Nitrogen availability in a Darling Downs soil following cereal, oilseed and grain legume crops. 2. Effects of residual soil nitrogen and fertiliser nitrogen on subsequent wheat crops

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong ◽  
J Harbison ◽  
RHG Nielsen ◽  
BD Hall ◽  
EK Best
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Wheat Grain ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Top Soil

Two dryland wheat crops were grown in 1977 and 1978 following each of 18 cereal, oilseed, or grain legume crops grown in 1976 on a black earth soil on the Darling Downs of Queensland. Combined grain yields of the two crops following the grain legumes fieldpea, lathyrus, lentil and lupin cv. Ultra were higher (P< 0.05) than those following all cereal and oilseed crops except canary seed, safflower and rapeseed cv. Torch. Urea (0-90 kg/ha N), applied to wheat in 1977 on a site adjacent to the crop comparison experiment, had little effect on grain yield in that year. However, in 1978, wheat responded to residues of these applications up to the 50 kg/ha N rate. Variation in wheat yields following the 18 crops appeared to be related to nitrogen (N) supply. The quantity of N assimilated into wheat grain was directly related to the quantity of soil mineral N to a depth of 1.2 m when the 1977 crop was planted. This varied from 37 kg/ha N after oats to 160 kg/ha N after lathyrus. Efficiency of recovery of soil mineral N by the 1977 wheat crop was very low, due probably to the unavailability of N in top soil during the dry winter. Poor availability of N in the top soil was also the most likely cause of a similarly low recovery of fertiliser N applied to the 1977 wheat crop. There was a better apparent recovery of N by the second wheat crop; soil mineral N levels for all treatments had declined to between 17 and 28 kg/ha N after crop harvest. In spite of a low overall efficiency of N uptake by wheat in 1977, more N was assimilated into the grain following legumes (27-39 kg/ha) than following cereals (1 6-2 1 kg/ha), even when fertilised with up to 90 kg/ha N (19 kg/ha). The presence of mineral N in subsoil layers (0.3-0.9 m) following legumes was considered responsible for relatively high grain yields and N uptakes of the following wheat crop in this season of limited growing-season rainfall. Protein concentration of wheat grain was generally higher following grain legumes than following all cereals or oilseeds except safflower. Grain protein concentration was increased by the application of N fertiliser, but fertilised wheat in 1977 generally showed a lower protein content than wheat following grain legumes. However, the second wheat crop following most legumes (except lathyrus) showed a protein content similar to the second wheat crop following N fertiliser application.

Nitrogen availability in a Darling Downs soil following cereal, oilseed and grain legume crops. 1. Soil nitrogen accumulation

1986 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
WM Strong ◽  
J Harbison ◽  
RGH Nielsen ◽  
BD Hall ◽  
EK Best
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Availability ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Nitrogen Accumulation ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N

Available soil mineral nitrogen (N) was determined in a Darling Downs clay at intervals of 4-6 weeks throughout summer and autumn after harvest of two cereals (wheat and oats), two oilseeds (rapeseed and linseed), and four grain legumes (chickpea, fieldpea, lupin and lathyrus). Soil mineral N (0-1.2 m) at 40,68, 107, 150 and 185 days after harvest was affected (P < 0.05) by the prior crop. At 40 days it was generally higher following grain legumes (34-76 kg/ha N) than following oilseeds or cereals (16-30 kg/ha N). Net increase during the next 145 days was in the order of cereals (2 1-27 kg/ha N) < oilseeds (40 kg/ha N) <grain legumes (53-85 kg/ha N). These differences are partly accounted for by differences in the quantities of N removed in the grain of these crops. However, a large quantity of mineral N accumulated following lupin even though a large quantity (80 kg/ha) was removed in the grain.

Nitrate accumulation under pea cropping and the effects of crop establishment methods: a sustainability issue

1996 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 581 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Evans ◽  
NA Fettell ◽  
GE O'Connor
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Nitrate Concentration ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Cereal Straw ◽  
Sustainability Issue

Grain legume-cereal rotations are unsustainable on acid soils because they promote acidification of surface soil through nitrate leaching. Two field experiments were conducted on red, clay-loams in the cropping zone of central western New South Wales to determine whether soil mineral N concentrations during crop growth are higher under pea than barley, and whether the nitrate concentration under pea crops can be decreased by ammending soil with cereal straw before sowing.Significantly higher mineral N, particularly nitrate, was found under pea than under barley, as early as 6 weeks following autumn sowing, and also in spring. The pea effect represented an increase of up to 23 kg N/ha of mineral N (0-30 cm). It is proposed that the source of higher nitrate concentration under pea may be residual soil nitrate not utilised by pea, or nitrate derived from the mineralisation of pea roots or exudate. The increase in soil nitrate during pea growth contributes to greater postharvest soil mineral N and higher wheat yields after pea, but also increases the risk of soil acidification. Soil ammendment with cereal straw was partially effective in reducing nitrate concentration under pea, but a more effective treatment is required.

Impact of legume 'break' crops on the residual amount and distribution of soil mineral nitrogen

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 763 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Evans ◽  
G. Scott ◽  
D. Lemerle ◽  
A. Kaiser ◽  
B. Orchard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Manure ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Legume Crops ◽  
Green Manure Crops

Important factors in the successful uptake of grain legumes by cereal growers have been their capacity to increase soil N and control cereal disease, as these have underpinned high yields in following wheat crops. However, alternative 1-year legume crops are required to introduce additional biodiversity and management flexibility for cereal growers. The effects on soil mineral N and potential contribution to soil total N of other legume enterprises were studied. These included vetch (Vicia bengalhensis) or clovers (mix of Trifolium alexandrinum, T.�versiculosum, T. resupinatum) managed for green manure; pea (Pisum sativum), vetch, or clovers managed for silage; and clovers managed for hay. These were compared with pea and lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) managed for grain production. Wheat was also included as a control. The legumes were grown in acidic Red Kandasol soil at Wagga Wagga in southern New South Wales, in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Mineral N was measured in the autumn or winter of seasons 1997 and 1998 respectively. Amounts of stubble residue N were measured in all seasons. The green manure crops, particularly vetch, produced more mineral N than both grain legumes. The forage conservation crops (silage or hay) produced similar amounts of mineral N to grain pea and more than grain lupin. For the grain and green manure legume crops, variation in amounts of mineral N was explained by the total N content of legume stubble residue, but for the forage conservation crops, more mineral N was measured than was predictable from stubble N. The amounts of mineral N at different soil depths differed between legume treatments and experiments (sites and years). Based only on above-ground plant N, the green manure crops contributed more to increasing total soil N than grain legumes; in turn, the grain legumes contributed more than the forage conservation crops. It was concluded that alternative annual legume enterprises to grain legumes may provide at least similar enrichment of soil mineral N early in the following season, and that all annual legume enterprises may accumulate nitrate deep in the soil profile in some seasons.

Lucerne removal before a cropping phase

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 877 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. Angus ◽  
R. R. Gault ◽  
A. J. Good ◽  
A. B. Hart ◽  
T. D. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Grain Protein ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N

Growing dryland crops after lucerne is known to be risky because of the lack of residual soil water. We investigated ways of reducing this risk by removing portions of a lucerne pasture, using either herbicides or cultivation, at monthly intervals between November and April, before sowing a wheat crop in May, followed by a canola crop in the following year. The experimental site was on a red-brown earth in southern New South Wales. Lucerne removal was incomplete when the wheat was sown, so all lucerne plants were removed from half of each plot with a post-emergence herbicide, to allow comparisons of intercropped wheat–lucerne and wheat monoculture. Measurements were made on crop growth, yield, grain quality, soil water, and soil mineral nitrogen (N) before and after both crops. On average, each additional month between lucerne removal and wheat sowing led to a yield increase of 8% and a grain protein increase of 0.3 percentage units. The main reason for the increases was additional soil mineral N, associated with a longer period of mineralisation. The soil water content at the time of wheat sowing was greater with early lucerne removal but the growing season rainfall did not limit yields, and there was more residual soil water at the time of wheat maturity where lucerne had been removed late and yields were lower. Method of lucerne removal did not significantly affect wheat yield, grain protein, soil water, or soil mineral N. The portions of the plots containing lucerne plants that survived the initial removal attempt produced similar wheat yields to the portions where lucerne had been totally removed, but grain protein was lower. The following growing season was drier, but despite less residual soil water where lucerne had been removed earlier in the previous year, the average canola yield was 2.5% greater for each additional month of fallow. The increase again appeared to be due to more residual mineral N. The seed oil concentration also decreased in response to later lucerne removal but seed protein increased. Where lucerne plants had been retained in the previous wheat crop, canola yield was lower than where they had been totally removed, apparently because of less soil water at sowing. Over the 2 years of the experiment, the net supply of mineral N was 374 kg N/ha, equivalent to an annual net mineralisation of 2% of the total soil N. The initial mineralisation rate was slow, suggesting that the soil may be deficient in mineral N soon after lucerne removal.

scholarly journals Soil mineral nitrogen benefits derived from legumes and comparisons of the apparent recovery of legume or fertiliser nitrogen by wheat

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark B. Peoples ◽  
Antony D. Swan ◽  
Laura Goward ◽  
John A. Kirkegaard ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wheat Crop ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Soil Mineral Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Farmer Decision Making ◽  
Legume Residue ◽  
Fertiliser Use

Nitrogen (N) contributed by legumes is an important component of N supply to subsequent cereal crops, yet few Australian grain-growers routinely monitor soil mineral N before applying N fertiliser. Soil and crop N data from 16 dryland experiments conducted in eastern Australia from 1989–2016 were examined to explore the possibility of developing simple predictive relationships to assist farmer decision-making. In each experiment, legume crops were harvested for grain or brown-manured (BM, terminated before maturity with herbicide), and wheat, barley or canola were grown. Soil mineral N measured immediately before sowing wheat in the following year was significantly higher (P < 0.05) after 31 of the 33 legume pre-cropping treatments than adjacent non-legume controls. The average improvements in soil mineral N were greater for legume BM (60 ± 16 kg N/ha; n = 5) than grain crops (35 ± 20 kg N/ha; n = 26), but soil N benefits were similar when expressed on the basis of summer fallow rainfall (0.15 ± 0.09 kg N/ha per mm), residual legume shoot dry matter (9 ± 5 kg N/ha per t/ha), or total legume residue N (28 ± 11%). Legume grain crops increased soil mineral N by 18 ± 9 kg N/ha per t/ha grain harvested. Apparent recovery of legume residue N by wheat averaged 30 ± 10% for 20 legume treatments in a subset of eight experiments. Apparent recovery of fertiliser N in the absence of legumes in two of these experiments was 64 ± 16% of the 51–75 kg fertiliser-N/ha supplied. The 25 year dataset provided new insights into the expected availability of soil mineral N after legumes and the relative value of legume N to a following wheat crop, which can guide farmer decisions regarding N fertiliser use.

scholarly journals Nitrogen enrichment enhances the dominance of grasses over forbs in a temperate steppe ecosystem

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 2341-2350 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Song ◽  
X. Bao ◽  
X. Liu ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
P. Christie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
N Addition ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Temperate Steppe ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
Steppe Ecosystem

Abstract. Chinese grasslands are extensive natural ecosystems that comprise 40 % of the total land area of the country and are sensitive to N deposition. A field experiment with six N rates (0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1) was conducted at Duolun, Inner Mongolia, during 2005 and 2010 to identify some effects of N addition on a temperate steppe ecosystem. The dominant plant species in the plots were divided into two categories, grasses and forbs, on the basis of species life forms. Enhanced N deposition, even as little as 30 kg N ha−1 yr−1 above ambient N deposition (16 kg N ha−1 yr−1), led to a decline in species richness. The cover of grasses increased with N addition rate but their species richness showed a weak change across N treatments. Both species richness and cover of forbs declined strongly with increasing N deposition as shown by linear regression analysis (p < 0.05). Increasing N deposition elevated aboveground production of grasses but lowered aboveground biomass of forbs. Plant N concentration, plant δ15N and soil mineral N increased with N addition, showing positive relationships between plant δ15N and N concentration, soil mineral N and/or applied N rate. The cessation of N application in the 480 kg N ha−1 yr−1 treatment in 2009 and 2010 led to a slight recovery of the forb species richness relative to total cover and aboveground biomass, coinciding with reduced plant N concentration and soil mineral N. The results show N deposition-induced changes in soil N transformations and plant N assimilation that are closely related to changes in species composition and biomass accumulation in this temperate steppe ecosystem.

Gross rates of soil N2O emission and uptake and denitrification gene abundance in temperate cropland agroforestry and monoculture systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Luo ◽  
Lukas Beule ◽  
Guodong Shao ◽  
Edzo Veldkamp ◽  
Marife D. Corre
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Management Systems ◽  
Soil N ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Total N ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Gene Abundance ◽  
Denitrification Gene

&lt;p&gt;Monoculture croplands are considered as major sources of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O). The conversion of monoculture croplands to agroforestry systems, e.g., integrating trees within croplands, is an essential climate-smart management system through extra C sequestration and can potentially mitigate N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions. So far, no study has systematically compared gross rates of N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emission and uptake between cropland agroforestry and monoculture. In this study, we used an in-situ &lt;sup&gt;15&lt;/sup&gt;N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O pool dilution technique to simultaneously measure gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emission and uptake over two consecutive growing seasons (2018 - 2019) at three sites in Germany: two sites were on Phaeozem and Cambisol soils with each site having a pair of cropland agroforestry and monoculture systems, and an additional site with only monoculture on an Arenosol soil prone to high nitrate leaching. Our results showed that cropland agroforestry had lower gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions and higher gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O uptake than in monoculture at the site with Phaeozem soil (P &amp;#8804; 0.018 &amp;#8211; 0.025) and did not differ in gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions and uptake with cropland monoculture at the site with Cambisol soil (P &amp;#8805; 0.36). Gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions were positively correlated with soil mineral N and heterotrophic respiration which, in turn, were correlated with soil temperature, and with water-filled pore space (WFPS) (r = 0.24 &amp;#8210; 0.54, P &lt; 0.01). Gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions were also negatively correlated with nosZ clade I gene abundance (involved in N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O-to-N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; reduction, r = -0.20, P &lt; 0.05). These findings showed that across sites and management systems changes in gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions were driven by changes in substrate availability and aeration condition (i.e., soil mineral N, C availability, and WFPS), which also influenced denitrification gene abundance. The strong regression values between gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions and net N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions (R&lt;sup&gt;2 &lt;/sup&gt;&amp;#8805; 0.96, P &lt; 0.001) indicated that gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions largely drove net soil N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions. Across sites and management systems, annual soil gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions and uptake were controlled by clay contents which, in turn, correlated with indices of soil fertility (i.e., effective cation exchange capacity, total N, and C/N ratio) (Spearman rank&amp;#8217;s rho = -0.76 &amp;#8211; 0.86, P &amp;#8804; 0.05). The lower gross N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions from the agroforestry tree rows at two sites indicated the potential of agroforestry in reducing soil N&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O emissions, supporting the need for temperate cropland agroforestry to be considered in greenhouse gas mitigation policies.&lt;/p&gt;

Winter wheat yield and nitrous oxide emissions in response to cowpea-based green manure and nitrogen fertilization

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanka P. Kandel ◽  
Prasanna H. Gowda ◽  
Brian K. Northup ◽  
Alexandre C. Rocateli
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Inorganic Nitrogen ◽  
Wheat Yield ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Winter Wheat Yield

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of cowpea green manure and inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizers on yields of winter wheat and soil emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O). The comparisons included cowpea grown solely as green manure where all biomass was terminated at maturity by tillage, summer fallow treatments with 90 kg N ha−1 as urea (90-N), and no fertilization (control) at planting of winter wheat. Fluxes of N2O were measured by closed chamber methods after soil incorporation of cowpea in autumn (October–November) and harvesting of winter wheat in summer (June–August). Growth and yields of winter wheat and N concentrations in grain and straw were also measured. Cowpea produced 9.5 Mg ha−1 shoot biomass with 253 kg N ha−1 at termination. Although soil moisture was favorable for denitrification after soil incorporation of cowpea biomass, low concentrations of soil mineral N restricted emissions of N2O from cowpea treatment. However, increased concentrations of soil mineral N and large rainfall-induced emissions were recorded from the cowpea treatment during summer. Growth of winter wheat, yield, and grain N concentrations were lowest in response to cowpea treatment and highest in 90-N treatment. In conclusion, late terminated cowpea may reduce yield of winter wheat and increase emissions of N2O outside of wheat growing seasons due to poor synchronization of N mineralization from cowpea biomass with N-demand of winter wheat.

Cutting management and alfalfa stand age effects on organically grown corn grain yield and soil N availability

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adria L. Fernandez ◽  
Karina P. Fabrizzi ◽  
Nicole E. Tautges ◽  
John A. Lamb ◽  
Craig C. Sheaffer
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Stand Age ◽  
Soil Mineral N ◽  
Soil Mineral ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
No Removal ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Biomass Removal ◽  
Potentially Mineralizable N ◽  
Corn Grain

AbstractAlfalfa is recommended as a rotational crop in corn production, due to its ability to contribute to soil nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) stocks through atmospheric N2fixation and above- and belowground biomass production. However, there is little information on how alfalfa management practices affect contributions to soil and subsequent corn crop yields, and research has not been targeted to organic systems. A study was conducted to determine the effects of alfalfa stand age, cutting frequency and biomass removal on soil C and N status and corn yields at three organically managed Minnesota locations. In one experiment, five cutting treatments were applied in nine environments: two, three and four cuts with biomass removal; three cuts with biomass remaining in place; and a no-cut control. In the other experiment, corn was planted following 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-year-old alfalfa stands and a no-alfalfa control. Yield was measured in the subsequent corn crop. In the cutting experiment, the two- and three-cut treatments with biomass removal reduced soil mineral N by 12.6 and 11.5%, respectively, compared with the control. Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) was not generally affected by cutting treatments. The three-cut no-removal increased potentially mineralizable C by 17% compared with the other treatments, but lowered soil total C in two environments, suggesting a priming effect in which addition of alfalfa biomass stimulated microbial mineralization of native soil C. Although both yields and soil mineral N tended to be higher in treatments where biomass remained in place, this advantage was small and inconsistent, indicating that farmers need not forgo hay harvest to obtain the rotational benefits of an alfalfa stand. The lack of overall correlation between corn grain yields and mineral and potentially mineralizable N suggests that alfalfa N contribution was not the driver of the yield increase in the no-removal treatments. Alfalfa stand age had inconsistent effects on fall-incorporated N and soil N and C parameters. Beyond the first year, increased alfalfa stand age did not increase soil mineral N or PMN. However, corn yield increased following older stands. Yields were 29, 77 and 90% higher following first-, second- and third-year alfalfa stands than the no-alfalfa control, respectively. This indicates that alfalfa may benefit succeeding corn through mechanisms other than N contribution, potentially including P solubilization and weed suppression. These effects have been less studied than N credits, but are of high value in organic cropping systems.

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