Investigations on the Nutrient Cycle and its Components of a Biodynamically-Managed Farm

Nolte, C.; Werner, W.

doi:10.1080/01448765.1994.9754676

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Organic farming without purchase of feed may result in a nutrient depletion of soils, as shown by present results and stated by Nolte and Werner (1994). The effect of P and K depletion is especially detrimental to the productivity of organically farmed soils, as P deficiency limits crop production in general, and legume crops, a key element of organic rotations, in particular (Frame and Newbould 1986;Römer and Lehne 2004;Wivstad et al 2005).…”

Section: Effects Of Purchased Substrates On Farmgate Nutrient Balancesmentioning

confidence: 56%

Effects of organic wastes digestion for biogas production on mineral nutrient availability of biogas effluents

Möller

Stinner

2010

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Organic farming systems are characterized by the strong regulation of the import of nutrients into the farming system to replace nutrient losses via sold products. In the present study mineral nutrient flows and balances of P, K and magnesium (Mg) were analysed for a mixed organic cropping system with dairy husbandry and for a stockless organic farming system. Also the influence of biogas digestion of farmyard residues (stable wastes, crop residues, etc.) as well as the effect of the import of substrates for biogas digestion on plant mineral nutrient uptake and farmgate nutrient balances was analysed. The objectives of the current study were;(1) to study the effects of anaerobic digestion of cattle manure and crop residues on plant mineral nutrient uptake; and (2) to model nutrient flows and balances related to the input of different kind of substrates for biogas digestion at the farmgate. Results indicated that slurry digestion did not influence plant P and K uptake. Import of single allowed substrates for digestion would lead to large imbalances in nutrient inputs compared to withdrawals. Most of the suited substrates for biogas digestion were associated with large K surpluses and insufficient P returns in comparison to mineral nutrient outputs via sold animal and plant products.

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Section: Effects Of Purchased Substrates On Farmgate Nutrient Balancesmentioning

confidence: 56%

Effects of organic wastes digestion for biogas production on mineral nutrient availability of biogas effluents

Möller

Stinner

2010

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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“…In contrast to P and K, the overall N was derived in equal proportion to the sale of Downloaded by [New York University] Contribution of nutrient losses by selling, inner farm and on-field-losses to the overall loss (= 100), calculated for the "Boschheidehof' farm, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany (Nolte, 1990) %losses by selling within the farm field products, losses in the inner-farm cycle and field losses (approximately one third each) (Nolte, 1990). The farm lost 27% of its nitrogen to the sale of products, 38% through losses in the inner-farm cycle and 36% on-site at the field level (Nolte & Werner, 1994). A mean leaching potential of 25 kg N0 3 --N/ha has been assumed by Nolte & Werner (1994) for the "Boschheidehof' farm when a rough assessment was based on the results of Hess (1989).…”

Section: Closed Nutrient Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrient Management in Organic Farming Systems: the Case of Nitrogen

Köpke

1995

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture

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Nitrogen management in organic agriculture is discussed focussing on strategies maximizing nitrogen input (source: Nrfixation) and minimizing nitrate losses on-site(field losses) and off-site (losses from manure heaps).Due to a strong relationship between grain yield/amount of N in grains and N 2 -fixation in pulse~rops or total dry matter yield and N 2 -fixation in fodder legumes, e.g. grass/clover mixtures, nitrogen fixation can be maximized by selecting the best site-adapted (best yielding) species, varieties or mixtures, respectively.Strategies to reduce nitrate losses are based on N-sinks, that is, plants taking up soil-borne and residual nitrogen during or after growth of legumes efficiently, e.g. brassica-underseeds in faba beans, catch crops, or following crops with great sink capacity for nitrogen.In order to keep pre-winter mineralization as low as possible (minimizing N-source) turn over of grass/clover can be postponed or tillage intensity can be reduced in depth or frequency.Gaseous losses of NH 3 from manure heaps can be reduced by shorter duration of storage, by covering heaps with clay or stone meal having a high base exchange capacity, and by covering heaps with an additional layer of organic residues of high carbon content.Field losses of ammonia can be reduced by injecting liquid manures directly to the soil. Generally manures have to be turned under immediately after distribution.

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“…However, whereas the P-input was reflected in the P-output in products, no such relationship was found for K in that study. This may well be because K is more susceptible to internal losses, as described by Nolte and Werner (1994). In a study of 12 farms in the process of conversion to organic farming (Løes & Øgaard, 1997), the accumulated surplus of P on farm level was well correlated with the average changes in soil P-AL concentrations over 6 years, whereas for K-AL, there was no correlation to the accumulated surplus of potassium.…”

Section: Relations Between P and Kmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Potassium is easily releasable and internal K-losses may be considerable, whereas P is less releasable with correspondingly smaller losses. In a farm level case study of self-sufficient combined organic beef and dairy production (Nolte & Werner, 1994), only about 50% of the K in harvested fodder was recovered in manure ready for recycling to the soil. The internal losses comprised 78% of the total K-deficit of 65 kg ha Ϫ1 y…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concentrations of Soil Potassium after Long-Term Organic Dairy Production

Løes

Øgaard²

2003

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability

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On five long-term organic dairy farms aiming at selfsufficiency with nutrients, soil concentrations of ammonium-acetate lactate extractable potassium (K-AL) and acid-soluble K was measured twice in topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (20-40 cm) over periods of 6-14 years. Organic management had occurred for Ͼ9 years at the second sampling. On average there were most probably field level K-deficits. Even so, topsoil K-AL concentrations were medium high (65-155 mg K kg ؊1 soil), and did not decrease during the study period. However, for three farms, topsoil K-AL was approaching a minimum level determined by soil texture, where further decrease is slow. Subsoil K-AL concentrations were generally low (Ͻ65). The soils were mostly light-textured, and reserves of K-releasing soil minerals (illite) were low, never exceeding 6% of the mineral particles Ͻ2 mm diameter. Topsoil acidsoluble K concentrations were low (Ͻ300 mg K kg ؊1 soil) on two farms, medium (300-800) on three farms and decreased significantly on one farm. Cationexchange capacity increased on two farms. This may indicate increased amount of expanded clay minerals caused by K-depletion. On self-sufficient organic dairy farms, purchased nutrients will be required by low soil nutrient reserves to avoid seriously decreased yields and quality of crops.

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Investigations on the Nutrient Cycle and its Components of a Biodynamically-Managed Farm

Cited by 38 publications

References 7 publications

Effects of organic wastes digestion for biogas production on mineral nutrient availability of biogas effluents

Effects of organic wastes digestion for biogas production on mineral nutrient availability of biogas effluents

Nutrient Management in Organic Farming Systems: the Case of Nitrogen

Concentrations of Soil Potassium after Long-Term Organic Dairy Production

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