Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping

Negative nitrogen balance represents a major factor causing low potato yield in potato growing areas of Kenya while its excessive surplus poses a significant environmental concern. In order to synchronize this tradeoff, a field trial integrating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolu...

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Main Authors: Nyawade, S., Karanja, N., Gachene, C.K.K., Gitari, H.I., Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar, Parker, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107902
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author Nyawade, S.
Karanja, N.
Gachene, C.K.K.
Gitari, H.I.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Parker, M.
author_browse Gachene, C.K.K.
Gitari, H.I.
Karanja, N.
Nyawade, S.
Parker, M.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
author_facet Nyawade, S.
Karanja, N.
Gachene, C.K.K.
Gitari, H.I.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Parker, M.
author_sort Nyawade, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Negative nitrogen balance represents a major factor causing low potato yield in potato growing areas of Kenya while its excessive surplus poses a significant environmental concern. In order to synchronize this tradeoff, a field trial integrating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.) in intercropping system was conducted in the upper midland [1552 m above sea level (masl), lower highland (1894 masl) and upper highland (2552 masl)] agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Nitrogen gains from mineralization, fertilization, biological fixation, and outputs from biomass accumulation, leaching, volatilization and soil erosion were quantified using standard procedures. Soil N balance ranged from − 10.7 to − 18.1 kg N ha−1 for sole potato, 4.1 to 6.6 kg N ha−1 for intercropping and 2.9 to 22.3 kg N ha−1 for sole legumes. The intermediate range of polyphenol and lignin contents in intercropping enhanced N mineralization with peak N release of 8 to 9 kg N ha−1 matching with peak N uptake by potato (19.9 to 31.2 kg N ha−1). Nitrate was leached below the active root zone in sole potato cropping (4.2 to 46.6 kg N ha−1), a process that was diverged by the deep root systems of legume intercrops. These results suggest that legume intercropping can provide a means of balancing the nitrogen retained in the biomass and soil, thus offering a mechanism for optimizing the soil N balance in smallholder potato farming systems
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spelling CGSpace1079022025-11-29T05:22:20Z Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping Nyawade, S. Karanja, N. Gachene, C.K.K. Gitari, H.I. Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar Parker, M. potatoes intercropping legumes cropping systems Negative nitrogen balance represents a major factor causing low potato yield in potato growing areas of Kenya while its excessive surplus poses a significant environmental concern. In order to synchronize this tradeoff, a field trial integrating potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus L.) in intercropping system was conducted in the upper midland [1552 m above sea level (masl), lower highland (1894 masl) and upper highland (2552 masl)] agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Nitrogen gains from mineralization, fertilization, biological fixation, and outputs from biomass accumulation, leaching, volatilization and soil erosion were quantified using standard procedures. Soil N balance ranged from − 10.7 to − 18.1 kg N ha−1 for sole potato, 4.1 to 6.6 kg N ha−1 for intercropping and 2.9 to 22.3 kg N ha−1 for sole legumes. The intermediate range of polyphenol and lignin contents in intercropping enhanced N mineralization with peak N release of 8 to 9 kg N ha−1 matching with peak N uptake by potato (19.9 to 31.2 kg N ha−1). Nitrate was leached below the active root zone in sole potato cropping (4.2 to 46.6 kg N ha−1), a process that was diverged by the deep root systems of legume intercrops. These results suggest that legume intercropping can provide a means of balancing the nitrogen retained in the biomass and soil, thus offering a mechanism for optimizing the soil N balance in smallholder potato farming systems 2020-03-12 2020-03-30T16:53:25Z 2020-03-30T16:53:25Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107902 en Open Access Springer Nyawade, S.S.; Karanja, N.N.; Gachene, C.K.K.; Gitari, H.I.; Schulte-Geldermann, E.; Parker, M. 2020. Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. ISSN 1573-0867. Published online 12Mar2020. 17 p.
spellingShingle potatoes
intercropping
legumes
cropping systems
Nyawade, S.
Karanja, N.
Gachene, C.K.K.
Gitari, H.I.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Parker, M.
Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title_full Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title_fullStr Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title_short Optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
title_sort optimizing soil nitrogen balance in a potato cropping system through legume intercropping
topic potatoes
intercropping
legumes
cropping systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/107902
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