Decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 403-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
J. T. O’Donovan ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
T. K. Turkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Residue ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Rapid Decomposition

Field experiments were conducted to determine decomposition patterns of red clover (Trifolium pratense), field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica rapa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues under zero and conventional tillage. Crop residue amounts produced in 2 trial years ranged from 1.6 t ha-1 for monoculture wheat to 6.05 t ha-1 for peas, and tillage had no effect. The extent of dry matter (DM) decomposition was usually less under zero than under conventional tillage, e.g., 31 to 41% of canola DM decomposed under zero tillage while 41 to 50% decomposed under conventional tillage in 12 mo. Corresponding percentages for other residues under zero and conventional tillage, respectively, were: 65 and 75% for clover, 43 and 45 to 55% for pea, and 27 and 40% for wheat. The rate and extent of DM decomposition were positively correlated with N and P concentrations, and negatively correlated with C/N, C/P, lignin/P and lignin/K ratios. These decomposition patterns have implications for nutrient release and soil cover. Rapid decomposition is not necessarily desirable because the nutrients released are subject to losses in soil. Key words: Biological soil quality, crop residue quality, crop rotation

Nitrogen release during decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
J. T. O’Donovan ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
T. K. Turkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
First Year ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Litter Bag

The litter-bag method was used in field experiments to determine nitrogen (N) loss patterns from decomposing red clover (Trifolium pratense) green manure (GM), field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica rapa) and monoculture wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues under conventional and zero tillage. Nitrogen contained in crop residues ranged from 10 kg ha-1 in wheat under both tillage systems to 115 kg ha-1 in clover GM under zero tillage. The patterns of N loss (i.e., release), particularly from GM residues, over 52-wk periods varied with tillage, i.e., residues lost N more rapidly under conventional tillage than under zero tillage in the first 5 to 10 wk after residue placement. Net N immobilization was sometimes observed, particularly under zero tillage. Where net N release occurred, it ranged from 22% of wheat N under conventional tillage to 71% for clover N under conventional tillage; it was positively correlated with residue N concentration and microbial activity, and negatively correlated with C:N and lignin:N ratios in one study period. The amounts of N released were 2 kg ha-1 from wheat, 10 to 25 kg ha-1 from canola, 4 to 18 kg ha-1 from pea, and 46 to 69 kg ha-1 from GM residues. Therefore, when grain is harvested, the remaining crop residues do not release much N to the soil in the first year of decomposition, but the N stored in soil is presumably released in subsequent years. Key words: Crop residues, crop rotation, N mineralization, organic soil amendments

Potassium release during decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 473-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Z Lupwayi ◽  
G W Clayton ◽  
J T O’Donovan ◽  
K N Harker ◽  
T K Turkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Residue Quality ◽  
Residue Decomposition ◽  
K Release

Nutrient cycling is an important part of integrated nutrient management. The litterbag method was used in field experiments to determine potassium (K) release patterns from red clover (Trifolium pratense) green manure (GM), field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica rapa) and monoculture wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues under conventional and zero tillage from 1998 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2000. Potassium contained in crop residues ranged from 25 kg ha-1 in wheat to 121 kg ha-1 in pea residues, both under zero tillage. The percentage of K released over a 52-wk period ranged from 65% of pea K under zero tillage to 99% of clover K under conventional tillage, and the amounts released were 20–32 kg ha-1 from wheat, 31–52 kg ha-1 from canola, 28–79 kg ha-1 from pea, and 31–118 kg ha-1 from legume GM residues. In both trial periods, K from wheat residues was released at a faster rate under conventional tillage than under zero tillage during the first 10 wk of residue decomposition. In contrast, K from pea and canola residues was released more quickly under zero tillage than under conventional tillage. The effect of tillage on K release from GM residues was similar to that on pea and canola residues in 1998–1999, but similar to that on wheat residues in 1999–2000. Correlations between K release and residue quality were inconsistent, presumably because K is not a structural component of plant tissue, and therefore its release is probably related more to leaching than to residue decomposition. These results show that crop residues recycle substantial amounts of K for use by subsequent crops in rotation. Key words: Conservation tillage, crop residue quality, crop rotation, organic soil amendments

scholarly journals Impact of crop residue management on crop production and soil chemistry after seven years of crop rotation in temperate climate, loamy soils

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Pierre Hiel ◽  
Sophie Barbieux ◽  
Jérôme Pierreux ◽  
Claire Olivier ◽  
Guillaume Lobet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Residue Management ◽  
Temperate Climate ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Crop Residue Management ◽  
The Impact

Society is increasingly demanding a more sustainable management of agro-ecosystems in a context of climate change and an ever growing global population. The fate of crop residues is one of the important management aspects under debate, since it represents an unneglectable quantity of organic matter which can be kept in or removed from the agro-ecosystem. The topic of residue management is not new, but the need for global conclusion on the impact of crop residue management on the agro-ecosystem linked to local pedo-climatic conditions has become apparent with an increasing amount of studies showing a diversity of conclusions. This study specifically focusses on temperate climate and loamy soil using a seven-year data set. Between 2008 and 2016, we compared four contrasting residue management strategies differing in the amount of crop residues returned to the soil (incorporation vs. exportation of residues) and in the type of tillage (reduced tillage (10 cm depth) vs. conventional tillage (ploughing at 25 cm depth)) in a field experiment. We assessed the impact of the crop residue management on crop production (three crops—winter wheat, faba bean and maize—cultivated over six cropping seasons), soil organic carbon content, nitrate (${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) soil content and uptake by the crops. The main differences came primarily from the tillage practice and less from the restitution or removal of residues. All years and crops combined, conventional tillage resulted in a yield advantage of 3.4% as compared to reduced tillage, which can be partly explained by a lower germination rate observed under reduced tillage, especially during drier years. On average, only small differences were observed for total organic carbon (TOC) content of the soil, but reduced tillage resulted in a very clear stratification of TOC and also of P and K content as compared to conventional tillage. We observed no effect of residue management on the ${\mathrm{NO}}_{3}^{-}$ content, since the effect of fertilization dominated the effect of residue management. To confirm the results and enhance early tendencies, we believe that the experiment should be followed up in the future to observe whether more consistent changes in the whole agro-ecosystem functioning are present on the long term when managing residues with contrasted strategies.

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SOIL ACIDITY PROBLEM IN ALBERTA AND NORTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. PENNEY ◽  
M. NYBORG ◽  
P. B. HOYT ◽  
W. A. RICE ◽  
B. SIEMENS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Crop Species

The amount of cultivated acid soil in Alberta and northeastern British Columbia was estimated from pH values of farm samples analyzed by the Alberta Soil Testing Laboratory, and the effect of soil acidity on crops was assessed from field experiments on 28 typical acid soils. The field experiments consisted of two cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and one cultivar each of rapeseed (Brassica campestris L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown with and without lime for 2 yr. There are about 30,000 ha of soils with a pH of 5.0 or less where soil acidity seriously restricts yields of all four crop species. There are approximately 300,000 ha with a soil pH of 5.1–5.5 where liming will on the average increase yields of alfalfa by 100%, yields of barley by 10–15%, and yields of rapeseed and red clover by 5–10%. There are a further 1,600,000 ha where soil pH ranges from 5.6 to 6.0 and liming will increase yields of alfalfa by approximately 50% and yields of barley, rapeseed and red clover by at least 4–5%.

scholarly journals Study of C, N, P and K Release from Residues of Newly Proposed Cover Crops in a Spanish Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Rodríguez-Lizana ◽  
Miguel Ángel Repullo-Ruibérriz de Torres ◽  
Rosa Carbonell-Bojollo ◽  
Manuel Moreno-García ◽  
Rafaela Ordóñez-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Brachypodium Distachyon ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Grab Sampling ◽  
P Release ◽  
Olive Groves ◽  
C And N

Cover crops (CC)s are increasingly employed by farmers in olive groves. Spontaneous soil cover is the most commonly used CC. Its continuous utilization changes ruderal flora. It is necessary to study new CCs. Living CCs provide C and nutrients to soil during decomposition. Information on this issue in olive groves is scarce. A 4-year field study involving grab sampling of Brachypodium distachyon, Sinapis alba and spontaneous CC residues was conducted to study C and nutrient release from cover crop residues. Throughout the decomposition cycles, C, N and P release accounted for 40 to 58% of the C, N and P amounts in the residues after mowing. Most K was released (80–90%). Expressed in kg per hectare, the release of C and N in Brachypodium (C: 4602, N: 181, P: 29, K: 231) and Sinapis (C: 4806, N: 152, P: 18, K: 195) was greater than that in spontaneous CC (C: 3115, N: 138, P: 21, K: 256). The opposite results were observed for K. The Rickman model, employed to estimate the amount of C, N and P in residues, yielded a good match between the simulated and measured values. In comparison to spontaneous CC, the newly proposed CCs have a higher potential to provide soil with C and N.

Tillage and crop residue effects on soil nitrate under three years of corn (Zeamays L.) on land previously in corn and forage crops

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Burgess ◽  
G. R. Mehuys ◽  
C. A. Madramootoo
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Soil Nitrate ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
No Till ◽  
Key Words Nitrate

A 3-yr field study in Quebec assessed effects of tillage (no-till, reduced, or conventional) × crop residues (removed or retained) on soil nitrate under corn production. Fall nitrate levels were greatest in plots without residues 1 yr after treatments began, but not thereafter. No-till and conventional tillage had similar values, but sometimes differed from reduced tillage. Key words: Nitrate, corn, no-till, reduced tillage, conventional tillage, crop residues

Soil microbiological properties during decomposition of crop residues under conventional and zero tillage

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
J. T. O’Donovan ◽  
K. N. Harker ◽  
T. K. Turkington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Microbial Activity ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Functional Diversity ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Microbial Functional Diversity ◽  
Soil Microbial

Field experiments were conducted to correlate decomposition of red clover (Trifolium pratense) green manure (GM), field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica rapa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) residues, and soil organic C (SOC), under zero tillage and conventional tillage, with soil microbial biomass C (MBC), bacterial functional diversity and microbial activity (CO2 evolution). A greenhouse experiment was also conducted to relate crop residue quality to soil microbial characteristics. Zero tillage increas ed MBC only in the 0- to 5-cm soil layer. Soil MBC decreased more with soil depth than either microbial diversity or total SOC. Legume GM residues induced greater initial CO2 evolution than the other residues. This means that results that do not include the initial flush of microbial activity, e.g., by sampling only in the season(s) following residue placement, probably underestimate gas evolution from legume crop residues. Residue N, P and K contents were positively correlated with microbial functional diversity and activity, which were positively correlated with crop residue decomposition. Therefore, microbial functional diversity and activity were good indicators of microbial decomposition processes. Residue C/N and C/P ratios (i.e., high C content) were positively correlated with MBC, which was positively correlated with SOC. Therefore, soil MBC was a good indicator of soil quality (soil organic matter content). Key words: Biological soil quality, crop residues, crop rotation, microbial activity, microbial biomass, microbial diversity

Legume cover crops with winter cereals in southern Manitoba: Fertilizer replacement values for oat

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Thiessen Martens ◽  
M. H. Entz ◽  
J. W. Hoeppner
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Crop Field ◽  
Legume Cover Crops ◽  
Trifolium Pratense L

Yield benefits of legume cover crops in winter/spring cereal systems have not been well documented in the Canadian prairies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the fertilizer replacement values (FRV) of relay-cropped alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and double-cropped chickling vetch (Lathryus sativus L.) and black lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. subsp. culinaris) to a subsequent oat (Avena sativa L.) crop. Field experiments were conducted in Manitoba on a clay soil at Winnipeg and a sandy loam at Carman. Alfalfa provided the highest FRV at Winnipeg (51–62 kg N ha-1), followed by chickling vetch (29–43 kg N ha-1), lentil (23–39 kg N ha-1), and red clover (24–26 kg N ha-1). FRV could not be established at Carman, where course-textured soil and low rainfall limited legume growth. Key words: Relay cropping, double cropping, cover crops

Tillage and Nitrogen Influence Weed Population Dynamics in Barley (Hordeum vulgare)

1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 502-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. O'Donovan ◽  
David W. McAndrew ◽  
A. Gordon Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Green Foxtail ◽  
Field Pennycress ◽  
Soil Seedbank ◽  
Four Levels

Field experiments were initiated at Alliance and Hairy Hill, Alberta, in 1989 to investigate the effects of conventional tillage, zero tillage, and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer on continuous barley production. In both tillage systems, the nitrogen was banded 6 to 8 cm deep between alternate barley rows. Herbicides were used for weed control each year. The influence of tillage and nitrogen on weed seed population dynamics was determined in 1991 and 1992. In the zero-tillage system, a large proportion of the weed seeds were present either at the soil surface or at the 5- to 10-cm depth. Green foxtail, the dominant species at Alliance, was also present at Hairy Hill where field pennycress was dominant. Green foxtail was consistently associated with low (residual) nitrogen and, in most cases, with conventional tillage. At both locations, green foxtail populations tended to decrease to very low levels as nitrogen rate increased, especially in zero tillage. At Hairy Hill, field pennycress populations in the soil seedbank were higher in zero tillage compared with conventional tillage, but plants that emerged from the soil seedbank in the field in spring were lower in zero tillage. Field pennycress populations were highest under low nitrogen. The results indicate that banding nitrogen has the potential to be an effective tool for green foxtail and field pennycress management in conventional- and zero-tillage systems, resulting in less dependence on herbicides for their control.

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