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Crop cover improves the nitrogen status in vegetable crop rotations

Thorup-Kristensen, Kristian (2004) Crop cover improves the nitrogen status in vegetable crop rotations. DARCOFenews (1).

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Summary

Results from an organic vegetable rotation, and from a number of specific experiments with catch crops, shows that autumn crop cover strongly improves N availability for the succeeding crop. Though many different types of crop cover have been involved, from full year green manures, to short term catch crops and green manures and even white cabbage stubble allowed to continue growth after harvest, they have all had a similar effect on N dynamics in the field. With crops actively growing in the field until the late autumn, much less N is left in the soil, and the risk of leaching loss is strongly reduced. In the subsequent spring, mineralization of N from the crop residues leads to increased N availability for the succeeding crop. This main effect was found irrespectively of the type of crop cover, though the amount of N mineralized obviously varied depending of the type of crop cover.


EPrint Type:Journal paper
Keywords:crop rotation; catch crops; green manure; nitrogen; rooting depth;
Subjects: Crop husbandry > Production systems > Cereals, pulses and oilseeds
Crop husbandry > Production systems
Crop husbandry > Production systems > Vegetables
Research affiliation: Denmark > DARCOF II (2000-2005) > I.10 (VegCatch) Organic vegetable cultivation methods and use of catch crops
Denmark > DARCOF II (2000-2005) > IV.1 (EXUNIT) Experimental units for research in organic farming systems
Deposited By: Thorup-Kristensen, Professor Kristian
ID Code:3875
Deposited On:20 Oct 2004
Last Modified:12 Apr 2010 07:30
Document Language:English
Status:Published
Refereed:Not peer-reviewed

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