Abstract
Aims: The main aim of the study was to assess the effects of organic manure on nitrogen mineralization, uptake, use and recovery of cauliflower. Methodology: Nitrogen is one of the major yield limiting nutrients in cauliflower production. However, organic manure is applied to supplement soil nitrogen supply to maximize dry-matter yield. A field experiment was conducted at the Droevendaal Certified Organic Research and Demonstration Site of Wageningen University, Netherlands during 2012. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments comprised of four rates (0, 75, 150 and 225kgN.ha-1) each of lucerne pellets (LUP) and dry grass clover (DGC) organic manures. Results: Results showed that LUP amended plots exhibited highest initial N-mineralization compared to DGC and control plots. Nitrogen uptake in plant organs increased with increasing organic manure application. Nitrogen accumulation was highest in cauliflower leaf (38.28mg.kg-1), followed by the head (16.96mg.kg-1) and lowest in the stem (3.01mg.kg-1). Conclusion: Results suggest that timely and adequate nitrogen release from organic manures is important for the success of conservation and sustainable farming systems. Findings in this study could be utilized in improving efficiency of N use in crop management rotation systems.
Highlights
Vegetable production is often associated with excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer resulting in large mineral N residues in the soil and crop [1]
Lucerne pellet amended plots significantly (P
At 3 weeks after transplanting (WAT), lucerne pellets (LUP) application at 150-225 N kg.ha-1 produced higher total soil mineral N ranging from 42.02-44.88mg.kg-1 compared to the remaining treatments
Summary
Vegetable production is often associated with excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer resulting in large mineral N residues in the soil and crop [1]. The increasing use of nitrogen excites soil microbial metabolism and enzymes [2]. Excessive N fertilization may result in adverse environmental and economic effects such as accelerated N2O gas emission, NO3- leaching and higher cost of production [1]. Mineralization processes are significant, in soils affected by long term cultivation and different cropping practices [3]. Soil mineral N content is believed to increase following harvesting of vegetables [4]. Soil tillage and crop residue management practices were reported to influence microbial population, activity, carbon and nitrogen mineralization dynamics, and plant biomass [6]
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