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Increased nitrogen retention by cover crops: implications of planting date on soil and plant nitrogen dynamics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2019

Yangxue Zhou ,
Lindsey Roosendaal  and
Laura L. Van Eerd
Yangxue Zhou
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, Ontario, N0P 2C0, Canada
Lindsey Roosendaal
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, Ontario, N0P 2C0, Canada
Laura L. Van Eerd*
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, Ontario, N0P 2C0, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Laura L. Van Eerd, E-mail: lvaneerd@uoguelph.ca
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Abstract

Cover crops are frequently adopted to immobilize residual nitrogen post-harvest, thereby reducing potential N losses. However, the effectiveness of a cover crop depends on the species planting date, and other management practices. Limited information on N dynamics in cover crop systems is available specially in short-season vegetable rotations under temperate climate. From 2008 to 2010, a split-plot field experiment was carried out in a humid, temperate climate with cover crop treatment as the main plot factor [no cover crop control (NoCC), cereal rye, hairy vetch, oat, forage pea, oilseed radish (OSR) and a control with fertilizer N to the cucumber crop (NoCC + N)], and cover crop planting date as the split factor (early and late) to evaluate their impacts on cover crop biomass and N dynamics over the fall and following cucumber crop. All cover crop treatments significantly lowered soil mineral nitrogen (SMN) by 39–87% compared to the NoCC control, which was concomitant with cover crop growth and N accumulation. In the fall, SMN (0–90 cm depth) was less under the early-planted cover crops (avg. 78 kg N ha−1) compared to the late-planted (avg. 100 kg N ha−1). In April, greater plant available nitrogen (PAN, sum of SMN to 60 cm depth and plant N) with cover crops than without demonstrated N conservation over the winter and into the cucumber crop. Crop yield was equal to or better with a cover crop compared with the NoCC in both years; moreover, compared to the NoCC + N control yields were equivalent with OSR and pea. Oat, vetch and pea cover crops benefited the most by having an earlier planting date, while OSR and rye are recommended if the planting date is delayed. Although an early August planting date significantly increased plant N accumulation and SMN by November, this species-dependent interaction did not persist into the following season in yield and N accounted for in the system.

Keywords

Cover cropscucumber rotationN recoveryplant available nitrogensoil mineral nitrogen
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 720 - 729
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019

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Footnotes

*

These authors contribute as co-first authors of this publication.

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