Effect of applications of organic solid cattle manure on Hungarian vetch and barley intercropping mixtures grown on soils of different depths

Abstract

Sloping fields on soils of shallow depth to tillage are commonly left uncultivated in many parts of the world. This study was conducted to compare the effects on morphological traits, dry‐matter (DM) yield, legume ratio (LR), crude protein content (CP), crude protein yield (CP yield) and mineral concentrations (N, P, K, S, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, B and Zn) of Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown in intercropping mixtures in response to three rates of organic solid cattle manure application (M0: 0, M1: 10, M2: 20 t ha−1). Experimentation was conducted on soils of two different soil depths [shallow (8–12 cm; low‐medium erosion risk) and normal soil depth (18–22 cm; no erosion risk)] on a sloping field in the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 growing seasons at Gumushane, Turkey. Herbage harvested on the shallow depth area had 22–73% less DM yield, 14–72% less CP yield, 6–9% greater CP content and generally higher minerals contents than herbage from the normal soil depth area. Cattle manure applications increased DM yield by about 23%, increased CP content and CP yield, and also increased the contents of most minerals in herbage of the intercropping mixtures, relative to the control, averaged over the two soil depths. It is suggested that, for areas with shallow soil depths that are prone to erosion, plant cover should be used for forage production, and that fertilization with solid cattle manure at 20 t ha−1 can support production of quality forage of acceptable DM yield.

Biofertilizante na qualidade nutricional da alfafa (Medicago sativa L.)

“…This concentration was similar to the levels described by Raij et al (1997) and Yolcu (2015) and higher than levels observed by Moreira et al (1997) who reported significant differences in S concentration in dry mass on the basis of gypsum rates. However, Lloveras et al (2004) found no significant difference in S absorption when applying different doses of pig manure.…”

“…A similar increase in P concentration was observed by Lloveras et al (2004) with applications of 25 and 50 m 3 ha -1 per year of pig manure to alfalfa. However, Salmeron et al (2010) found no differences in P concentrations when they applied different doses of swine manure in the Ebro Valley, Spain; similar observations were made by Yolcu (2015) with an application of cattle manure. On the other hand, Araujo et al (2011) found small differences in P concentrations with the application of cattle manure (20 Mg ha -1 ), however, the accumulation of P in shoots was significant, indicating the potential P supply by cattle manure.…”

“…Araújo et al (2011) found slight increases in K concentrations through manure application in four species. Since K is an element retained in plant tissues, even in those already digested, manure treatment has a considerable influence on the final concentration and availability of K. Yolcu (2015) also found an increased K concentration when up to 20 Mg ha -1 cattle manure were applied to the consortium grazing vetch with barley.…”

“…Salmeron et al (2010), also in an experiment using pig manure, found significant differences between treatments in the second year of the experiment, but the concentrations were lower (2.2 to 2.4 g kg -1 ). However, Yolcu (2015) reported lower leaf Mg concentration values (1.78, 2.65, and 2.08 g kg -1 ) at doses of 0, 10, and 20 Mg ha -1 cattle manure applied to grassland vetch intercropped with barley.…”

“…Lloveras et al (2004) conducted a similar study in Spain and did not observe statistically significant differences between treatments; however, they found values lower than in our study. Yolcu (2015) found a linear response of B to the highest dose of cattle manure applied to the consortium grazing vetch with barley. , and 400 m 3 ha -1 recovered 39.27% less Fe compared to the control (Figure 3).…”