Effects of cover crops,compost, and manure amendments on soil microbial community structure in tomato production systems

Soil microbial community structure and crop yield was investigated in field tomato production systems that compared black polyethylene mulch to hairy vetch mulch and inorganic N to organic N. The following hypotheses were tested: (1) hairy vetch cover cropping increases crop yield and significantly affects soil microbial community structure when compared to the standard plastic mulch and synthetic fertilizer-based system; (2) within plastic mulch systems, organic amendments will increase crop yield and significantly affect soil microbial community structure when compared to synthetic fertilizer; (3) crop yields and microbial community structure will be similar in the hairy vetch cover cropping and the organic amended plasticulture systems. Treatments consisted of ammonium nitrate (control), hairy vetch cover crop, hairy vetch cover crop and poultry manure compost (10 Mg/ha), three levels of poultry manure compost (5, 10, and 20 Mg/ha), and two levels of poultry manure (2.5 and 5 Mg/ha). Black polyethylene mulch was used in all treatments without hairy vetch. Fatty acid analysis was used to characterize the total soil microbial community structure, while two substrate utilization assays were used to investigate the community structure of culturable bacteria and fungi. Crop yield was not significantly increased by hairy vetch cover cropping when compared to black polyethylene mulch, although microbial community structure was significantly affected by cover cropping. Under black polyethylene mulch, crop yields were significantly increased by the highest levels of compost and manure when compared to inorganic fertilizer, but there was no detectable effect on soil microbial community structure. When cover cropping was compared to organic amended plasticulture systems, crop yields were similar one year but dissimilar the next. However, hairy vetch cover cropping and organic amendments under black plastic mulch produced significantly different soil microbial community structure.     

Optimizing nutrient availability and potential carbon sequestration in an agroecosystem

The uniformity, low cost and ease of application associated with inorganic fertilizers have diminished the use of organic nutrient sources. Concern for food safety, the environment and the need to dispose of animal and municipal wastes have focused attention on organic sources of N such as animal-derived amendments, green manures, and crop rotations. Managing organic N sources to provide sufficient N for crop growth requires knowledge of C and N decomposition over several years, particularly where manure and compost are applied. We report a comparison of compost and chemical fertilizer, use of a corn-corn-soybean-wheat rotation compared to continuous corn and the use of cover crops. Nitrogen (150 d) and C incubations (317 d) were conducted to determine the effect of cropping system and nutrient management on: N mineralization potential (NMP), the mineralizable organic N pool (N_o), the mean residence time (MRT) of No, C mineralization (C_min), and soil organic carbon (SOC) pool sizes and fluxes. Compost applications over 6 y increased the resistant pool of C by 30% and the slow pool of C by 10%. The compost treatment contained 14% greater soil organic C than the fertilizer management. Nitrogen was limiting on all compost treatments with the exception of first year corn following wheat fallow and clover cover crop. The clover cover crop and wheat-fallow increased inorganic N in both nutrient managements. We recommend that growers adjust their N fertilizer recommendation to reflect the quantity and timing of N mineralized from organic N sources and the N immobilization that can be associated with compost or other residue applications. Proper management of nutrients from compost, cover crops and rotations can maintain soil fertility and increase C sequestration.     

Cover crop nitrogen availability to conventional and no‐till corn: Soil mineral nitrogen,corn nitrogen status,and corn yield

Abstract

Understanding seasonal soil nitrogen (N) availability patterns is necessary to assess corn (Zea mays L.) N needs following winter cover cropping. Therefore, a field study was initiated to track N availability for corn in conventional and no‐till systems and to determine the accuracy of several methods for assessing and predicting N availability for corn grown in cover crop systems. The experimental design was a systematic split‐split plot with fallow, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rye+hairy vetch, and wheat+hairy vetch established as main plots and managed for conventional till and no‐till corn (split plots) to provide a range of soil N availability. The split‐split plot treatment was sidedressed with fertilizer N to give five N rates ranging from 0–300 kg N ha^‐1 in 75 kg N ha^‐1 increments. Soil and corn were sampled throughout the growing season in the 0 kg N ha^‐1 check plots and corn grain yields were determined in all plots. Plant‐available N was greater following cover crops that contained hairy vetch, but tillage had no consistent affect on N availability. Corn grain yields were higher following hairy vetch with or without supplemental fertilizer N and averaged 11.6 Mg ha^‐1 and 9.9 Mg ha^‐1 following cover crops with and without hairy vetch, respectively. All cover crop by tillage treatment combinations responded to fertilizer N rate both years, but the presence of hairy vetch seldom reduced predicted fertilizer N need. Instead, hairy vetch in monoculture or biculture seemed to add to corn yield potential by an average of about 1.7 Mg ha^‐1 (averaged over fertilizer N rates). Cover crop N contributions to corn varied considerably, likely due to cover crop N content and C:N ratio, residue management, climate, soil type, and the method used to assess and assign an N credit. The pre‐sidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) accurately predicted fertilizer N responsive and N nonresponsive cover crop‐corn systems, but inorganic soil N concentrations within the PSNT critical inorganic soil N concentration range were not detected in this study.     

Roller-Crimper Termination for Legume Cover Crops in North Carolina: Impacts on Nutrient Availability to a Succeeding Corn Crop

Nitrogen (N) release from roll-killed legume cover crops was determined for hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and a hairy vetch + rye (Secale cereale L.) biculture in an organic corn production system in North Carolina, USA. Cover crops were planted at two locations in fall 2008 and 2009, roll-killed in May, and no-till planted with corn (Zea mays L.). Inorganic soil N and mineral N flux were determined using potassium chloride (KCl) extractions and ion-exchange resin (Plant Root Simulator, PRS) probes at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks and compared to fertilized controls of 0 and 168 kg N ha^?1. In 2009, greater plant available N under hairy vetch than under either 0 N control or crimson clover was found, with peak soil N occurring between 4 and 6 weeks after roll kill. Available soil N under crimson clover mulches was less than or equal to 0 N, suggesting net immobilization.     

Nitrogen mineralization and availability of mixed leguminous and non-leguminous cover crop residues in soil

Whereas non-leguminous cover crops such as cereal rye (Secale cereale) or annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorium) are capable of reducing nitrogen (N) leaching during wet seasons, leguminous cover crops such as hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) improve soil N fertility for succeeding crops. With mixtures of grasses and legumes as cover crop, the goal of reducing N leaching while increasing soil N availability for crop production could be attainable. This study examined net N mineralization of soil treated with hairy vetch residues mixed with either cereal rye or annual ryegrass and the effect of these mixtures on growth and N uptake by cereal rye. Both cereal rye and annual ryegrass contained low total N, but high water-soluble carbon and carbohydrate, compared with hairy vetch. Decreasing the proportion of hairy vetch in the mixed residues decreased net N mineralization, rye plant growth and N uptake, but increased the crossover time (the time when the amount of net N mineralized in the residue-amended soil equalled that of the non-amended control) required for net N mineralization to occur. When the hairy vetch content was decreased to 40% or lower, net N immobilization in the first week of incubation increased markedly. Residue N was significantly correlated with rye biomass (r=0.81, P<0.01) and N uptake (r=0.83, P<0.001), although the correlation was much higher between residue N and the potential initial N mineralization rate for rye biomass (r=0.93, P<0.001) and N uptake (r=0.99, P<0.001). Judging from the effects of the mixed residues on rye N Concentration and N uptake, the proportion of rye or annual ryegrass when mixed with residues of hairy vetch should not exceed 60% if the residues are to increase N availability. Further study is needed to examine the influence of various mixtures of hairy vetch and rye or annual ryegrass on N leaching in soil. Received: 10 March 1997     

Long-term effects of tillage, cover crops, and nitrogen fertilization on organic carbon and nitrogen concentrations in sandy loam soils in Georgia, USA

Maintaining and/or conserving organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in the soil using management practices can improve its fertility and productivity and help to reduce global warming by sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ and N₂. We examined the influence of 6 years of tillage (no-till, NT; chisel plowing, CP; and moldboard plowing, MP), cover crop (hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) vs. winter weeds), and N fertilization (0, 90, and 180 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil organic C and N concentrations in a Norfolk sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Typic Kandiudults) under tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and silage corn (Zea mays L.). In a second experiment, we compared the effects of 7 years of non-legume (rye (Secale cereale L.)) and legume (hairy vetch and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)) cover crops and N fertilization (HN (90 kg N ha⁻¹ for tomato and 80 kg N ha⁻¹ for eggplant)) and FN (180 kg N ha⁻¹ for tomato and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ for eggplant)) on soil organic C and N in a Greenville fine sandy loam (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic, Rhodic Kandiudults) under tomato and eggplant (Solanum melogena L.). Both experiments were conducted from 1994 to 2000 in Fort Valley, GA. Carbon concentration in cover crops ranged from 704 kg ha⁻¹ in hairy vetch to 3704 kg ha⁻¹ in rye in 1999 and N concentration ranged from 77 kg ha⁻¹ in rye in 1996 to 299 kg ha⁻¹ in crimson clover in 1997. With or without N fertilization, concentrations of soil organic C and N were greater in NT with hairy vetch than in MP with or without hairy vetch (23.5–24.9 vs. 19.9–21.4 Mg ha⁻¹ and 1.92–2.05 vs. 1.58–1.76 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively). Concentrations of organic C and N were also greater with rye, hairy vetch, crimson clover, and FN than with the control without a cover crop or N fertilization (17.5–18.4 vs. 16.5 Mg ha⁻¹ and 1.33–1.43 vs. 1.31 Mg ha⁻¹, respectively). From 1994 to 1999, concentrations of soil organic C and N decreased by 8–16% in NT and 15–25% in CP and MP. From 1994 to 2000, concentrations of organic C and N decreased by 1% with hairy vetch and crimson clover, 2–6% with HN and FN, and 6–18% with the control. With rye, organic C and N increased by 3–4%. Soil organic C and N concentrations can be conserved and/or maintained by reducing their loss through mineralization and erosion, and by sequestering atmospheric CO₂ and N₂ in the soil using NT with cover crops and N fertilization. These changes in soil management improved soil quality and productivity. Non-legume (rye) was better than legumes (hairy vetch and crimson clover) and N fertilization in increasing concentrations of soil organic C and N.     

Hairy Vetch Incorporated as Green Manure Inhibits Sulfathiazole Uptake by Lettuce in Soil

Veterinary antibiotics like sulfonamides are frequently detected in arable lands and they can potentially contaminate food crops. It is thus of great importance to identify strategies to reduce food crops’ uptake of antibiotics. For the first time, using a pot culture experiment, sulfathiazole (STZ) uptake by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in antibiotic-contaminated soils (10 and 100 mg STZ kg^?1 soil) and treated with (in)organic amendments, namely chemical fertilizer (NPK), compost, and hairy vetch, was investigated. Subsequent enhanced plant growth was witnessed when using hairy vetch treatment. The amount of antibiotic uptake was significantly reduced to 5 and 33% with hairy vetch application compared to compost or NPK application at 10 and 100 mg kg^?1 STZ, respectively. The total amounts of accumulated STZ in plant parts increased as the levels of STZ contaminated in soils were increased. STZ was much more abundant in the roots than the leaves. Within 30 days, the extractable STZ in the treated soils—especially with hairy vetch—diminished considerably to concentrations that are frequently detected in arable soils. We conclude that utilization of green manure (cover crop—hairy vetch) is a viable strategy for safer crop production in antibiotic-contaminated soils.     

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.     

苏南稻田4种冬绿肥养分特性及对翻压前土壤无机氮的影响

为充分利用苏南冬闲稻田发展适宜绿肥作物种植,在大田试验条件下,研究了毛叶苕子（Vicia villosa Roth）、 光叶苕子（Vicia villosa var.）、 紫云英（Astragalus sinicus L.）和肥田萝卜（Raphanus sativus L.）4种绿肥作物的生长、 营养特性,比较分析了绿肥作物翻压前不同处理间耕层土壤无机氮含量与构成的差异。结果表明,在绿肥作物翻压期,4种绿肥作物均达到较高生物量和养分累积量,鲜重、 干重分别为24.8 30.7 t/hm2和3.6 4.2 t/hm2,不同绿肥作物间无显著差异。 4种绿肥作物的吸氮量为69.8 136.4 kg/hm2,毛叶苕子最高,肥田萝卜最低。吸磷量为7.1~11.3 kg/hm2,肥田萝卜最高,紫云英最低。吸钾量为117.6~151.3 kg/hm2,毛叶苕子最高,光叶苕子最低。与对照冬闲相比,种植绿肥作物不同程度地降低了耕层土壤无机氮含量（平均降低38.9 kg/hm2）,其中硝态氮含量下降明显,铵态氮含量均较对照土壤有增加趋势（平均提高6.5 kg/hm2）,毛叶苕子和光叶苕子处理铵态氮含量增加显著。4种绿肥作物均适合苏南冬闲稻田种植,能潜在降低无机氮的损失风险和为后季水稻作物生长提供养分。     

轮作提高土壤磷生物有效性改善后茬作物磷素营养

  【目的】  豆科作物与禾本科作物轮作能够提高轮作体系的磷效率,本研究调查了前茬作物收获后的土壤磷状况,并尝试采用基于生物有效性的磷素分级方法 (BBP) 评价其对后茬玉米磷营养状况的影响。  【方法】  设置室内模拟盆栽试验,前茬作物处理包括蚕豆 (Vicia faba)、小麦(Triticum aestivum)、黑麦草 (Lolium perenne) 和毛叶苕子 (Vicia villosa Roth),以不种植作物为对照。作物收获后,后茬均轮作玉米。每个轮作前茬作物处理均分为基施P₂O₅ 60 mg/kg和不施磷肥两个处理。在前茬作物收获后,测定土壤Olsen-P含量,并将土壤磷分为CaCl₂-P、Citrate-P、Enzyme-P、HCl-P,评价土壤的有效磷状况。玉米收获后,测定产量和植株地上部磷含量及吸收累积量。  【结果】  轮作显著提高了后茬玉米地上部生物量,前茬不施磷肥处理对后茬玉米的增产效果高于施用磷肥处理。不施磷肥条件下,与对照相比,蚕豆后茬玉米的地上部生物量增加最多 (185.7%),且增幅显著高于小麦和毛叶苕子的后茬;施磷条件下,蚕豆、黑麦草后茬玉米的地上部生物量之间没有显著差异,但均显著高于小麦和毛叶苕子后茬。不施磷条件下,轮作显著提高了后茬玉米地上部含磷量,以黑麦草茬口的增幅最高,达到66.7%,且显著高于蚕豆和毛叶苕子;施磷条件下,4个茬口玉米地上部磷含量与无前茬作物对照没有显著差异,但黑麦草茬口仍显著高于蚕豆、小麦和毛叶苕子茬口的。前茬不施磷肥条件下,Enzyme-P在蚕豆、小麦、黑麦草和毛叶苕子茬土壤显著高于对照土壤;施磷肥条件下,只有蚕豆和黑麦草茬土壤显著高于对照土壤,这与轮作处理的促生效应相吻合。不施磷蚕豆、小麦、黑麦草和毛叶苕子土壤Citrate-P含量比其对照显著低20.99%、13.30%、5.05%和10.66%,而施磷土壤降幅更大,分别比对照低32.56%、22.86%、20.32%和27.62%。不论是否施磷肥,蚕豆与毛叶苕子均显著降低了土壤的HCl-P含量,而小麦茬对土壤的HCl-P含量无显著影响。  【结论】  不论是否施用磷肥,轮作显著降低了土壤中Olsen-P的含量,但是却显著促进了后茬玉米的生长。依据BBP分级方法,轮作不同程度地降低了土壤中Citrate-P和HCl-P含量,而增加了Enzyme-P的含量,进而提高了土壤中磷的生物有效性,增加了玉米吸磷量。在4种前茬作物中,黑麦草挖掘土壤供磷能力的潜力最大。     

Sustaining Soil Quality with Legumes in No‐Tillage Systems

Abstract

Tillage, cropping system, and cover crops have seasonal and long‐term effects on the nitrogen (N) cycle and total soil organic carbon (C), which in turn affects soil quality. This study evaluated the effects of crop, cover crop, and tillage practices on inorganic N levels and total soil N, the timing of inorganic N release from hairy vetch and soybean, and the capacity for C sequestration. Cropping systems included continuous corn (Zea mays L.) and stalk residue, continuous corn and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), continuous soybeans (Glycine max L.) plus residue, and two corn/soybean rotations in corn alternate years with hairy vetch and ammonium nitrate (0, 85, and 170 kg N ha^?1). Subplot treatments were moldboard plow and no tillage. Legumes coupled with no tillage reduced the N fertilizer requirement of corn, increased plant‐available N, and augmented total soil C and N stores.     

Role of Cover Crops and Planting Dates for Improved Weed Suppression and Nitrogen Recovery in No till Systems

ABSTRACT

Cover crops improve the recovery and recycling of nitrogen and impart weed suppression in crop production. A two-year study with six weekly plantings of cover crops including non-winterkilled species (hairy vetch, Vicia villosa L.; winter rye Secale cereale L.) and winterkilled species (oat, Avena sativa L.; forage radish, Raphanus sativus L.) were assessed for effects on growth of forage rape (Brassica napus L.) and weed suppression. Early planting of cover crops gave the highest biomass and highest nitrogen accumulation. Delaying planting from early-September to mid-October suppressed cover-crop biomass by about 40%. Forage radish produced more biomass in the fall than other cover crops but was winter killed. Spring biomass was highest with rye or vetch. All cover crops suppressed weeds, but suppression was greatest under rye or hairy vetch. Hairy vetch accumulated the largest nitrogen content. Forage rape plants yielded more biomass after a cover crop than after no-cover crop.     

Modelling the turnover of 15N-labelled fertilizer and cover crop in soil and its recovery by maize

The rate at which available nitrogen (N) is released from organic materials in soil is often measured by applying ¹⁵N and following its recovery by the growing crop. However, the turnover of labelled N in soil modifies the ratio of labelled to unlabelled available N and thereby affects the uptake of ¹⁵N by plants. The recovery of labelled N by maize was measured in a field experiment under three management systems, with one ¹⁵N‐labelled input in each: (1) conventional, with fertilizer side dressing, (2) low input, with vetch as a cover crop and fertilizer side dressing, and (3) organic, with vetch and composted manure. The NCSOIL model, which simulates C and N turnover in soil, was modified to include relevant processes related to the maize crop, and used to estimate the decomposition rate constant of vetch in the field by optimizing the simulated dynamics of labelled N uptake by maize against the measured results. A large input of C from mineralizable soil organic matter and root deposition was necessary to account for the recovery of fertilizer N by maize. Optimization of labelled N recovery in the low input system resulted in two optional rate constants for the decomposition of vetch: rapid decomposition (0.4 day^?1) of a labile vetch pool (49% of total vetch N), or slow decomposition (0.008 day^?1) of a single vetch pool. In the simulated organic system, where manure and vetch were incorporated at the same time, only a rapid decomposition of the labile component of vetch accounted well for the recovery of vetch N by maize. The prolonged recycling of N mineralized from the vetch, and its mixing with fertilizer side dressing in the low input system, reduced the recovery of vetch N even though it was mineralized rapidly. This demonstrates the difficulty in assessing the availability of N from organic materials.     

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.     

Combining Legumes and Compost: A Viable Alternative for Farmers in Conversion to Organic Agriculture

Soil nitrogen (N) availability and crop performance of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. orion) were observed in a field plot study under different organic amendments addition and chemical fertilizer. The treatments consisted on no amendment; poultry manure based compost, woollypod vetch (Vicia dasycarpa var. lana), a combination of compost with Lana vetch and ammonium sulphate. For almost all sampling dates, the soils treated with vetch (3.6 Mg/ha) combined with compost (9.0 Mg/ha) showed a good performance in replenishing the inorganic N taken up by plants and soil microbes. High yields were achieved with the combination of vetch and compost and moderately high yields were achieved with vetch only and compost only. Yields appeared to be related to quality and N levels in the amendments, and size of existing soil nitrogen pools susceptible to the priming effect.     

Long-term winter cover cropping effects on corn (Zea mays L.) production and soil nitrogen availability

 This study was conducted to determine effects of long-term winter cover cropping with hairy vetch, cereal rye and annual ryegrass on soil N availability and corn productivity. From 1987 to 1995, with the exception of the first year of the study, the cover crops were seeded each year in late September or early October after the corn harvest and incorporated into the soil in late April or early May. Corn was seeded 10 days to 2 weeks after the cover crop residues had been incorporated, and N fertilizer was applied as a side-dressing at rates of 0, 67, 134, or 201 kg N ha^–1 each year. While the average annual total N input from the above-ground biomass of the cover crops was highest for hairy vetch (72.4 kg N ha^–1), the average annual total C input was highest for cereal rye (1043 kg C ha^–1) compared with the other cover crops. Hairy vetch was the only cover crop that significantly increased pre-side-dressed NO₃ ^–-N (N_i) corn biomass and N uptake at 0 N. At an N fertilizer rate of 134 kg N ha^–1 or higher, the cover crops had a minimal effect on corn biomass. This indicated that even after 9 years of winter cover cropping, the effect of the cover crops on corn growth resulted primarily from their influence on soil N availability. The amount of available N estimated from the cover crops (N_ac) was significantly correlated with relative corn biomass production (r ²=0.707, P<0.001). The total amount of available N, comprising N_ac and N added from fertilizer (N_f), was strongly correlated (r ²=0.820, P<0.001)) with relative corn biomass production. The correlation was also high for the available N comprising N_i and N_f (r ²=0.775, P<0.001). Although cereal rye and annual ryegrass did not improve corn biomass production in the short term, they benefited soil organic N accumulation and gradually improved corn biomass production compared with the control over the long term. Received: 10 August 1999     

河西绿洲灌区玉米间作绿肥根茬还田的氮肥减施效应

  【目的】  明确玉米与间作豆科绿肥根茬还田生产方式在河西绿洲灌区的氮肥减施效应。  【方法】  玉米间作豆科绿肥,绿肥(针叶豌豆和毛叶苕子)地上部乂割做饲草根部还田,定位试验位于甘肃河西绿洲,始于2011年,至本试验取样时已进行了10年。试验共设8个处理,包括无绿肥根茬还田条件下后茬玉米不施肥对照,施常规量氮肥(N 375 kg/hm2),只有针叶豌豆、毛叶苕子根部还田,以及根部还田配合常规氮肥量的80%、90%。于2020年玉米收获后测产,并测定了玉米秸秆和籽粒氮、磷、钾养分含量,同时分析了0—20 cm土壤有机质、速效氮磷钾含量及土壤氮库(全氮、有机氮、无机氮、颗粒态有机氮、可溶性有机氮、土壤微生物量氮)。  【结果】  与常规施氮肥相比,根茬单独还田降低了玉米产量;绿肥根茬配施80%、90%常规量氮肥处理之间的玉米籽粒产量没有显著变化,其中针叶豌豆配合80%常规量氮肥还显著增加了玉米产量7.6%;玉米地上部氮磷钾累积量略有增加,而籽粒氮、磷、钾养分累积量分别增加了31.7%～56.4%、37.8%～60.0%、61.7%～96.8%;玉米氮肥农学效率、偏生产力、氮素吸收效率和氮肥表观利用率均显著增加,以针叶豌豆根茬配施80%常规量氮肥处理的增加幅度最高,增加值分别为43.6%、34.5%、107.9%、35.8个百分点 (P<0.05)。采用改进的内梅罗指数法对土壤综合肥力进行评价,以针叶豌豆根茬还田配施80%常规量氮肥处理提升土壤肥力的效果最为显著,土壤综合肥力指数较常规施氮肥处理提升23.0%。偏最小二乘法路径模型和聚合增强树分析表明,施肥处理主要通过调节土壤氮贮量影响玉米产量,土壤全氮、无机氮对产量的贡献率较高,分别为36.5%、26.8%。  【结论】  绿肥根茬连续还田条件下,减少后茬玉米氮肥常规用量的20%可维持甚至提高玉米产量,大幅提升玉米的氮磷钾吸收量和氮肥表观利用率。根茬还田配合适量氮肥可以通过提升土壤氮库贮量提高土壤综合肥力。在河西走廊,玉米产量和环境效益俱佳的栽培管理方式是针叶豌豆根茬还田配合80%的常规氮肥用量,毛叶苕子根茬还田配合80%～90%的常规氮肥用量。     

Farming Methods Effects on the Soil Fertility and Crop Production Under a Rice-Vegetables Cropping Sequences

This study conducted a long-term field trial to evaluate the effects of three farming methods (i.e., conventional farming, organic farming, and intermediate farming) on soil fertility and plant growth under a crop rotation of vegetables, sweet corn, and rice. The nitrogen (N) uptake of crops grown with chemical fertilizers (CFs) and organic fertilizers was also compared carefully over 7 consecutive years. The results revealed that only a fraction of the nitrogen N in chicken manure compost was available to crops immediately following application. Therefore, the fresh weight production and absorption of N by amaranth, water convolvulus, and sprouting broccoli plants were relatively minimal compared to those grown with chemical N fertilizers. However, the amount of N from the chicken manure compost met the nutrient requirements of rice and sweet corn. Application of chicken manure compost increased the accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM) and available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) content, which is essential for enhancing soil quality. Because of the rapid decomposition of rapeseed seed meal (RSM), most of the N in RSM was mineralized immediately following application, which induced the rapid growth of leafy vegetables and increased yields. Application of compost with chemical fertilizers not only results in yields as high as those from pure chemical fertilizer treatment, but also improves SOM accumulation and soil fertility.     

Growth of legume and nonlegume catch crops and residual‐N effects in spring barley on coarse sand

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the growth and residual‐nitrogen (‐N) effects of different catch‐crop species on a low–N fertility coarse sandy soil. Six legumes (white clover [Trifolium repens L.], red clover [Trifolium pratense L.], Persian clover [Trifolium resupinatum L.], black medic [Medicago lupulina L.], kidney vetch [Anthyllis vulneraria L.], and lupin [Lupinus angustifolius L.]), four nonlegumes (ryegrass [Lolium perenne L.], chicory [Cichorium intybus L.], fodder radish [Raphanus sativus L.], and sorrel [Rumex Acetósa L.]), and one mixture (rye/hairy vetch [Secale cereale L./Vicia villosa L.]) were tested in a field experiment with three replicates in a randomized block design. Four reference treatments without catch crops and with N application (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha^–1) to a succeeding spring barley were included in the design. Due to their ability to fix N₂, the legume catch crops had a significantly larger aboveground dry‐matter production and N content in the autumn than the nonlegumes. The autumn N uptake of the nonlegumes was 10–13 kg N ha^–1 in shoots and approx. 9 kg ha^–1 in the roots. The shoot N content of white clover, black medic, red clover, Persian clover, and kidney vetch was 55–67 kg ha^–1, and the root N content in white clover and kidney vetch was approx. 25 kg ha^–1. The legume catch crops, especially white and red clover, seemed to be valuable N sources for grain production on this soil type and their N fertilizer–replacement values in a following unfertilized spring barley corresponded to 120 and 103 kg N ha^–1, respectively. The N fertilizer–replacement values exceeded the N content of shoots and roots.     

覆盖作物－玉米间作对土壤碳氮含量及相关酶活性的影响

  目的  针对东北地区常规农业重用轻养以及玉米连作导致土壤养分不均衡、土壤健康下降等问题,开展覆盖作物－玉米间作对土壤碳氮含量及相关酶活性的影响研究,以期为东北地区保护性利用模式的扩展提供科学依据。  方法  在覆盖作物－玉米间作种植模式下,探讨紫花苜蓿、毛苕子和黑麦草三种覆盖作物对土壤碳氮及酶活性的影响。  结果  不同种植模式和覆盖作物类型显著影响了覆盖作物－玉米间作系统的土壤氮含量及相关酶活性,土壤有机碳含量仅在不同种植模式间有显著差异。在拔节期,与玉米单作相比,紫花苜蓿－玉米间作可以显著增加土壤速效氮含量,其硝态氮和铵态氮含量分别增加了14.94 mg kg?1和2.07 mg kg?1,并且参与氮转化的亮氨酸氨基肽酶活性提高17.9 nmol g?1 h?1。与其他覆盖作物相比,单作毛苕子可以显著提高土壤乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶和亮氨酸氨基肽酶的活性。毛苕子间作系统的过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性显著高于黑麦草间作系统,二者分别提高了12.65%和66.94%。在成熟期,玉米单作和间作的土壤有机碳和全氮含量显著高于覆盖作物单作,土壤碳氮水解酶和氧化酶活性均无显著差异。冗余分析表明,土壤铵态氮含量是影响土壤酶活性的关键环境因子。  结论  玉米与豆科覆盖作物的种植增加了间作玉米土壤速效氮的含量,提高了氮转化相关酶的活性,增强了土壤氮素转化潜能及可利用性。研究区适宜选取紫花苜蓿和毛苕子作为覆盖作物种植。