Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vfjqv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T16:31:46.026Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Use of legume green manures as nitrogen sources for corn production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2011

Matt Liebman ,
Rhonda L. Graef ,
Daniel Nettleton  and
Cynthia A. Cambardella
Matt Liebman*
Affiliation:
Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Rhonda L. Graef
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Daniel Nettleton
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, 2115 Snedecor Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
Cynthia A. Cambardella
Affiliation:
USDA-ARS, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: mliebman@iastate.edu
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Recent volatility in supplies and prices of natural gas and synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer suggests a need to develop and refine alternative strategies for supplying N to corn. In this study, conducted in north-eastern Iowa, we examined the use of red clover and alfalfa green manures as means of supplying N to a succeeding corn crop. Red clover intercropped with oat produced significantly more biomass and contained more N than alfalfa intercropped with oat. Tilling green manures in the fall or delaying tillage until the following spring did not have a consistent effect on green manure N content. Without N fertilizer, corn grain yield following oat–red clover and oat–alfalfa was 25–63% greater than following oat grown alone, but at the highest fertilizer rate (202 kg N ha−1), there was no difference in corn yield between oat–legume and oat-alone treatments. These patterns support the premise that legume green manure effects on corn yield were N-related. Red clover green manure had an N fertilizer replacement value for corn of 87–184 kg N ha−1; alfalfa supplied corn with the equivalent of 70–121 kg N ha−1. At a fossil energy cost for N fertilizer of 57 MJ kg−1 N, reducing synthetic N fertilizer applications to corn by 70–184 kg N ha−1 would represent a fossil fuel savings of 3990–10,488 MJ ha−1, equivalent to the energy content of 104–274 m3 of natural gas. These types of savings are likely to become increasingly important as fossil energy supplies become scarcer and fertilizer prices rise.

Keywords

alfalfacorn production systemslegume green manurenitrogen fertilizer replacement valuered clover
Type
Research Papers
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , September 2012 , pp. 180 - 191
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1U.S. Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service. 2011. Fertilizer Use and Price. USDA-Economic Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at Web site http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FertilizerUse/ (verified May 20, 2011).Google Scholar
2Shapouri, H., Gallagher, P.W., Nefstead, W., Schwartz, R., Noe, R., and Conway, R. 2010. 2008 Energy Balance for the Corn–Ethanol Industry. Agricultural Economic Report 846. Office of the Chief Economist, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
3Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 2011. Biomass Energy Data Book. Appendix A—Conversions. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN. Available at Web site: http://cta.ornl.gov/bedb/appendix_a.shtml (verified May 20, 2011).Google Scholar
4Huang, W., McBride, W., and Vasavada, U. 2009. Recent Volatility in U.S. Fertilizer Prices. Amber Waves, March 2009. USDA-Economic Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at Web site: http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/March09/Features/FertilizerPrices.htm (verified May 20, 2011).Google Scholar
5Cherr, C.M., Scholberg, J.M.S., and McSorley, R. 2006. Green manure approaches to crop production: A synthesis. Agronomy Journal 98:302–319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6Bruulsema, T.W. and Christie, B.R. 1987. Nitrogen contribution to succeeding corn from alfalfa and red clover. Agronomy Journal 79:96–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Stute, J.K. and Posner, J.L. 1995. Legume cover crops as a nitrogen source for corn in an oat–corn rotation. Journal of Production Agriculture 8:385–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Snapp, S.S., Swinton, S.M., Labarta, R., Mutch, D., Black, J.R., Leep, R., Nyiraneza, J., and O'Neil, K. 2005. Evaluating cover crops for benefits, costs and performance within cropping system niches. Agronomy Journal 97:322–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9Fox, R.H., Myers, R.J.K., and Vallis, I. 1990. The nitrogen mineralization rate of legume residues in soil as influenced by their polyphenol, lignin, and nitrogen contents. Plant and Soil 129:251–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Varco, J.J., Frye, W.W., Smith, M.S., and MacKown, C.T. 1993. Tillage effects on legume decomposition and transformation of legume and fertilizer nitrogen-15. Soil Science Society of America Journal 57:750–756.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Jarvis, S.C., Stockdale, E.A., Shepherd, M.A., and Powlson, D.S. 1996. Nitrogen mineralization in temperate agricultural soils: Processes and measurement. Advances in Agronomy 57:187–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Ruffo, M.L. and Bollero, G.A. 2003. Modeling rye and hairy vetch residue decomposition as a function of degree-days and decomposition-days. Agronomy Journal 95:900–907.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13Paul, E.A. and Clark, F.E. 1996. Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry, 2nd ed.Academic Press, New York, NY.Google Scholar
14Seiter, S. and Horwath, W.R. 2004. Strategies for managing soil organic matter to supply plant nutrients. In Magdoff, F. and Weil, R.R. (eds). Soil Organic Matter in Sustainable Agriculture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 269–293.Google Scholar
15Thorup-Kristensen, K., Magid, J., and Jensen, L.S. 2003. Catch crops and green manures as biological tools in nitrogen management in temperate zones. Advances in Agronomy 79:227–302.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16ISU Mesonet. 2011. Daily Data. Iowa Environmental Mesonet, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Available at Web site: http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/agclimate/hist/dailyRequest.php (verified May 20, 2011).Google Scholar
17Bremner, J.M. 1996. Nitrogen-total. In Sparks, D.L.(ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Methods. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI. p. 1085–1121.Google Scholar
18Hanway, J.J. 1963. Growth stages of corn (Zea mays L.). Agronomy Journal 55:487–492.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Blackmer, A.M. and Mallarino, A.P. 1996. Cornstalk Testing to Evaluate Nitrogen Management. Pm–1584. Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA.Google Scholar
20SAS Institute, 2007. JMP 7.0.2. SAS Institute, Cary, NC.Google Scholar
21Higley, L.G. and Wintersteen, W. 1987. Using Degree Days in an Integrated Pest Management Program. Pm-1296. Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA.Google Scholar
22Undersander, D., Smith, R.R., Kelling, K., Doll, J., Worf, G., Wedberg, J., Peters, J., Hoffman, P., and Shaver, R. 1990. Red Clover: Establishment, Management, and Utilization. Publication A3492. University of Wisconsin Extension, Madison, WI.Google Scholar
23Undersander, D., Martin, N., Cosgrove, D., Kelling, K., Schmitt, M., Wedberg, J., Becker, R., Grau, C., Doll, J., and Rice, M.E. 2004. Alfalfa Management Guide. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI.Google Scholar
24Tisdale, S.L., Nelson, W.L., Beaton, J.D., and Havlin, J.L. 1993. Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. 5th ed.MacMillan Publishing, New York, NY.Google Scholar
25Hammond, R.B. 1990. Influence of cover crops and tillage on seedcorn maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) populations in soybeans. Environmental Entomology 19:510–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26Thompson, B.K., Weiner, J., and Warwick, S.I. 1991. Size-dependent reproductive output in agricultural weeds. Canadian Journal of Botany 69:442–446.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27Mutch, D.R., Martin, T.E., and Kosola, K.R. 2003. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) suppression of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Technology 17:181–185.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
28Morris, T.F., Blackmer, A.M., and El-Hout, N.M. 1993. Optimal rates of nitrogen fertilization for first-year corn after alfalfa. Journal of Production Agriculture 6:344–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
29Binford, G.D., Blackmer, A.M., and Meese, B.G. 1992. Optimal concentrations of nitrate in cornstalks at maturity. Agronomy Journal 84:881–887.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
30Cerrato, M.E. and Blackmer, A.M. 1990. Comparison of models describing corn yield response to nitrogen fertilizer. Agronomy Journal 82:138–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
31Pierce, F.J. and Rice, C.W. 1988. Crop rotation and its impact on efficiency of water and nitrogen use. In Hargrove, W.L. (ed.). Cropping Strategies for Efficient Use of Water and Nitrogen. Special Publication 51. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI. p. 21–42.Google Scholar
32Hesterman, O.B., Griffin, T.S., Williams, P.T., Harris, G.H., and Christenson, D.R. 1992. Forage legume–small grain intercrops: Nitrogen production and response of subsequent corn. Journal of Production Agriculture 5:340–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
33Griffin, T., Liebman, M., and Jemison, J. Jr. 2000. Cover crops for sweet corn production in a short–season environment. Agronomy Journal 92:144–151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34U.S. Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service. 2008. Agricultural Projections to 2017. USDA-Economic Research Service, Washington, DC. Available at Web site: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/OCE081 (verified June 2, 2011).Google Scholar
35Nickel, S.E., Simmons, S.R., Sheaffer, C.C., and Radosevich, S.R. 1990. Addition series approach to assessing competition in a small grain-alfalfa companion crop community. Crop Science 30:1139–1141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
36Duffy, M. 2011. Estimated Costs of Crop Production in Iowa. Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA. Available at Web site: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/crops/html/a1-20.html (verified June 2, 2011).Google Scholar
37Chavas, J.-P., Posner, J.L., and Hedtcke, J.L. 2009. Organic and conventional production systems in the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial: II. Economic and analysis, 1993–2006. Agronomy Journal 101:288–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38Cruse, M.J., Liebman, M., Raman, D.R., and Wiedenhoeft, M. 2010. Fossil energy use in conventional and low-external-input cropping systems. Agronomy Journal 102:934–941.CrossRefGoogle Scholar