Winter-hardy vs. freeze-killed cover crop mixtures before maize in an organic farming system with reduced soil cultivation

Gollner, Gabriele; Fohrafellner, Julia; Friedel, J. K.

doi:10.1007/s13165-020-00294-3

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

(9 reference statements)

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“…For example, Hashemi et al (2013) showed that NO 3 -N stored in the above-ground biomass of oat decreased by 47% between December and spring of the following year. Similar results were reported by Thorup- Kristensen (1994) who showed for different non-persistent catch crops that after decomposition, between 50% and 80% of previously stored N were lost during winter, resulting in higher N leaching losses in comparison to persistent catch crops (Böldt et al, 2021;Gollner et al, 2020). These losses can significantly reduce nutrient availability to a succeeding crop.…”

Section: 23supporting

confidence: 85%

Nutrient uptake of catch crops under non‐limiting growth conditions

Selzer

Schubert

2021

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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Background: Catch crops enhance nutrient cycling of cropping systems. Considering possible limitations of catch crop studies in field and greenhouse experiments, a new approach was chosen to combine the advantages of both systems in quantifying the potential for nutrient retention by catch crops. Aims:This study aimed at identifying N, P, and K uptake of different catch crop species grown in monoculture and as a mixture under non-limiting growth conditions in terms of water and nutrient availability.Methods: Catch crops were cultivated under semi-controlled conditions in large containers (August to November 2020). Shoot N, P, and K uptake, leachate accumulation, and soil N min , CAL-P, and CAL-K (0-30 cm) were quantified after harvest. After washing, root parameters were quantified with a root scanner.Results: Nutrient uptake of N, P, and K was highest for phacelia. The mixture of seven different catch crops performed equally well. Nutrient uptake was closely related to root length and root surface area.Conclusions: Under non-limiting growth conditions, phacelia has the highest potential to conserve N, P, and K for a succeeding crop; however, the low C : N ratio of the frostsensitive crop could promote nutrient losses during winter. We conclude that growing a single catch crop can be as effective in reducing the nutrient leaching potential as cultivating a mixture of catch crops when nutrients and water are no growth-limiting factors.

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Section: 23supporting

confidence: 85%

Nutrient uptake of catch crops under non‐limiting growth conditions

Selzer

Schubert

2021

J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.

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“…These results highlight that the use of legumes within CC mixtures can increase the risk of N leaching, especially under the maritime climate conditions of Northern Germany, where mild temperatures in autumn promote N release from catch crop residues and high rainfall increase the potential of N losses. Similarly, the use of freeze-killed CC can increase the risk of N leaching, as observed by Gollner et al [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Evaluating Different Catch Crop Strategies for Closing the Nitrogen Cycle in Cropping Systems—Field Experiments and Modelling

et al. 2021

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For arable stockless farming systems, the integration of catch crops (CC) during the fallow period might be a key for closing the nitrogen (N) cycle, reducing N leaching and increasing the transfer of N to the subsequent crop. However, despite considerable research efforts, the fate of N in such integrated systems remains unclear. To address this, a two-year field experiment was carried out in northern Germany with different CC, including frost-tolerant and frost-killed CC. The experiment started following a two-year ryegrass/red clover ley, which was subsequently sown with a cereal (CE) or a grain legume (field pea, PE). This provided two contrasting systems with high residual N in autumn. The results showed high N uptake of the CC, ranging from 84 to 136 kg N ha−1 with PE as the pre-crop, and from 33 to 110 kg N ha−1 with CE. All CC reduced N leaching compared with the control, a bare fallow over autumn/winter. Of the various CC, the frost-killed CC showed higher leaching compared with the other CCs, indicating mineralisation of the CC residue in the later autumn/winter period. The process based APSIM (Agricultural Production SIMulator) model was used to simulate N cycling for a cereal grain legume rotation, including a frost-killed and a frost resistant CC. While the model simulated the biomass and the N uptake by the crops, as well as the reduction of N leaching with the use of CC well, it under-estimated N leaching from the frost-killed CC. The study showed that all CC were affective at reducing N leaching, but winter hard catch crops should be preferred, as there is a risk of increased leaching following the mineralisation of residues from frost-killed CC.

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“…The advantage of winter-killed CCs over winter-hardy is the saving of energy for CC termination and the reduction of soil tillage (Gollner et al, 2020). Even no-till practices without herbicide applications are possible if CCs are reliably terminated by frost (Romdhane et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil nitrogen and water management by winter-killed catch crops

Gentsch

Heuermann

Boy

et al. 2022

SOIL

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Abstract. Improving N cycling in agroecosystems is one of the key challenges in reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture. Further, uncertainty in precipitation makes crop water management relevant in regions where it has not been necessary thus far. Here, we focus on the potential of winter-killed catch crops (CCs) to reduce N leaching losses from N mineralization over the winter and from soil water management. We compared four single CCs (white mustard, phacelia, Egyptian clover and bristle oat) and two CC mixtures with 4 and 12 plant species (Mix4 and Mix12) with a fallow treatment. High-resolution soil mineral N (Nmin) monitoring in combination with the modelling of spatiotemporal dynamics served to assess N cycling under winter-killed CCs, while soil water was continuously monitored in the rooting zone. Catch crops depleted the residual Nmin pools by between 40 % and 72 % compared to the fallow. The amount of residual N uptake was lowest for clover and not significantly different among the other CCs. Catch crops that produce high N litter materials, such as clover and mustard leaves, showed an early N mineralization flush immediately after their termination and the highest leaching losses from litter mineralization over the winter. Except for clover, all CCs showed Nmin values between 18 % and 92 % higher on the sowing date of the following maize crop. However, only Mix12 was statistically significant. Catch crops depleted the soil water storage in the rooting zone during their growth in autumn and early winter, but preserved water later on when their residues covered the ground. The shallow incorporation of CC residues increased water storage capacity during the cropping season of the main crop even under reduced soil water availability. Hence, catch cropping is not just a simple plant cover for the winter but improves the growth conditions for the following crop with decreased N losses. Mixtures have been shown to compensate for the weaknesses of individual CC species in terms of nutrient capture, mineralization and transfer to the following main crop as well as for soil water management. Detailed knowledge about plant performance during growth and litter mineralization patterns is necessary to make optimal use of their potential.

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Winter-hardy vs. freeze-killed cover crop mixtures before maize in an organic farming system with reduced soil cultivation

Cited by 8 publications

References 8 publications

Nutrient uptake of catch crops under non‐limiting growth conditions

Nutrient uptake of catch crops under non‐limiting growth conditions

Evaluating Different Catch Crop Strategies for Closing the Nitrogen Cycle in Cropping Systems—Field Experiments and Modelling

Soil nitrogen and water management by winter-killed catch crops

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