Abstract
Under intensive low residue agricultural systems, such as those involving potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)-based systems, stagnant crop yields and declining soil health and environmental quality are common issues. This study evaluated the effects of pen-pack cow (Bos Taurus) manure application (20 Mg·ha−1) and cover crops on nitrate dynamics and soil N supply capacity, subsequent potato yield, selected soil properties, and soil-borne disease. Eight cover crops were tested and included grasses, legumes, or a mixture of legumes and grasses, with red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) used as a control. Forage pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) was associated with highest dry matter. On average, red clover had 88% higher total N accumulation than the treatments mixing grasses and legumes, and the former was associated with higher soil nitrate in fall before residue incorporation and overwinter, but this was not translated into increased potato yields. Pearl millet and sorghum sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × sorghum bicolor var. Sudanese) were associated with lower soil nitrate in comparison to red clover while being associated with higher total potato yield and lower numerical value of root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans), although this was not statistically significant at 5% probability level. Manure incorporation increased total and marketable yield by 28% and 26%, respectively, and increased soil N supply capacity by an average of 44%. Carbon dioxide released after a short incubation as a proxy of soil microbial respiration increased by an average of 27% with manure application. Our study quantified the positive effect of manure application and high-residue cover crops on soil quality and potato yield for the province of Prince Edward Island.
Highlights
Potato is the third most consumed food crop worldwide [1] and is the most important cash crop in Prince Edward Island (PEI), representing around 25% of Canadian potato production [2]
Red clover was associated with higher soil nitrate at the time of cover crop incorporation, but this was not translated into increased potato yield
Pearl millet and sorghum sudangrass were associated with higher potato total yield and lower soil nitrate susceptible to leaching than red clover, and there was a trend toward lower numerical values of root-lesion nematode
Summary
Potato is the third most consumed food crop worldwide [1] and is the most important cash crop in Prince Edward Island (PEI), representing around 25% of Canadian potato production [2]. Potato yields have been stagnant in PEI for over a decade [3], probably due to a combination of factors such as drought spells, soil erosion, accelerated soil organic matter mineralization, and increasing disease pressure. Prince Edward Island is the only Canadian province with total reliance on groundwater for its drinking water, and studies have been conducted to identify the source and timing of nitrate loadings. It was demonstrated that nitrification occurs year-round, with nitrate produced in winter contributing significantly to total nitrate loading [10,11] when N mineralization is coupled with excessive moisture
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