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Elimination behaviour and soil mineral nitrogen load in an organic system with lactating sows – comparing pasture based systems with and without access to poplar (Populus sp.) trees

Jakobsen, M.; Hermansen, J.E.; Andersen, Heidi Mai-Lis; Jørgensen, Uffe; Labouriau, R.; Rasmussen, Jim and Kongsted, A.G. (2018) Elimination behaviour and soil mineral nitrogen load in an organic system with lactating sows – comparing pasture based systems with and without access to poplar (Populus sp.) trees. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, ., pp. 1-25. [Submitted]

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Summary

Innovative strategies in free-range pig production is needed to improve the environmental performance of the system. Based on previous studies, inclusion of trees was hypothesized to improve the system’s nitrogen efficiency. We investigated sow elimination behaviour, faeces load and localisation as well as soil mineral nitrogen load in pasture based individual paddocks with and without access to two rows of poplar (Populus sp.) trees. Unlike expected sows showed no preference for eliminating in the zone with poplars but clearly avoided defecating near the hut, feed and water. Soil mineral nitrogen load showed a heterogeneous pattern as also found in previous studies. In comparison to grass, our results indicated that the poplars had an increased winter uptake of nitrate from deeper soil layers.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Subjects: Animal husbandry > Production systems > Pigs
Research affiliation: Denmark > Organic RDD 2 > pECOSYSTEM
ISSN:2168-3565 print / 2168-3573 online
Deposited By: Mukendi, Therese K
ID Code:33906
Deposited On:10 Oct 2018 12:14
Last Modified:10 Oct 2018 12:14
Document Language:English
Status:Submitted
Refereed:Submitted for peer-review but not yet accepted

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