Nutrient Availability under Lettuce Grown in Rye Mulch in Histosols

Abstract

Vegetable crop production, which is expanding worldwide, is managed extremely intensively and is therefore raising concerns about soil degradation. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of using rye mulch as a conservation practice on nutrient availability for lettuce grown in histosols. The rye cover crop was established in the fall of 2018 at two cultivated peatland sites. The following summer, lettuce crops were planted at both sites on the rye mulch cover and on control plots. Lysimeters were used to extract the soil solution once a week during lettuce growth. Various soil properties were analyzed in the soil sampled at the end of the lettuce growing season. The rye yield was higher at site 1 than at site 2 and the lettuce growth was reduced at site 1 under the rye mulch treatment. The rye mulch reduced mineral N and dissolved organic N availability at both sites. The N dynamics in histosols might be fast enough to supply the lettuce needs; however, the implantation difficulties must first be overcome to confirm that hypothesis. At the end of the lettuce growth period, soil total and active C pools and soluble organic soil N in the rye mulch treatment sample were significantly higher at site 1 than at site 2. The presence of rye mulch improved the carbon pool over a single growing season. The use of rye mulch as a soil conservation practice for vegetable crop production appears promising for histosols; however, more work is needed to gain a better understanding on the long-term effects of decomposing rye mulch and roots on soil nutrient availability, soil health and C sequestration, and on the nitrogen uptake pathways and growth of cash crops. Future works which would include consecutive years of study at multiple sites are also needed to be able to confirm and generalize the observations found in the present work.

Trophic impacts of a rolled‐rye cover crop on the lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) and associated insect fauna in cultivated Histosols

“…They correlated the latter with lower nitrogen concentration in soybean leaves, which was attributed to competition between the cover crop and the crop. The high carbon‐to‐nitrogen ratio of rye litter could also lead to nitrogen immobilization, although nitrogen availability in southern Québec Histosols may be sufficient to meet lettuce requirements (Dessureault‐Rompré et al., 2020). Other factors such as competition for light in early living cover crop, water availability, and rye born allelopathic compounds may also have played a role in determining lettuce overall quality.…”

“…To ensure the future of this industry, protective measures limiting erosion and enhancing organic matter content have to be developed and implemented. One such measure is the production of lettuce on a rolled‐rye ( Secale cereale L., Poaceae) cover crop (Dessureault‐Rompré et al., 2020). Rye winter hardiness coupled with high production of biomass ignited interest for this cultural practice in many North American crop systems such as corn and soybean on mineral soils (Duiker & Curran, 2005; Geiger & Miedaner, 2009), but remains poorly studied in Histosols (Dessureault‐Rompré et al., 2020).…”

“…in many North American crop systems such as corn and soybean on mineral soils (Duiker & Curran, 2005;Geiger & Miedaner, 2009), but remains poorly studied in Histosols (Dessureault-Rompré et al, 2020).…”

“…To ensure the future of this industry, protective measures limiting erosion and enhancing organic matter content have to be developed and implemented. One such measure is the production of lettuce on a rolled-rye (Secale cereale L., Poaceae) cover crop (Dessureault-Rompré et al, 2020). Rye winter hardiness coupled with high production of biomass ignited interest for this cultural practice…”

The effect of mulching materials on the arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi root colonisation, peroxidase activity, and chlorophyll content in Lactuca sativa

“…Beside the positive effects, mulch can present some drawbacks. Dessureault-Rompré et al (2020) in an open field experiment, experienced lettuce yield loss under high rye mulching, but there was no significant effect of low rye mulching on lettuce yield. In a separate experiment, Smith et al (2011) experienced no yield loss of soybeans under rye mulch cover.…”