Askegaard, Margrethe; Olesen, Jørgen E.; Rasmussen, Ilse A. and Kristensen, Kristian (2011) Nitrate leaching from organic arable crop rotations is mostly determined by autumn field management. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 142 (3-4), pp. 149-160.
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Summary
Two main challenges facing organic arable farming are the supply of nitrogen (N) to the crop and the control of perennial weeds. Nitrate leaching from different organic arable crop rotations was investigated over three consecutive four-year crop rotations in a field experiment at three locations in Denmark (12 years in total). The experimental treatments were: i) crop rotation, ii) catch crop and iii) animal manure. Nitrate leaching was estimated from measured soil nitrate concentation in ceramic suction cells and modelled drainage. There were significant effects on annual N leaching of location (coarse sand > loamy sand > sandy loam) and catch crops (without > with). Including a grass-clover green manure on 25% of the area did not increase N leaching compared with crop rotations without green manure. Also the application of animal manure did not influence N leaching, probably because even in the manured treatments the application rate was lower than crop demand. The results identify management of crop and soil during autumn as the main determinant of N leaching. Nitrate leaching was lowest for a catch crop soil cover during autumn and winter (avg. 20 kg N ha-1), a soil cover of weeds/volunteers had on avg. 30 kg N ha-1, and the largest N leaching losses were found after stubble cultivation (avg. 55 kg N ha-1). The N leaching losses increased with increasing number of autumn soil cultivations.
EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
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Keywords: | catch crop; organic manure; organic farming; green manure; perennial weeds; stubble cultivation |
Subjects: | Crop husbandry > Production systems > Cereals, pulses and oilseeds Crop husbandry > Composting and manuring Food systems > Recycling, balancing and resource management Soil > Nutrient turnover Farming Systems > Farm nutrient management |
Research affiliation: | Denmark > DARCOF III (2005-2010) > CROPSYS - The effect of cropping systems on production and the environment Denmark > CROPSYS |
ISSN: | 0167-8809 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.agee.2011.04.014 |
Deposited By: | Askegaard, Margrethe |
ID Code: | 18849 |
Deposited On: | 08 Jun 2011 08:44 |
Last Modified: | 06 Jun 2022 15:58 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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Nitrate leaching from organic arable crop rotations is mostly determined by autumn field management. (deposited 29 Apr 2011 06:17)
- Nitrate leaching from organic arable crop rotations is mostly determined by autumn field management. (deposited 08 Jun 2011 08:44) [Currently Displayed]
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