Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems

In many no-till (NT) systems, residue input is low and fallow periods excessive, for which reasons soil degradation occurs. Cover crops could improve organic matter, biological activity, and soil structure. In order to study changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and microbial biomass a field experiment (...

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Main Authors: Frasier, Ileana, Quiroga, Alberto Raul, Noellemeyer, Elke
Format: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1088
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716307422?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.058
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author Frasier, Ileana
Quiroga, Alberto Raul
Noellemeyer, Elke
author_browse Frasier, Ileana
Noellemeyer, Elke
Quiroga, Alberto Raul
author_facet Frasier, Ileana
Quiroga, Alberto Raul
Noellemeyer, Elke
author_sort Frasier, Ileana
collection INTA Digital
description In many no-till (NT) systems, residue input is low and fallow periods excessive, for which reasons soil degradation occurs. Cover crops could improve organic matter, biological activity, and soil structure. In order to study changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and microbial biomass a field experiment (2010 − 2012) was set up with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench.) monoculture and with cover crops. Treatments were control (NT with bare fallow), rye (Secale cereale L.) (R), rye with nitrogen fertilization (R + N), vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) (V), and rye-vetch mixture (VR) cover crops. A completely randomized block design with 4 replicates was used. Soil was sampled once a year at 0.06 and 0.12 m depth for total C, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and-nitrogen (MBN) determinations. Shoot and root biomass of sorghum and cover crops, litter biomass, and their respective carbon and nitrogen contents were determined. Soil temperatures at 0.06 and 0.12 m depth, volumetric water contents and nitrate concentrations were determined at sowing, and harvest of each crop, and during sorghum's vegetative phase. NT led to a small increase in MBC and MBN, despite low litter and root biomass residue. Cover crops increased litter, root biomass, total C, MBC, and MBN. Relationships between MBC, MBN, and root-C and –N adjusted to logistic models (R2 = 0.61 and 0.43 for C and N respectively). Litter cover improved soil moisture to 45–50% water filled pore space and soil temperatures not exceeding 25 °C during the warmest month. Microbial biomass stabilized at 20.1 g C m− 2 and 1.9 g N m− 2 in the upper 0.06 m. Soil litter disappearance was a good indicator of mineral N availability. These findings support the view that cover crops, specifically legumes in NT systems can increase soil ecosystem services related to water and carbon storage, habitat for biodiversity, and nutrient availability.
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spelling INTA10882018-02-21T18:37:51Z Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems Frasier, Ileana Quiroga, Alberto Raul Noellemeyer, Elke Plantas de Cobertura Sorgos Sorghum Nitrógeno Carbón Cero-Labranza Cover Plants Nitrogen Coil Zero Tillage Cultivos de Cobertura In many no-till (NT) systems, residue input is low and fallow periods excessive, for which reasons soil degradation occurs. Cover crops could improve organic matter, biological activity, and soil structure. In order to study changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and microbial biomass a field experiment (2010 − 2012) was set up with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench.) monoculture and with cover crops. Treatments were control (NT with bare fallow), rye (Secale cereale L.) (R), rye with nitrogen fertilization (R + N), vetch (Vicia villosa Roth.) (V), and rye-vetch mixture (VR) cover crops. A completely randomized block design with 4 replicates was used. Soil was sampled once a year at 0.06 and 0.12 m depth for total C, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and-nitrogen (MBN) determinations. Shoot and root biomass of sorghum and cover crops, litter biomass, and their respective carbon and nitrogen contents were determined. Soil temperatures at 0.06 and 0.12 m depth, volumetric water contents and nitrate concentrations were determined at sowing, and harvest of each crop, and during sorghum's vegetative phase. NT led to a small increase in MBC and MBN, despite low litter and root biomass residue. Cover crops increased litter, root biomass, total C, MBC, and MBN. Relationships between MBC, MBN, and root-C and –N adjusted to logistic models (R2 = 0.61 and 0.43 for C and N respectively). Litter cover improved soil moisture to 45–50% water filled pore space and soil temperatures not exceeding 25 °C during the warmest month. Microbial biomass stabilized at 20.1 g C m− 2 and 1.9 g N m− 2 in the upper 0.06 m. Soil litter disappearance was a good indicator of mineral N availability. These findings support the view that cover crops, specifically legumes in NT systems can increase soil ecosystem services related to water and carbon storage, habitat for biodiversity, and nutrient availability. EEA Anguil Fil: Frasier, Ileana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Quiroga, Alberto Raul. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina Fil: Noellemeyer, Elke. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina 2017-08-31T13:24:33Z 2017-08-31T13:24:33Z 2016 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1088 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716307422?via%3Dihub 0048-9697 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.058 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess application/pdf Science of the total environment 562 : 628-639. (August 2016)
spellingShingle Plantas de Cobertura
Sorgos
Sorghum
Nitrógeno
Carbón
Cero-Labranza
Cover Plants
Nitrogen
Coil
Zero Tillage
Cultivos de Cobertura
Frasier, Ileana
Quiroga, Alberto Raul
Noellemeyer, Elke
Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title_full Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title_fullStr Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title_full_unstemmed Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title_short Effect of different cover crops on C and N cycling in sorghum NT systems
title_sort effect of different cover crops on c and n cycling in sorghum nt systems
topic Plantas de Cobertura
Sorgos
Sorghum
Nitrógeno
Carbón
Cero-Labranza
Cover Plants
Nitrogen
Coil
Zero Tillage
Cultivos de Cobertura
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1088
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716307422?via%3Dihub
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.058
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