Effects of over-winter green cover on soil solution nitrate concentrations beneath tillage land

Premrov, Alina; Coxon, Catherine; Hackett, Richard; Kirwan, Laura; Richards, Karl G.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.057

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This study adds to the evidence of Hooker et al (2008) and Premrov et al (2014) who found no significant difference in leaching from CT and MT soils in Ireland.…”

Section: Leaching Losses Post-ploughing and Fertilisationsupporting

confidence: 61%

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

Król

Jones

Williams

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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Renovation of long-term grassland is associated with a peak in soil organic N mineralisation which, coupled with diminished plant N uptake can lead to large gaseous and leaching N losses. This study reports on the effect of ploughing and subsequent N fertilisation on the N2O emissions and DON/ NO3 -leaching, and evaluates the impact of ploughing technique on the magnitude and profile of N losses. This study was carried out on isolated grassland lysimeters of three Irish soils representing contrasting drainage properties (well-drained Clonakilty, moderately-drained Elton and poorly-drained Rathangan). Lysimeters were manually ploughed simulating conventional (CT) and minimum tillage (MT) as two treatments. Renovation of grassland increased N2O flux to a maximum of 0.9 kg N2O-N ha -1 from poorly-drained soil over four days after treatment. Although there was no difference between CT and MT in the post-ploughing period, the treatment influenced subsequent N2O after fertiliser applications. Fertilisation remained the major driver of N losses therefore reducing fertilisation rate post planting to account for N mineralised through grassland renovation could reduce the losses in medium to longer term. Leaching was a significant loss pathway, with the cumulative drainage volume and N leached highly influenced by soil type.Overall, the total N losses (N2O + N leached) were lowest from poorly and moderately draining soil and highest for the well draining soil, reflecting the dominance of leaching on total N losses and the paramount importance of soil properties.

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“…This study adds to the evidence of Hooker et al (2008) and Premrov et al (2014) who found no significant difference in leaching from CT and MT soils in Ireland.…”

Section: Leaching Losses Post-ploughing and Fertilisationsupporting

confidence: 61%

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

Król

Jones

Williams

et al. 2016

Science of The Total Environment

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“…Previous studies found that the effectiveness of cover crops to reduce N leaching is highly variable, both across and within different climatic zones (Quemada et al, 2013;Thorup-Kristensen et al, 2003;Tonitto, David, & Drinkwater, 2006). By contrast, Premrov, Coxon, Hackett, Kirwan, and Richards (2014) concluded that, under mild temperate winter conditions, the risk of N leaching from light textured, freely draining soils is high and therefore, it is important to establish overwinter cover crops. In a review by Valkama et al (2015), a similar relative reduction (%) in N leaching losses by cover crops, compared to the controls, across different soil textures in the Nordic countries was reported.…”

Section: Nghgb (Mean ± Sd)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity

Abdalla

Hastings

Cheng

et al. 2019

Global Change Biology

429

279

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Cover crops play an increasingly important role in improving soil quality, reducing agricultural inputs and improving environmental sustainability. The main objectives of this critical global review and systematic analysis were to assess cover crop practices in the context of their impacts on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balances (NGHGB) and crop productivity. Only studies that investigated the impacts of cover crops and measured one or a combination of nitrogen leaching, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrous oxide (N2O), grain yield and nitrogen in grain of primary crop, and had a control treatment were included in the analysis. Long‐term studies were uncommon, with most data coming from studies lasting 2–3 years. The literature search resulted in 106 studies carried out at 372 sites and covering different countries, climatic zones and management. Our analysis demonstrates that cover crops significantly (p < 0.001) decreased N leaching and significantly (p < 0.001) increased SOC sequestration without having significant (p > 0.05) effects on direct N2O emissions. Cover crops could mitigate the NGHGB by 2.06 ± 2.10 Mg CO2‐eq ha−1 year−1. One of the potential disadvantages of cover crops identified was the reduction in grain yield of the primary crop by ≈4%, compared to the control treatment. This drawback could be avoided by selecting mixed cover crops with a range of legumes and non‐legumes, which increased the yield by ≈13%. These advantages of cover crops justify their widespread adoption. However, management practices in relation to cover crops will need to be adapted to specific soil, management and regional climatic conditions.

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“…Red fescue used the applied N fertilisers most efficiently, and thereby lowered the concentration of nitrate-N to about 1 mg N L −1 . Since crops with a short growing period leave soil bare (without winter cover crops or catch crops) at high air (and soil) temperatures, this favours mineralisation and the release of nitrate-N that can percolate to the tile drain system or groundwater in winter months (Premrov et al, 2014). Pea in rotation with wheat at Estrup seemed not to increase the concentration of nitrate-N at Estrup (2001Estrup ( /2002, whereas at Silstrup the concentrations increased markedly (2003/2004), which was similar to observations by Beaudoin et al (2005).…”

Section: Crop Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, high doses of N fertilisers may increase the N-transport to drainage, especially when there is no further crop response (Delin and Stenberg, 2014). Crop response by catch crops in intensive agriculture in northern France has reduced the mean concentration by 50 % on an annual scale (Beaudoin et al, 2005) and a winter cover of mustard has reduced the nitrate-N concentrations in temperate soils (Premrov et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term monitoring of nitrate transport to drainage from three agricultural clayey till fields

Ernstsen

Olsen

Rosenbom

2015

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The application of nitrogen (N) fertilisers to crops grown on tile-drained fields is required to sustain most modern crop production, but it poses a risk to the aquatic environment since tile drains facilitate rapid transport pathways with no significant reduction in nitrate. To maintain the water quality of the aquatic environment and the provision of food from highly efficient agriculture in line with the EU's Water Framework Directive and Nitrates Directive, field-scale knowledge is essential for introducing water management actions on-field or off-field and producing an optimal differentiated N-regulation in future. This study strives to provide such knowledge by evaluating on 11 years of nitrate-N concentration measurements in drainage from three subsurfacedrained clayey till fields (1.3-2.3 ha) representing approximately 71 % of the surface sediments in Denmark dominated by clay. The fields differ in their inherent hydrogeological field settings (e.g. soil-type, geology, climate, drainage and groundwater table) and the agricultural management of the fields (e.g. crop type, type of N fertilisers and agricultural practices). The evaluation revealed three types of clayey till fields characterised by: (i) low net precipitation, high concentration of nitrate-N, and short-term low intensity drainage at air temperatures often below 5 • C; (ii) medium net precipitation, medium concentration of nitrate-N, and short-term medium-intensity drainage at air temperatures often above 5 • C; and (iii) high net precipitation, low concentration of nitrate-N and long-term high intensity drainage at air temperatures above 5 • C. For each type, on-field water management actions, such as the selection of crop types and introduction of catch crops, appeared relevant, whereas offfield actions only seemed relevant for the latter two field types given the temperature-dependent reduction potential of nitrate off-field. This initial well-documented field-scale knowledge from fields that are representative of large areas in Denmark is a first step towards establishing a differentiated N-regulation for clayey till areas. Additionally, it provides a unique starting point by identifying important parameters for future mapping of catchment-scale variations in nitrate concentrations and fluxes.

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Effects of over-winter green cover on soil solution nitrate concentrations beneath tillage land

Cited by 15 publications

References 33 publications

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

The effect of renovation of long-term temperate grassland on N2O emissions and N leaching from contrasting soils

A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity

Long-term monitoring of nitrate transport to drainage from three agricultural clayey till fields

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