Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T04:40:52.822Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Green manure as a nitrogen source for wheat in the southeastern United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Julia B. Nelson  and
Larry D. King
Julia B. Nelson
Affiliation:
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7619.
Larry D. King
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7619.
Get access

Abstract

Interest in developing more sustainable cropping systems has led to renewed interest in legumes as N sources for crops. We conducted a 2-year study to compare the effects of green manure, green manure plus fertilizer, and fertilizer on wheat yield and N leaching potential. In 1991–92, wheat following corn and receiving 0, 45, or 90 kg N/ha was compared with wheat planted after plowing the autumn regrowth of red clover/johnsongrass hay (supplemented with alfalfa) that supplied 107 kg total N/ha. In 1992–93, wheat following corn and receiving 90 kg N/ha was compared with wheat following hay regrowth that either received fertilizer N at 45 kg/ha or 90 kg N/ha or was supplemented with alfalfa (total of 123 kg N/ha). Yield with only green manure averaged 65% of yield with 90 kg N/ha. Yields with green manure plus 45 or 90 kg N/ha were not different from yield with 90 kg N only. The first year, soil to a depth of 30 cm declined from as high as 40 kg/ha in the fall to less than 10 kg/ha as wheat growth increased in the spring. In contrast, concentration averaged 20 kg/ha throughout the growing season. Trends in soil inorganic N were similar the second year. Profile nitrate distribution indicated a greater potential for N leaching with fertilizer than with green manure. Soil from the site was used in a laboratory incubation study to determine the rate of N mineralization from white clover at 10°C. An average of 80% of the clover N was recovered as soil inorganic N; however, in the field study, recovery (soil inorganic N in the 0 to 30-cm zone + Nin above-ground wheat biomass) was only 21%. Supplementing green manures with spring applications of fertilizer N could decrease the leaching loss without decreasing wheat yield.

Keywords

nitrate leachingcrop rotations
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , December 1996 , pp. 182 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Badaruddin, M., and Meyer, D.W.. 1990. Green-manure legume effects on soil nitrogen, grain yield and nitrogen nutrition of wheatss. Crop Sci. 30:819–835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Crozier, C.R. 1992. Tracing nitrogen movement in North Carolina Piedmont corn production systems using N pool size analysis and 15N tracing. Ph.D. dissertation. Dept. of Soil Science, North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh.Google Scholar
3.Doyle, A.D., Moore, K.J., and Herridge, D.F.. 1988. The narrow leafed lupine (Lupinus angustifotius) as a nitrogen fixing rotation crop for cereals production, III. Residual effects of lupines on subsequent cereal crops. Australian J. Agric. Res. 39:1029–1037.Google Scholar
4.Harris, G.H., and Hesterman, O.B.. 1990. Quantifying the nitrogen contribution from alfalfa to soil and two succeeding crops using nitrogen-15. Agronomy J. 82:129–134.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.King, L.D., and Buchanan, M.. 1993. Reduced chemical input cropping systems in the southeastern United States. I. Effect of rotations, green manure crops and nitrogen fertilizer on crop yields. Amer. J. Alternative Agric. 8:58–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Lachat Instruments. 1990a. QuikChem method NO. 10-107-04-1-A. Nitrate + Nitrite. Lachat Instruments, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
7.Lachat Instruments. 1990b. QuikChem method NO. 12-107-06-2-B. Ammonia in soils. Lachat Instruments, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
8.Ladd, J.N., and Amato, M.. 1986. The fate of nitrogen from legume and fertilizer sources in soils successively cropped with wheat under field conditions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 18:417–425.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Ladd, J.N., Oades, J.M., and Amato, M.. 1981. Distribution and recovery of nitrogen from legume residues decomposing in soils sown to wheat in the field. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 13:251–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Perkin-Elmer, . 1987. Instruction manual 0993-7147. Norwal, Connecticut.Google Scholar
11.Reeves, T. G., Ellington, A., and Brooke, H.D.. 1984. Effect of lupine-wheat rotations on soil fertility, crop disease, and crop yields. Australian J. Experimental Animal Husbandry 24:595–600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.SAS Institute. 1985. SAS User's Guide: Statistics. Cary, North Carolina.Google Scholar
13.Strong, W.M., Harbison, J., Nielsen, R.G.H., Hall, B.D., and Best, E.K.. 1986. Nitrogen availability on a Darling Downs sou following cereal, oilseed and grain legume crops. 2. Effects of residual soil nitrogen and fertilizer nitrogen on subsequent wheat crops. Australian J. Experimental Agric. 26:353–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Zentner, R.P., Spratt, E.D., Reisdorf, H., and Campbell, C.A.. 1987. Effect of crop rotations and N & P fertilizer on yields of spring wheat grown on a Black Chernozemic Clay. Canadian J. Plant Sci. 67:965–982.CrossRefGoogle Scholar