scholarly journals Converting perennial energy crops cup plant and field grass to arable cropping affects weed infestation, soil nitrogen mineralisation, and subsequent silage maize yield

GCB Bioenergy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siegfried Schittenhelm ◽  
Kerstin Panten ◽  
Doreen Gabriel
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Mineralisation ◽  
Silage Maize ◽  
Weed Infestation ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment and Soil Nitrogen Balance of Different N Fertilizers for Top Dressing Rye as Energy Crop for Electricity Generation

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 844
Author(s):  
Carlos Martín Sastre ◽  
Ruth Barro ◽  
Yolanda González-Arechavala ◽  
Ana Santos-Montes ◽  
Pilar Ciria
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Ammonium Sulphate ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizers ◽  
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Sustainability Criteria ◽  
Ghg Savings

Nitrogen fertilizers have been identified in energy crops LCAs as the main contributors to global warming, as well as to many other environmental impacts. The distinct production process and application emissions of nitrogen fertilizer types for top dressing produce different GHG savings when energy crops value chains are compared to fossil energy alternatives. In this study, three types of fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate, urea and ammonium sulphate) at N top dressing rates of 80 kg N/ha are used to grow rye for electricity generation under the conditions of the Continental Mediterranean climate of central-northern Spain. Complete LCAs for the whole value chain based on real data were performed in conjunction with soil nitrogen balances (SNBs) to assess the accomplishment of European Union (EU) GHG savings sustainability criteria, as well as the sustainability of fertilization practices for soil nitrogen stocks. The results obtained can provide interesting insights for policy making, since calcium ammonium nitrate, the most common fertilizer for rye crops, led to 66% GHG savings, as opposed to the 69% achieved when applying urea and 77% when ammonium sulphate was used. Nevertheless, the three fertilizers produced annual soil deficits greater than 50 kg N/ha. In order to ensure savings above 80%, as required by the EU sustainability criteria, and sustainable SNBs, additional optimization measures should be taken at key points of the value chain.

scholarly journals Complex Valuation of Energy from Agricultural Crops including Local Conditions

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1415
Author(s):  
Václav Voltr ◽  
Martin Hruška ◽  
Luboš Nobilis
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Silage Maize ◽  
Marginal Areas

This paper provides values of economic, energy and environmental assessments of 20 crops and assesses the relationships of soil-climatic conditions in the example of the Czech Republic. The comparison of main soil quality indicators according to the configuration of land and climate regions is performed on the basis of energy and economic efficiency as well as a comparison of the level of environmental impacts. The environmental impacts are identified based on the assessment of emissions from production and also in the form of soil compaction as an indicator of the relationship to soil quality. As concerns soil properties, of major importance is soil skeleton, slope of land and the depth of soil, which cause an increase in emissions from the energy produced. Substantially better emission parameters per 1 MJ through energy crops, the cultivation of perennial crops and silage maize has been supported. Among energy crops, a positive relationship with the quality of soil is seen in alfalfa, with a significant reduction in soil penetrometric resistance; energy crops are also politically justifiable in competition with other crops intended for nutrition of population. The main advantage of energy crops for the low-carbon economy is their CO2 production to MJ, which is almost half, especially in marginal areas with lower soil depths, slopes and stoniness, which can be included in the new agricultural policy.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Effect of Perennial Energy Crops and Arable Crops on Earthworm Populations

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Radzikowski ◽  
Stalenga ◽  
Matyka
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops

The purpose of the study was to compare earthworm communities under winter wheat in different crop production systems on arable land—organic (ORG), integrated (INT), conventional (CON), monoculture (MON)—and under perennial crops cultivated for energy purposes—willow (WIL), Virginia mallow (VIR), and miscanthus (MIS). Earthworm abundance, biomass, and species composition were assessed each spring and autumn in the years 2014–2016 using the method of soil blocks. The mean species number of earthworms was ordered in the following way: ORG > VIR > WIL > CON > INT > MIS > MON. Mean abundance of earthworms decreased in the following order: ORG > WIL > CON > VIR > INT > MIS > MON. There were significantly more species under winter wheat cultivated organically than under the integrated system (p = 0.045), miscanthus (p = 0.039), and wheat monoculture (p = 0.002). Earthworm abundance was significantly higher in the organic system compared to wheat monoculture (p = 0.001) and to miscanthus (p = 0.008). Among the tested energy crops, Virginia mallow created the best habitat for species richness and biomass due to the high amount of crop residues suitable for earthworms and was similar to the organic system. Differences in the composition of earthworm species in the soil under the compared agricultural systems were proven. Energy crops, except miscanthus, have been found to increase earthworm diversity, as they are good crops for landscape diversification.

Influence of size of rainfall events on water-driven processes. II. Soil nitrogen mineralisation in a semi-arid environment

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor O. Sadras ◽  
Jeffrey A. Baldock
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Variable Temperature ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Nitrogen Mineralisation ◽  
Evaporative Demand ◽  
Fixed Temperature ◽  
Rainfall Events

Power laws describe the relationships between the number N (s) and the size s of daily rainfall events, i.e. N (s) ~ s–τ, with higher τ corresponding to sites or seasons with greater frequency of small rainfall events. This paper tested the hypothesis that the rate of soil nitrogen mineralisation increases with increasing exponent τ, as affected by both spatial and temporal sources of variation. Rates of nitrogen mineralisation in an uncropped sandy loam soil were calculated using a simulation model with detailed nitrogen and water balances, and long-term weather data for 6 Australian locations in a range of annual rainfall from 260 to 360 mm. Daily rates of mineralisation were calculated using actual rainfall, and variable or fixed temperature and evaporative demand. The annual pattern of mineralisation rate, calculated as a function of rainfall and variable temperature and evaporative demand, was bimodal with peaks in April and November. These peaks disappeared and differences among locations were reduced when the effects of temperature and evaporative demand were removed. Under constant temperature and evaporative demand, mineralisation rates between April and November were 68% greater than rates between December and March. In the former period, characterised by a high frequency of small rainfall events, monthly mineralisation rate was a direct function of the amount of rainfall. In contrast, mineralisation was independent of the amount of rainfall during the period of larger, less frequent rainfall events from December to March. Parameter τ accounted for 75% of the variation in mineralisation rate in the period December–March and it also accounted for a substantial part of the variation between periods.

LEGUME ROTATION IN THE MOIST TROPICAL SAVANNA: MANAGING SOIL NITROGEN DYNAMICS AND CEREAL YIELDS IN FARMERS' FIELDS

1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. OIKEH ◽  
V. O. CHUDE ◽  
R. J. CARSKY ◽  
G. K. WEBER ◽  
W. J. HORST
Keyword(s):  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Nitrogen Uptake ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Dynamics ◽  
Stylosanthes Hamata ◽  
Soil Nitrogen Dynamics ◽  
Sorghum Grain ◽  
Savanna Soil

The contribution of root and leaf litter to soil nitrogen dynamics, nitrogen uptake and balance was evaluated under cereal–legume rotations in a tropical moist savanna soil. Two legumes, soyabean (Glycine max) and stylo (Stylosanthes hamata), and maize (Zea mays) as a control were grown in four farmers' fields of different native fertility in 1993. At the end of the season, soyabean grain and stover were harvested and stylo biomass was removed for fodder. At the beginning of the 1994 season levels of total mineral nitrogen at a soil depth of 0–30 cm were 75, 52 and 44 kg ha−1 following soyabean, stylo and maize respectively. Total nitrogen uptake by maize was over 25% higher following legumes than following maize. Maize yield was 20 and 24% higher when grown after stylo and soyabean than after maize in spite of the removal of the standing legume biomass from the plots. Sorghum grain yield and nitrogen uptake were not significantly affected by the previous crops. Nitrogen balance estimates indicated that loss of nitrogen, probably due to leaching, was lowest in the plots previously planted with stylo. Results indicated opportunities to integrate appropriate legume-based technologies into the farming systems based on an identification of inherent nitrogen-release patterns.

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