Incorporation Effect of Green Manure Crops on Improvement of Soil Environment on Saemangeum Reclaimed Land during Silage Corn Cultivation

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the incorporation effect of green manure crops (GMC) such as the hairy vetch on improvement of soil environment in reclaimed land during silage corn cultivation over the past two years. Plots consisted of conventional fertilization (CF) and incorporation of GMC were divided by addition rate of nitrogen fertilizer (100 kg ha -1 ) with 30 ? 100% of non nitrogen fertilization (NNF). Soil physico-chemical properties and growth and yield potential of silage corn were examined. The tested soils showed strong alkali and saline properties with low contents of organic matter and available phosphate while contents of exchangeable sodium and magnesium were high. Soil salinity increased during cultivation of summer crop. However, corn was not affected by salt content. The fresh weight of GMC at incorporation time was 18,345 kg ha -1 . Content of total nitrogen was 3.09% and the C/N ratio was 12.8 at incorporation time. Fresh and dry matter yield of silage corn were higher in the order of N30% reduction, CF, N50% reduction, N70% reduction, N100% reduction and NNF. Fresh and dry matter yield potential of silage corn for N30% reduction were comparable to those of CF. Bulk density of the soil decreased with incorporation of GMC, while porosity was increased. The soil pH decreased while content of exchangeable calcium, available phosphate, and organic matter increased. Also contents of exchangeable sodium and potassium decreased with incorporation of GMC. The data indicate that incorporation of hairy vetch can improve soil physical and chemical properties and reduce nitrogen fertilizer application especially for alkali saline reclaimed soil such as Saemangeum reclaimed land.