‐use efficiency and reduce N losses to water in a 6‐yr crop rotation (winter wheat, spring barley, green manure, winter wheat, spring barley, spring oilseed rape) were examined with respect to N leaching, soil mineral N (SMN) accumulation and grain yield. An N‐use efficient system (NUE) with delayed tillage until late autumn and spring, direct drilling of winter wheat, earlier sowing of winter and spring crops and use of a catch crop in winter wheat was compared with a conventional system (CON) in a field experiment with six separately tile‐drained plots in south‐western Sweden during the period 1999–2011 (two crop rotation cycles). Total leaching of NO₃‐N from the NUE system was significantly 46 and 33% lower than in the CON system during the first and second crop rotation cycle, respectively, with the most pronounced differences apparently related to management strategies for winter wheat. Differences in NO₃‐N leaching largely reflected differences in SMN during autumn and winter. There was a tendency for lower yields in the NUE system, probably due to problems with couch grass. Overall, the measures for conserving N, when frequently used within a crop rotation, effectively reduced NO₃ concentrations in drainage water and NO₃‐N leaching losses, without severely affecting yield.     

Nitrous oxide emissions, cereal growth, N recovery and soil nitrogen status after ploughing organically managed grass/clover swards

The period after ploughing of grass–clover leys within a ley‐arable rotation is when nitrogen accumulated during the ley phase is most vulnerable to loss. We investigated how ploughing date and timing of cessation of grazing before ploughing affected nitrous oxide (N₂O) losses of the first cereal crop. Ploughing dates were July and October for a winter wheat pilot study and January and March for spring barley in the main experiment. Timings of cessation of grazing (main experiment only) were October, January and March. Spring barley yield, nitrogen uptake and soil mineral nitrogen were also assessed. A separate large‐scale laboratory incubation was made to assess the effect of temperature and rainfall on nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching under controlled conditions. Nitrous oxide emissions in the 1‐ to 2‐month period after autumn or spring ploughing, or sowing were typically between 20 and 150 g N ha^?1 day^?1 and increased with temperature and rainfall. Tillage for crop establishment stimulated N₂O emissions with up to 2.1 kg N ha^?1 released in the month after spring tillage. Cumulative nitrous oxide emissions were greatest (～8 kg ha^?1 over 17 months) after cessation of grazing in March before March ploughing, and lowest (～5.5 kg ha^?1) after cessation of grazing in January before January ploughing. These losses were 1.2–3.9% of the N inputs. In the laboratory study, winter ploughing stimulated nitrate leaching more than nitrous oxide emissions. The optimum time of ploughing appears to be early spring when the cold restricts nitrogen mineralization initially, but sufficient nitrogen becomes available for early crop growth and satisfactory N offtake as temperature increases. Early cessation of grazing is advantageous in leaving an adequate supply of residues of good quality (narrow C:N ratio) for ploughing‐in. Restricting tillage operations to cool, dry conditions, being aware of possible compaction and increasing the use of undersown grass–clover should improve the sustainability of organic farming.     

Rapid Estimation of Potentially Mineralizable N in Early Spring Following Fall Biosolids Applications to Winter Wheat

The amount of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) in early spring is critical to winter wheat production because maximum nitrogen (N) uptake begins then. We evaluated the Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method for quantifying PMN in early spring from biosolids fall-applied to soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Anaerobically digested and lime stabilized biosolids were fall-applied at 0, 50 and 100 kg PAN ha^?1 at six locations in the Virginia Coastal Plain in 2013. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method did not provide an accurate estimation of spring PAN for biosolids applied in the fall for no-till winter wheat. The sum of preplant soil inorganic N and PMN of the unamended soil was better related to grain yield than PMN alone. The Haney-Brinton CO₂-burst method is inadequate for use in no-till management but may provide an accurate mid-season estimate of winter wheat yield potential when used in combination with pre-plant soil inorganic N.     

Effects of cover crops sown in autumn on N and P leaching

A field experiment with separately tile-drained plots was used to study the ability of oilseed radish (Rhaphanus sativus L.), as a cover crop sown after harvest of a main crop of cereals or peas, to reduce nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) leaching losses from a clay loam in southern Sweden over 6 years. In addition to oilseed radish in pure stand, two cover crop mixtures (hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale) for 3 years and oilseed radish in mixture with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) for 2 years) were tested. The cover crop plots (three replicates per treatment) were compared with unplanted plots as a control. Plots cropped with oilseed radish during autumn (August–November) had significantly smaller yearly mean N concentration in drainage water over 5 of 6 years compared with unplanted controls. Mineral N content in the soil profile in autumn was significantly less in oilseed radish plots than for control plots in all years. The cover crop mixtures of hairy vetch and rye or buckwheat and oilseed radish also showed the potential to reduce soil mineral N in autumn and N concentration in drainage water, compared with unplanted controls. The cover crops had no impact on P leaching. In conclusion, oilseed radish has the ability to reduce leaching losses of N, without increasing the risk of P leaching.     

Sensitivity of crop yield and N losses in winter wheat to changes in mean and variability of temperature and precipitation in Denmark using the FASSET model

Abstract

Sensitivity of wheat yield and soil nitrogen (N) losses to stepwise changes in means and variances of climatic variables were determined using the FASSET model. The LARS-WG was used to generate climate scenarios using observed climate data (1961–90) from two sites in Denmark, which differed in climate and soil conditions. Scenarios involved changes to (i) mean temperature alone, (ii) mean and variability of temperature, (iii) winter and summer precipitation amounts and (iv) duration of dry and wet series.

The model predicted lower grain yield and N uptake in response to increases in mean temperatures, caused by early maturity, with little change in variability. This, however, increased soil mineral N causing increased N losses. On sandy loam, larger temperature variability lowered grain yields and increased N losses coupled with higher variability at all the mean temperature ranges. On coarse sand, grain yields either remained unaltered or were slightly reduced when larger temperature variability was introduced to increase in mean temperatures of up to +2°C above baseline. However, introducing variability to further increase in mean temperatures lowered yields without any change in variability. Larger temperature variability did not affect soil mineral N and N₂O emissions, but increased N leaching on coarse sand.

Large response in grain yield, N uptake and soil N cycling, and in their variability was predicted when summer precipitation was varied, whereas only N leaching responded to changes in winter precipitation. Doubling the duration of dry series lowered grain yield and N removed by grain, but increased N leaching, whereas doubling the duration of wet series showed opposite effect. Predicted responses to changes in precipitation patterns were larger on coarse sand than on sandy loam. This study illustrates the importance of considering effects of changes to mean climatic factors, climatic variability and soil types on both crop yield and soil N losses.     

旱地小麦地表覆盖对土壤水分硝态氮累积分布的影响

在黄土高原南部半湿润易干旱地区,通过长期田间定位试验,研究了不同地表覆盖对第3季冬小麦生长、氮素吸收及土壤水分和硝态氮累积分布的影响。结果表明,无论地表覆盖能否促进小麦生长及其对氮素的吸收,在收获期均能提高表层土壤水分;覆膜栽培增加表层硝态氮含量,覆草也在高量施用氮肥时,提高表层硝态氮的累积。而地表覆盖对耕层以下土壤水分和硝态氮累积的影响与施氮量、作物生长及其对氮素吸收利用有关。覆膜在促进作物生长、提高氮素吸收的同时,降低了深层土壤水分及其硝态氮的累积,且随施氮量的增加降低幅度增大;覆草在不施氮肥和施氮120kg·hm^-2时未能促进小麦生长,但有增加深层土壤水分的趋势,而高量施用氮肥,明显提高了小麦地上部生物产量及其对氮素的吸收,降低了深层土壤水分;同时发现,无论施氮与否覆草均降低了下层土壤硝态氮的累积。在高量施用氮肥的情况下,采用地表覆盖,不仅能够促进作物生长、提高氮素吸收,还能有效降低氮素在土壤中的累积及其向下层淋溶。