scholarly journals Long-term Effect of Manure Application in a Certified Organic Production System on Soil Physical and Chemical Parameters and Vegetable Yields

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Verlinden ◽  
Louis McDonald ◽  
James Kotcon ◽  
Silas Childs
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Green Bean ◽  
High Input ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Green Pepper ◽  
Low Input

In 1999, West Virginia University (WVU) established an organic farming systems project with a market garden section consisting of 32 plots measuring 16 × 25 ft arranged in a completely randomized design. Sixteen of these plots were managed as high-input and 16 as low-input plots. High-input plots received 10 tons/acre per year of dairy manure and a rye-vetch (Secale cereale and Vicia villosa) cover crop during each winter season since the inception of the experiment in 1999. Fertility in low-input plots was managed solely with an annual rye-vetch cover crop while both treatments also received 5 tons/acre of mixed species hay used as mulch in 2 of every 4 years. A 4-year rotation of crops, green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), green pepper (Capsicum annuum), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in the Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae families, was established in 1999 and has been maintained ever since. Soil organic matter (SOM) in the upper 6 inches of the soil profile (4.4% in 1999) has remained unchanged in low-input plots at 5.2% in 2004 and 5.4% in 2014, the year following transition and most recent data collection, respectively. During this same time period, significant increases in SOM from 6.4% in 2004 to 8.7% in 2014 were observed in high-input plots. Bulk density was lower in high-input plots than low-input plots in 2014. Despite these improvements in soil quality, high-input plots showed very high levels of phosphorus and potassium. Over the duration of the experiment, yearly manure application increased yields by 22% in all crops combined; however, individual crops responded quite differently. The yield was 9%, 25%, 24%, and 24% higher in high-input plots than in low-input plots for tomato, pepper, zucchini, and green bean, respectively. Manure application in addition to green manures and hay mulch incorporation was found to result in significant economic returns.

Spring thaw and growing season N2O emissions from a field planted with edible peas and a cover crop

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Pattey ◽  
Lynda G Blackburn ◽  
Ian B. Strachan ◽  
Ray Desjardins ◽  
Dave Dow
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Diode Laser ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Cattle Manure ◽  
Tunable Diode Laser ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Continuous Measurements

Nitrous oxide emissions are highly episodic and to accurately quantify them annually, continuous measurements are required. A tower-based micrometeorological measuring system was used on a commercial cattle farm near Cô teau-du-Lac, (QC, Canada) during 2003 and 2004 to quantify N2O emissions associated with the production of edible peas. It was equipped with an ultrasonic anemometer and a fast-response closed-path tunable diode laser. Continuous measurements of N2O fluxes were made during the spring thaw following corn cultivation in summer 2002, then during an edible pea growing season, followed by cattle manure application, cover crop planting and through until after the next spring ploughing. The cumulative N2O emissions of 0.7 kg N2O-N ha-1 during the initial snowmelt period following corn harvest were lower than expected. Sustained and small N2O emissions totalling 1.7 kg N2O-N ha-1 were observed during the growing season of the pea crop. Solid cattle manure applied after the pea harvest generated the largest N2O emissions (1.9 kg N2O-N ha-1 over 10 d) observed during the entire sampling period. N2O emissions associated with the cover crop in the fall were mostly influenced by manure application and totalled 0.8 kg N2O-N ha-1. For the subsequent spring thaw period, N2O emissions were 0.8 kg N2O-N ha-1. This represents approximately 15% of the annual emissions for the edible pea-cover crop system, which totalled 5.6 kg N2O-N ha-1 over the measuring periods. There was little difference in spring thaw N2O emissions between the two growing seasons of corn and edible pea-cover crop. Key words: Nitrous oxide emissions, legumes, snowmelt, dairy manure, tunable diode laser, flux tower

Influence of low‐disturbance fall liquid dairy manure application on corn silage yield, soil nitrate, and rye cover crop growth

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1298-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica F. Sherman ◽  
Eric O. Young ◽  
William E. Jokela ◽  
Jason Cavadini
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Growth ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Manure Application

scholarly journals Assessment of Tomato Recombinant Lines in Conventional and Organic Farming Systems for Productivity and Fruit Quality Traits

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Ilias D. Avdikos ◽  
Rafail Tagiakas ◽  
Ioannis Mylonas ◽  
Ioannis N. Xynias ◽  
Athanasios G. Mavromatis
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Hybrid Vigor ◽  
Yield Potential ◽  
High Input ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Organic Farming Systems ◽  
Additive Genes ◽  
Single Cross Hybrids

It is estimated that more than 95% of organic agriculture is based on crop cultivars that were bred for the conventional high-input sector. Most selections were made through conventional breeding programs and lack important traits required under organic and low-input conditions. Hybrids are the most common type of cultivars used in tomato because of heterosis. In tomato, continuous selfing enabled homozygosity to exploit favorable additive genes, resulting in the so-called inbred vigor. This paper presented the possibility to express inbred vigor at a level equal to or greater than hybrid vigor in tomato when cultivated under organic low input conditions. The evaluation of the recombinant lines produced through classical reverse breeding from four F1 single cross hybrids was done at low- and high-input farming systems. The results show that, following the appropriate breeding process in early generation selection and under low-input conditions, it is possible to produce recombinant lines, demonstrating inbred vigor in yield potential and fruit quality. These genetic materials can stand as new dynamic cultivars intended for cultivation in organic, low-input, or high-input conditions, depending on their performance in different farming systems at the later stages of evaluation.

scholarly journals Tillage and Liquid Dairy Manure Effects on Overland Flow Nitrogen and Phosphorus Loss Potential in an Upper Midwest Corn Silage-Winter Triticale Cropping System

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1775
Author(s):  
Jessica F. Sherman ◽  
Eric O. Young ◽  
Jason Cavadini
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Upper Midwest ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Total N ◽  
Winter Cereal ◽  
Cereal Grain

Dairy manure is an important crop nutrient source in Wisconsin and other parts of the upper Midwest but can contribute to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses in overland flow/surface runoff. Winter cereal grain cover crops can help reduce erosion and nutrient transport in corn systems. However, few studies have compared tillage impacts on nutrient loss in live cover crop systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate vertical (VT) and chisel tillage (CT) effects on overland flow nutrient and sediment loss potential after spring-applied liquid manure. A surface application treatment (i.e., broadcast) and a no manure control were also included for comparison. After corn (Zea mays L.) planting into a live triticale (Triticale hexaploide L.) cover crop, four artificial rainfall-overland flow events were generated (42 mm h−1 for 30 min) on replicated field-scale plots in central Wisconsin. Mean total P, total N, and suspended solids loads were consistently lower for VT at 2 days post-manure application (with 97 to 99% lower losses than broadcast, respectively). Dissolved reactive P and ammonium-N concentrations for both CT and VT were significantly lower three weeks after manure application compared to broadcast. Results suggest that VT reduced soil/residue disturbance while incorporating manure sufficiently to reduce sediment, N, and P transport potential under simulated high overland flow conditions.

scholarly journals Intrinsic and Extrinsic Quality Attributes of Fresh and Semi-Hard Goat Cheese from Low- and High-Input Farming Systems

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1567
Author(s):  
Annalaura Lopez ◽  
Mauro Vasconi ◽  
Monica Battini ◽  
Silvana Mattiello ◽  
Vittorio Maria Moretti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
High Input ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Input System ◽  
Goat Cheese ◽  
Total Product ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Intrinsic Quality ◽  
Livestock System

In this study, we investigated the lipid composition of fresh and semi-hard goat cheese produced in three Italian farms as well as the welfare assessment of goats reared in these farms. The fatty acid (FA) profile of cheese samples were found to be strictly related to the livestock system. Cheese collected from farms in which goats were allowed to graze and were fed diets with a higher forage/concentrate (F/C) ratio showed a FA profile represented by higher contents of health-promoting fatty acids. In the same samples, the health lipid indices showed the most favorable values. Conversely, cheese samples collected from a conventional-lowland farm, where goats were fed with higher amounts of concentrates and lower F/C ratio, presented a lower nutritional quality, characterized by the worst results for what concerns the health lipid indices. Then, we built a multivariate model able to discriminate samples coming from farms managed by a low-input system from those coming from farm managed by a high-input system. The comparison of animal welfare measurements and fatty acids data showed that a better intrinsic quality of low-input farms did not always correspond to better extrinsic quality, suggesting that the information on the livestock system is not always enough to provide consumers with complete awareness of the total product quality.

Influence of the time and rate of liquid-manure application on yield and nitrogen utilization of silage corn in south coastal British Columbia

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Zebarth ◽  
J. W. Paul ◽  
O. Schmidt ◽  
R. McDougall
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
N Recovery ◽  
Corn Yield ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Liquid Manure ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

Manure-N availability must be known in order to design application practices that maximize the nutrient value of the manure while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. This study determined the effect of time and rate of liquid manure application on silage corn yield and N utilization, and residual soil nitrate at harvest, in south coastal British Columbia. Liquid dairy or liquid hog manure was applied at target rates of 0, 175, 350 or 525 kg N ha−1, with or without addition of 100 kg N ha−1 as inorganic fertilizer, at two sites in each of 2 yr. Time of liquid-dairy-manure application was also tested at two sites in each of 2 yr with N-application treatments of: 600 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in spring; 600 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in fall; 300 kg N ha−1 as manure applied in each of spring and fall; 200 kg N ha−1 applied as inorganic fertilizer in spring; 300 kg N ha−1 as manure plus 100 kg N ha−1 as inorganic fertilizer applied in spring; and a control that received no applied N. Fall-applied manure did not increase corn yield or N uptake in the following growing season. At all sites, maximum yield was attained using manure only. Selection of proper spring application rates for manure and inorganic fertilizer were found to be equally important in minimizing residual soil nitrate at harvest. Apparent recovery of applied N in the crop ranged from 0 to 33% for manure and from 18 to 93% for inorganic fertilizer. Key words: N recovery, manure management

scholarly journals Effects of Cover Crops, Compost, and Vermicompost on Strawberry Yields and Nitrogen Availability in North Carolina

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 604-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Beck ◽  
Michelle S. Schroeder-Moreno ◽  
Gina E. Fernandez ◽  
Julie M. Grossman ◽  
Nancy G. Creamer
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Organic N ◽  
N Availability ◽  
Soil N

Summer cover crop rotations, compost, and vermicompost additions can be important strategies for transition to organic production that can provide various benefits to crop yields, nitrogen (N) availability, and overall soil health, yet are underused in strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) production in North Carolina. This study was aimed at evaluating six summer cover crop treatments including pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), soybean (Glycine max), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pearl millet/soybean combination, pearl millet/cowpea combination, and a no cover crop control, with and without vermicompost additions for their effects on strawberry growth, yields, nutrient uptake, weeds, and soil inorganic nitrate-nitrogen and ammonium-nitrogen in a 2-year field experiment. Compost was additionally applied before seeding cover crops and preplant N fertilizer was reduced by 67% to account for organic N additions. Although all cover crops (with compost) increased soil N levels during strawberry growth compared with the no cover crop treatment, cover crops did not impact strawberry yields in the first year of the study. In the 2nd year, pearl millet cover crop treatments reduced total and marketable strawberry yields, and soybean treatments reduced marketable strawberry yields when compared with the no cover crop treatment, whereas vermicompost additions increased strawberry biomass and yields. Results from this study suggest that vermicompost additions can be important sustainable soil management strategies for transitional and certified organic strawberry production. Summer cover crops integrated with composts can provide considerable soil N, reducing fertilizer needs, but have variable responses on strawberry depending on the specific cover crop species or combination. Moreover, these practices are suitable for both organic and conventional strawberry growers and will benefit from longer-term studies that assess these practices individually and in combination and other benefits in addition to yields.

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